Recommendation for driving helmet

[RMJacobs]

That sounds great! I did fine just plunking around on my own (after taking lessons and having my then-trainer help me buy harness and cart, and fit my pony). But these days I appreciate the confidence boost of working with a trainer, especially such a good one. My original trainer was great, but would never work geographically these days. I doubt if she’s still training as I think she was already in her 70s when she trained me 20 years ago. I know she’s still alive and kicking, because we are FB friends.

Rebecca

[M_al]

@goodhors

All were fed pure alfalfa, per CO State horse diet

This isn’t really a standard thing … only places I have seen it is for horses on reduced-carb diets (alfalfa is much lower carb than grass hay) for either PSSM (draft) or insulin-resistant (warmblood) horses. Standard CSU diet recommendations follow standard nutritional best-practices:

Stretching Your Horse’s Hay Supply During Drought - 1.625 - Extension

@2DogsFarm

I’d seriously consider a move if you can promise me a temperate Winter with no snowfall over a foot & Summers without soul-crushing humidity.

Yes … humidity isn’t really a thing here. As previously mentioned, neither is natural greenery. Deer Trail is practically Kansas, lol, but with how the metro is expanding exponentially it’s also practically east metro. Not super far from the airport!

I’m farther east than Rebecca and we rarely get even 10 inches of snow at a time. PLUS, as an added bonus, it’s usually gone in less than a week due to well-above-freezing temps plus solar radiation. Come join us!

[M_al]

I have no excuses for being directionally challenged other than I can’t seem to sort out my right hand holding the whip AND the rein AND my arm/elbow staying relaxed AND not twisting myself up by sitting sideways to use my seatbone. (Spoiler alert: doesn’t work.) I’m tying the poor pony in knots as the rein slips in my right hand (really slippery lines don’t help!) and I’m pushing my hand forward without noticing because (I think) riding I crawl hard up the right rein and have trained myself to subconsciously always get OFF that rein 2x the left one. Sigh. And my arms stiffen. Sigh again - so much to work on!

Rebecca had lovely little lengthenings across the diagonal. I say “little” because he is a very little guy who is giving it his all!

[2DogsFarm]

@M_al

sitting sideways to use my seatbone. (Spoiler alert: doesn’t work)

My 1st lesson I got off the carriage & my legs were shaking… From me trying to “put them on” the pony

Sounds like you 2 are having such fun

Find me 3ac I can plunk down my Tiny Home & a barn & I may take you up in that!

[cayuse]

I still catch myself trying to use my legs, old habits die hard!

[RMJacobs]

We were talking about that during our lesson yesterday! Everybody ends up with sore leg muscles after their first drive. I know I did.

Rebecca

[RMJacobs]

My new helmet arrived today, and it fits well. Our weather is changing tomorrow afternoon; we are supposed to have snow through Saturday morning. I hope it melts quickly enough, and the temperature is reasonable, for our lesson on Sunday. Every time I look at a forecast for Sunday, the high temperature is lower. As of this morning, it was forecast at 36. I don’t know if that’s too cold. I guess we will need to touch base with our trainer as it gets closer.

Rebecca

[cayuse]

Hope you make it on Sunday. I wouldn’t think 36 is too cold, especially if the sun is out.

[RMJacobs]

Normally I wouldn’t think it’s too cold either. But for some reason, this year I am having trouble with my hands getting very cold in spite of good gloves. Also, at our last lesson, we were all comparing hand arthritis, so I’m probably not alone in this. We’ll see what the others think.

I used to drive my ponies when it was 25 degrees and snowing. I used to bike as long as it was at least 25 and sunny (so the path would be clear), I’ve gotten wimpified.

Rebecca

[cayuse]

How about those “hot hand” things placed in your glove on the top of your hands (not the palm), not sure if they’d stay put though. I’ve used them doing chores. Hubby used them out on the boats in the winter and they helped,

[RMJacobs]

I tried those back when I had my ponies, and they always shifted around too much. They did work great in my boots. My feet would get so cold on the metal mesh of the cart. I’d also put them on a hip bursa while I was at work. I struggle with hip bursitis, and heat helps a lot. The bursitis got a lot better once I got a custom chair at work. My seating at home is all hip friendly, but I always have trouble with hotel furniture when we travel.

Rebecca

[RMJacobs]

We canceled our lesson for tomorrow. Everyone agreed the footing would be a problem. This snow is not going away soon. It just stopped snowing a little while ago. Yesterday’s forecast showed the snow stopping at midnight last night, but I think the system wrapped around and came back, as we had a lot more snow today. Our trainer said she hasn’t driven anything in three days and doesn’t expect to be able to anytime soon. We are all sad.

Rebecca

[2DogsFarm]

Hoping El Nino gives us a mild Winter & you get to play with Zap

I’m pretty sure my Driving is done for the year.
Harness has been sitting in my LR fir at least 2 weeks, waiting for a final cleaning.
Lord love biothane

[RMJacobs]

Biothane is the best!

We lose our trainer soon. She’s smart–goes to Florida for the winter. I don’t know if we can make another arrangement, or just have to wait for spring.

Rebecca

[2DogsFarm]

Does Zap go with her?
If not, maybe you & @M_al can keep him busy?

I’m a Fairweather Driver/Rider, so if I don’t get on or behind one until Spring, so be it.
I’m working on Bugs’ Whoa at liberty now.
Little bastid is bratty about giving it to me when I ask, but is starting to offer it on his own
Who’s training whom?

[RMJacobs]

Zap doesn’t belong to our trainer. Denise is the trainer, but she doesn’t own the horses or property where we’ve been taking our lessons. Dee is the owner of the ranch. They seem to work together a lot; Denise mentioned training other people on Dee’s horses. Denise is the president or chair of the Rocky Mountain Carriage Club (I forget what they call their top executive), and Dee is on the board. They are both amazing, tons of driving knowledge and experience.

Rebecca

[2DogsFarm]

So…
Zap may be available to Uber you guys?

{2Dogs rubs hands together} are there trails?

[RMJacobs]

Maybe! I know M_al asked a bit about availability after Denise leaves. I am still thinking about doing a half lease and I think that was brought up, but I was too far away to hear the conversation. Dee might have something that needs to be worked. I’m not sure how big Dee’s place is, but what I do know is she has a cones course on her land. The roads around there are very quiet and could be a good place to drive. It’s not as interesting terrain as where I lived and drove my ponies, because my area was very steep, curving and with a view of the entire front range. But the flat terrain near Dee’s ranch would be much better for driving a mini. Dee has some pony size critters, but I am really enjoying driving Zap because his little butt is so cute trotting ahead of me.

I’m trying not to push. I am enjoying letting this situation unfold. I wouldn’t have thought three months ago that I would be back into driving at all, even though DH suggested lessons over a year ago. I wasn’t physically ready when he suggested it; now I feel I can handle it on a well trained horse. I feel so much more like myself, being back at it. I didn’t like being someone who used to be into horses.

Rebecca

[2DogsFarm]

Crossing all digits - & - for Dee to welcome volunteers who know what they’re doing to keep Zap tuned up!
& Yup, that little fuzzbutt bouncing ahead of you , along with the doubletime hoofbeats

[RMJacobs]

I think Zap gets plenty of work. Not only does he get used in lessons, but I think he is part of Dee’s four horse hitch.

There is a mini mare there whom Dee is keeping for a friend who is having medical problems. We were wondering if maybe this mare could use more work. We watched Dee drive her after she hadn’t been driven in a year, and the mare seemed to remember her training well.

Rebecca