11 August 2004
The new mare, Ruby, is proving a real gem (excuse the pun). She is driving out in a mullen mouth Kimblewick, and the "half cup" racing blinkers that I like for everyday exercise. She is proving game and kind and relatively unflappable.
I've posted a pic to the files showing the current turnout. It's in my Sue M folder, and is called "I'll slim into it" - ladies, you all know where I'm coming from here.... She's just practising in this shot; able to see the vehicle behind her and know exactly what is going on. Obviously, I am also checking the harness and vehicle fit. Photographs are a great help. There's also a shot of her the day after she arrived.
Several things will be improved shortly when she has lost enough weight:
The shafts can drop on the backband, which will let the carriage ride level. At present they would rub too much on Ruby's rib area! I could widen them, but I think she will drop a lot of weight once I get her home and start doing longer drives, and she will be able to go out in the pasture and play with my other Fell. (At present she is stabled to keep her away from a stallion in my friend's pasture.)
I will be using this vehicle for both my Fells on occasion, and it fits Mr T well, so I don't want to do much more than I have already done, in lengthening the shafts to their maximum. At the moment, from the box seat Ruby looks like a moving bay sofa, but by golly she can go! Yet, she is very sensitive to what i am asking her to do, so I am really looking forward to having her muscled up and fit!
Dropping the shafts will bring the swingletree more into the correct line of draught. At the moment there's a break there. It will also correct the breeching line. Balanced draught won't happen will I get Ruby into a full neck collar. I have one that I believe will fit her a few weeks down the line, but at present her crest is too big for it and I don't want to buy yet another just for a few weeks' work (I have acquired five collars over the years and because I am loath to part with any I could do without buying a sixth.) Hence the wide, well padded (and quite high) breast collar. An old friend of mine who is a highly experienced whip once said "fit your breast collar where you think it should go - then lift it two holes higher. God put the windpipe well out of the way - it's much less vulnerable than the point of the shoulder." My breast collar always looks higher than people expect, but I never have a sore or jibbing horse.... and i have, as I say, lots of neck collars!
The seat is currently set forward on the cart to allow my assistant to stand on the backstep. That too will balance better when Ruby has lost enough weight to allow the shafts down a bit more!
The other amusing thing that I have found out about her is that she loves massage and manicures. She is "a posh girl" who ASKS to have her hair done and be groomed, and goes all droopy while you do it. And when you've gone round her once she asks you to do it again! Talk about "My Little Pony"... I am used to Fell geldings who prefer to be scruffy and think hoof oil is not "butch". It will be quite a novelty to have a pony who might actually enjoy being bathed to go to a show.
Sue in the English Lakes
Intelligence is no defence against one's own stupidity