11.12.06

Carriage rider’s first time reactions

Posted in Horses for the horse crazy at 8:16 pm by HorseGal

When Connie and her hubby asked me if I wanted to go for a
cart ride behind their beloved Gilford, I said WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!
(HorseGal speak for DO I EVER!!). I’ve never done that before and
I was beside myself with excitement!!

I soon learned that you don’t just throw on tack and go off on your
merry way. I was surprised at how long and involved it is getting
everything and everyone ready. What a learning adventure it was, all the
parts of the harness and bridle and hooking up/hitching!

It was SO interesting… and to see Gilford being fit into his big boots for
his big feet reminded me of when I was a kid trying to get MY BIG feet into
my winter boots… not an easy task. Gilford looked so handsome all dressed up! [EDITOR'S NOTE: those are Boa boots on his hind feet, there's a story
behind that which will appear in this Blog soon.]

HorseGal preparing for her carriage ride. More pix here

When everyone was all ready, as we left you could hear baby Glendale
whinnying up a storm!! He was not happy at being left alone (his mom Willy
with Connie riding her went along too.) He made quite a ruckus in his stall and
I got the biggest kick out of that!! You could hear him as we went
down the road. I also felt bad for him– he was acting just a like a human
brother would at being left behind!!

I had such a blast!! Mothers were grabbing their kids by the hands to come
out and watch us as we went by and passersby in cars would wave at us!
I sat there and could NOT stop grinning ear to ear. And Gilford– he was
SO good. He listened to his driver’s cues and walked when asked and
trotted when asked, even though it was a REALLY windy day and both
horses were acting excitable. What a good boy Gilford is!!!!

That’s HorseGal under there, holding Gilford’s reins!

It ended much too soon… but I must say, disembarking from a cart is not
easy!!! Connie had me stand on the shaft and then jump down as a way
of practicing an emergency dismount from the Meadowbrook cart.
Well, from MY height, that was a long ways down with nothing to balance
myself on except Gilford’s rump. I’m also probably one of the most
uncoordinated people you will ever meet! But I did it… it wasn’t
graceful, but I did it!
__________________________
by HORSEGAL, Guest Writer for Blog petArtistWithPeaches– journal of Connie Moses, horse and pet artist

Other HorseGal adventures:
Follow Princess, rescued thoroughbred mare saved from slaughter:
Photos of Princess just after her rescue from a slaughter house.
Story of Princess arriving at her new home.
Report on Princess’ early training issues The Princess and the Canter.
Longeing is dizzying…

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