amywink July 6th, 2010
I was renewing my membership to Heart of Texas Morgan club this week and naturally, they asked for my “farm name”. I don’t really have a farm, but I have 2 horses. And I do have a “farm” address. Since Lisa has 2 bays, it’s easy to distinguish which two are mine: the red ones.
I spent Monday evening watching the pair in the sunset. They are developing a good, calm relationship. Blessing backs off when Will looks grumpy, but she doesn’t move very far off and he doesn’t chase her very far so she can move right back in close. Mostly, they graze close together and Will seems happy with his pasture mate, though he gets a little worried when it looks like she might be getting a treat.
This morning, I pulled out my new toy, a Mouse detail sander, and got to work on the cart wheels that have been sitting in the garage for, oh, two years. I got one completely sanded and am totally sold on the little sander! I’ll get to the second wheel later this week then start the staining and varnishing.
I finished painting all the bolts (lots and lots and lots of bolts). Now I have to decide whether to paint the nuts before I put the cart together or after. Given the chance of banging the paint up in the assembly process, I’m leaning toward painting after assembly. It might be tedious but I have to paint the bolt ends anyway.
I still need to order new springs and spring blocks later this summer but those will be the last parts I need. I’m hoping to finish getting this cart together by Spring 2011, so we can use it at the Heart of Texas Morgan Horse Fun Show in April. We’ll see if I can get there–and we’ll have to see if Will likes it!! If not, Blessing will be getting a very nice cart for driving single!
amywink February 16th, 2010
Actually, it was our first drive since the last weekend of November, 2009! The weather has been horrendous and rain, rain, rain has kept the fields muddy muddy muddy. We had a break this weekend. Saturday was nice and Sunday morning I decided that we had to drive, even if it was just down the caliche road. We had a window of good weather before the cold front was supposed to move in late Sunday afternoon so Lisa and I got busy and got to driving.
It was great to be back “behind the reins” and both horses were complete champs. Like we hadn’t missed a day of our regular driving schedule. Will was a little speedy in his trot but he responded well to my hands and never got too heady for his own good. He jumped a bit when the hens cackled as we drove by but again, came right back to me. It was another milestone, our first drive after a long lay off of 2 and a half months. I expected more fireworks and rodeo but we just had a nice calm drive and I think both of us really enjoyed it.
Here he is sporting his Christmas buckle-nose halter, a gift from his herd.
The buckle-nose worked great for harnessing and I really think it looks quite fashionable as well. I’m calling it his “dress halter”. He has gained a little weight in his time off and we had to let out his harness a tad in the false martingale and the girth but I’m sure we’ll work it off as we get back to business. He had plenty of energy and wasn’t breathing hard when we finished and he even looked pleased about the day.
It was also a very big day for Cookie who had her first Carriage Dog lesson. She’s quite the charmer and seems to enjoy the attention.
About 3:30 we noticed the skies darkening in the northwest as the front approached, the clouds rolled in quick and the front arrived with fierce winds that excited the horses. They dashed about their pasture wildly and Will seems to be thinking “Wheeeeeeeeeeeee”
By the time I got to the gate, the blue skies were gone and clouds were racing in on the cold air:
But all that mattered to me was the wonderful drive we’d finally squeezed in. I hope we can get back to our regular driving schedule as we approach the spring.
amywink October 3rd, 2009
So, I planned to get down to see Will this morning but as I checked the radar around 8:30, rain was heading toward us and it hasn’t stopped all day. We’ve had almost an inch of slow, steady rain. I know we need it but I’d like to drive soon!
So anyway. Plan B: Put together the dash assembly.
It’s not quite finished because I have to paint some bolt heads (carefully because I am not undoing this!) and place the rein rail on (after it’s completely on the cart). I also need to attach the swingletree straps. I wrapped the swingletree with the same marine vinyl I used on the seats and I’m pleased. For the straps, I’m going to use some material from a set of synthetic reins I don’t use. The stabilizer bar will attach to the crossbar in the front–you can see the bolt holes in front.
As I stapled the vinyl to the swingletree, it dawned on me that I probably needed to do the shaft trim before I get the cart entirely put together–otherwise, I’ll be flipping the cart to staple the vinyl on, or stapling upside down!!
During all this assembly, I keep thinking of my favorite episode of M*A*S*H, when Hawkeye and Trapper have to defuse a bomb while Henry Blake yells the instructions to them from a safe distance. After he shouts the instructions to cut one of the fuse wires, and the pair does, he shouts out the all important “but first. . . . ” Hopefully, I won’t come to some part of this cart and think “but first….” after something is completely finished!
But, I am pleased with getting this section put together. The next large section to put together is the floor!