[MySparrow]

Put her to after months -- years -- a lifetime of preparation, and she said, oh, okay, cool.

First circle where she encountered the shafts: what? oh, I see. cool.

Stopping and starting so the breeching and breastcollar did their jobs: yeah, got it, cool.

End of lesson, stand here so we can unhitch you: okay. Cool. When you're done would you scratch my face?

Only a LITTLE bit thrilled here.

[Mukluk]

Hooray for Rags!!! Hooray for Rags!!! And congratulations to you. Would love to see a picture.

[JoanR]

Good for you and Rags. Just think of all the fun the two of you are going to have in the future!

[Drive NJ]

my how time flies

seems like its only been a bit of time since Rags was born

You are so lucky to have had her handling since she was born. Im sure that helped making this new job so easy for her.
But you are also lucky that she seems such an amenable soul

Good times driving for you both

[winfieldfarm]

I certainly hope you had someone taking pics or videos! they're only babies once and they grow up so fast...sniff, sniff....

Congrats! now do it again tomorrow!

[goodhors]

What a lovely description of nothing EXCITING! Shows how well your consistant work over the time since birth has been accepted into her thinking.

And while it is her FIRST hitching, everything sure was well done of you, preparing her for the hitching. I just love to hear about "nothing events" as the young equine walks thru the steps of progress towards being a good citizen.

I agree with DriveNJ, seems like such a short time since you got Luna, were surprised with the extra foal. Rags has come along and most of the training steps were easy and fun. She is an accepting sort, the nice kind to have around.

So Congrats on her good ways which are from all your hard work. You are doing well.

[Zu Zu]

Congratulations ! Enjoy !!!

[Thomas_1]

From Rags to Riches

We await photos.......

[Yip]

Aww, Thomas! As I was reading the posts, I thought exactly the same thing but you beat me to saying it!

Great job with Rags! Have fun!

[goeslikestink]

brillient pics please

[Cartfall]

fantastic!!!

[MySparrow]

This IS driving related -- we might need a postillion rider one day, after all.

It's been a big week for Ragtime. First drive on Monday, and on Friday we backed her. I am blessed to have a lead rider who is kind, tactful, gifted and weighs almost nothing. Rags is still growing -- I hope! as I really would like those withers to come up a bit -- so we won't be riding her yet, but 3 is a good age for backing lightly.

We've been draping things over her back since she was a wee thing. She has worn raincoats, tarpaulins, saddles, bells -- anything that caught my eye, really. She's always been curious and never afraid, so I didn't anticipate much in the way of fireworks. But. This is a filly who likes to work, who enjoys being entertained by new things, but who is definitely her own mistress, and mistress of all around her. Before she was weaned she was ordering the other horses around, and watching her deal with new horses introduced to her paddock has been an education for me. Bringing her along has been an exercise in assertive tactfulness, and I confess that there have been many times when I thought I was messing it up badly and she would turn into a disaster of a horse.

So it was with care that I put Allie up across the saddle. I had her drape across the saddle on her belly, as we usually do with youngsters. Rags stood quietly for a moment, with a thoughtful look in her eye. Then she turned her head toward me and studied Allie's legs hanging down her near side. Hmmm, she seemed to say, wonder what's on the other side? She turned her head to the right -- and found Allie's well known face in a very surprising place, upside down! Rags said "Wah!" and jumped. I promise you it sounded like "Wah!"

But that was the sum total of her reaction to being backed. She moved happily, responded to bit and leg (obviously she was still on the longe line), found the whole thing happy.

I promise pictures as soon as I have a hand free to take them!

[butlerfamilyzoo]

Rags and my mare must be related. They sound so similar in personality.

Congrats on both the first hitching AND the first backing all in one week! GO RAGS!

[MySparrow]

Still no hands free for photography while driving Ragtime, but here's one from yesterday, her third session under saddle. That is my apprentice Allie on board.

http://i46.tinypic.com/2zjj5ac.jpg

[butlerfamilyzoo]

She's going to be a CUTE driving pony!

[Ashemont]

Congratulations! You should be very proud

[winfieldfarm]

looks like an old soul to me! Yea, Rags!!

[Thomas_1]

I think Rags knows she fell on her feet when she most fortuitously got homed with Dale.

There's no way she's going to mess it up now

Looking relaxed and good.

[MySparrow]

Finally had someone with a camera helping me, so here's a picture of Rags put to the Ahonen cart.

http://i47.tinypic.com/359l4k4.jpg

[Kasspur]

Very Nice! Is there a website for that type of cart?