LostFarmer
Jul. 12, 2009, 09:18 AM
Our local draft horse and mule association has a little wagon train that we go on. This is the first year that we have been able to enjoy in the activity. Wagons were hitched and ready to roll at 10:00 on Friday morning. I figured that it was time to give up the lines. LC#2 drove the gray team on the buggy with his mom and sisters. LC#3 was my personal chauffeur. We only flipped 2 wagons over that day. Neither of which were ours. Some of the trail was a little steep both ways.
One particular spot was a little wet and boggy. The spot had 18" of greasy mud before a stream of about 3 feet wide. On the other side was a steep up grade. Only one outfit made the crossing without some persuasion. That was LC#3 with the Cricket the little paint mare. (NO SHE IS NOT FOR SALE!!!) She was a star. The grays and LC#2 did the next best. LC#2 got them into the mud then gave them their heads and barked some encouragement. He made a little bobble in that he gave them too much line and the little grays veered out. I took the lines and we hit it again without incident. I took the next 30 minutes where the rest of the teams were drug and persuaded to cross talking to LC#2. He did the right thing in giving them some line to feel their way but by giving them too much he lost his power steering. Good lesson learned. The rest of the water was without incident.
We had two long fairly steep droughts to make. The first was early in the drive so all the teams had plenty of poop. The last we found out what the critters were made of. We had a fjord team quit us half way up and need a blow. They were certainly not over faced but certainly not hard and needed some lines adjusted. The horses were leaning out on each other. The other was a union belgain mare. She was a little bit of a handful to start out and hated the water and worked herself into a sweat early in the day.
All the horses were better come day 2. Ten miles the first was replaced with 6 on day two. At the end of day 2 I decided that LC#2 has a pretty fair little team of grays and LC#3 has a priceless paint pony. Both boys were the youngest drivers on the trek. I did drive about 15 minutes on day one when LC#3 had his hands give out. On day two I drove for about 5 for the same reason. Here are a few pictures from the event.
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t323/lostfarmer1/2009%20wagon%20train/IMG_3478_1.jpg
LC#3 Ready to roll
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t323/lostfarmer1/2009%20wagon%20train/IMG_3479_2.jpg
LC#2 Ready
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t323/lostfarmer1/2009%20wagon%20train/IMG_3480_3.jpg
Ty is a little on the lazy side so at any stops he was trying to rest his chin on Hector. Ty kept the group entertained with his antics. I swear we need to have him tested for ADHD!!
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t323/lostfarmer1/2009%20wagon%20train/IMG_3486_5.jpg
One of my favorite shots.
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t323/lostfarmer1/2009%20wagon%20train/IMG_3510_12.jpg
One of Mrs. Losts favorite shots.
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t323/lostfarmer1/2009%20wagon%20train/IMG_3518_13.jpg
bringing the ponies back from the water hole.
After breakfast on day two, there were several of the teamsters sitting around shooting the bull. One said he better get harnessed as it was getting time to roll. I sat at the fire for awhile. Then looked up to see that the boys had the ponies harnessed and hitched ready to roll.
Sorry for the shameless brag. Not sure if I am more proud of the boys or the ponies. I did learn another priceless piece of advice. Sweat it a good color on boys and ponies.
LF
One particular spot was a little wet and boggy. The spot had 18" of greasy mud before a stream of about 3 feet wide. On the other side was a steep up grade. Only one outfit made the crossing without some persuasion. That was LC#3 with the Cricket the little paint mare. (NO SHE IS NOT FOR SALE!!!) She was a star. The grays and LC#2 did the next best. LC#2 got them into the mud then gave them their heads and barked some encouragement. He made a little bobble in that he gave them too much line and the little grays veered out. I took the lines and we hit it again without incident. I took the next 30 minutes where the rest of the teams were drug and persuaded to cross talking to LC#2. He did the right thing in giving them some line to feel their way but by giving them too much he lost his power steering. Good lesson learned. The rest of the water was without incident.
We had two long fairly steep droughts to make. The first was early in the drive so all the teams had plenty of poop. The last we found out what the critters were made of. We had a fjord team quit us half way up and need a blow. They were certainly not over faced but certainly not hard and needed some lines adjusted. The horses were leaning out on each other. The other was a union belgain mare. She was a little bit of a handful to start out and hated the water and worked herself into a sweat early in the day.
All the horses were better come day 2. Ten miles the first was replaced with 6 on day two. At the end of day 2 I decided that LC#2 has a pretty fair little team of grays and LC#3 has a priceless paint pony. Both boys were the youngest drivers on the trek. I did drive about 15 minutes on day one when LC#3 had his hands give out. On day two I drove for about 5 for the same reason. Here are a few pictures from the event.
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t323/lostfarmer1/2009%20wagon%20train/IMG_3478_1.jpg
LC#3 Ready to roll
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t323/lostfarmer1/2009%20wagon%20train/IMG_3479_2.jpg
LC#2 Ready
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t323/lostfarmer1/2009%20wagon%20train/IMG_3480_3.jpg
Ty is a little on the lazy side so at any stops he was trying to rest his chin on Hector. Ty kept the group entertained with his antics. I swear we need to have him tested for ADHD!!
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t323/lostfarmer1/2009%20wagon%20train/IMG_3486_5.jpg
One of my favorite shots.
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t323/lostfarmer1/2009%20wagon%20train/IMG_3510_12.jpg
One of Mrs. Losts favorite shots.
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t323/lostfarmer1/2009%20wagon%20train/IMG_3518_13.jpg
bringing the ponies back from the water hole.
After breakfast on day two, there were several of the teamsters sitting around shooting the bull. One said he better get harnessed as it was getting time to roll. I sat at the fire for awhile. Then looked up to see that the boys had the ponies harnessed and hitched ready to roll.
Sorry for the shameless brag. Not sure if I am more proud of the boys or the ponies. I did learn another priceless piece of advice. Sweat it a good color on boys and ponies.
LF