Yesterday I was able to spend a good few hours with Linus. It was gorgeous out and lightly snowing. Time flew by and I almost didn't make it home in time to take my son and husband out skating!! I have been giving lots of thought recently to "sledjoring". I watched the videos on here about it but there is also a "natural horsemanship" school nearby and they do their sledjoring without a rider. They had a picture in the local newspaper last week of it and the person in the sled is actually the one in control of the horse and there is no rider. So, its like driving but from a toboggan. Forgive me if I am explaining what you all already know about but it is as new to me as it to Linus. So, after much debate I decided why not give it a try. The nearby school uses their own kind of rigging to attach the toboggan but I just used the breast collar and tugs from my harness and the saddle. I suppose I could have just used the whole harness but I wanted to cause a new situation for Linus. He thoroughly enjoyed inspecting the toboggan and that made it hard for me to get him to stand away from it so I could hook it up!! He took a minute to get used to dragging it but then it became no big deal. I drove him by walking for a bit first to get used to the new noise and to remind him of his driving cues since we haven't been out driving recently (maybe this afternoon we will go up the road ground driving). It took a lot of adjusting to make sure the tugs were pulling the toboggan and not the lines to Linus' bitless bridle but we got it done. I think the reason why it took so much adjusting was because Linus kept trying to help me! Eventually I did get in the toboggan and we had a great little ride. Linus really seemed to enjoy it. I didn't go for very long though because I want to make a few more adjustments. Me nephew will love it when he is next out and gets to try it!!
And since I already had the saddle on Linus we did a bit more practice of getting used to it banging against him and being pushed and pulled about. I think he is getting eager to just go for a ride and see what this is all about!! Not yet though boy!
This photo really reminds me of his father's build...make him black and white and you've got Moonshadow!
too bad you can't hear the sound that went with this buck...
I always read your posts cause I can't believe how much you do with your young horse. So many people just leave them out in the pasture and just brush and feed them. Linus is already knows more the most of the riding horse out at our barn! Kudos to you for being so active with his training!
ReplyDeleteI too want to try that but I don't have a harness...yet.
Ha ha ha such a wild boy! So cute. Great what you are trying out with him. I was laughging recently, because a young girl at aour stables was putting a little slay behind the horse in the ARENA lol. She was a cute little snow (wo)man indeed! And the dog was running barking next to that strange combination!:)
ReplyDeleteYou always crack me up, Donna, I think my kids have a pen that makes that same noise and hubby makes it regularly as do most husbands from what I've heard. Linus is pretty much drop dead gorgeous now that he is all growing up to a Big Red Fella.
ReplyDeleteTheo and Abby - if you look back to my early 2010 posts Linus and I started ground driving when he was only about 7 months old using a surcingle, rope halter and doubled lunge line for reins! He is the first youngster I've had and have loved every minute of training him. My main goal is to bring on a bomb proof companion...his attitude is a big factor in that!
ReplyDeleteWonderful!!!! What a good boy to pull the sled without any problem! The noise alone usually scares them. I agree with Blaine...hard to believe all that you are doing with Linus! He already seems so confident and happy doing the work you are asking..not worried at all. He loves it!!! GREAT job, Donna!!
ReplyDeleteI love the picture labeled "Smile" - there is definate mischief in his eye! What character!
ReplyDeleteEllen cheyenne, wy