fall drive

A few weekends ago, the Northwest Ohio Drafters and Drivers Club held their annual fall drive. Me, Jaime, and Kyle took two minis and Clutch down for the fun. 

Little horses are much easier than big horses

Dexter and Meatball are so much fun to drive. I drove Meatball first and even took him through the covered bridge. I didn't take him far and stayed mostly on the fairgrounds because it has been a while since he did some serious work. Plus, his little legs probably couldn't keep up with the bigger horses. We did some laps around the track on the fairgrounds and kept Flo and her mini Nicky company. 

Meatball wanted to go fast. . . I wasn't ready for that.

Nicky and Flo

Jaime and Kyle went a bit further with Jaime driving Dexter and Kyle riding Clutch. After a bit, they came back and joined us around the track. 

How cute!

Later, Beth with Art and Curly joined us. Beth didn't take her boys too far either, mostly she wanted to get Curly over the covered bridge a few times. Whatever issues he had when he was hooked up last time were gone now. They did great!

Covered bridge

Bethany from our show, with Millie the mule was there as well. And so was Haley with her Belgian Carry. We had a blast. 

Haley and Carry, all four off the floor!

Katie the mule

Millie the mule and Bethany

After the drive, we had mini pony races. First up was Jaime and Meatball vs Haley and Dexter. Then Jaime and Meatball vs Bethany and Dexter. Those little ponies can move so fast and they had them cantering down the track. I think Dexter won both races. . .he is a bit bigger than Meatball. I opted out this time. . .I just didn't feel skilled enough to handle ponies at high speeds.

Go ponies!!!

Laughing all the way!

Next up was draft barrel racing, Kyle and Clutch vs Haley and Carry. Haley won because Clutch just quit right before the end and crossing the line. 

Carry is a thick Belgian!

Clutch can be pretty speedy!

Bethany even had a go on Clutch!

And, I rode Clutch for a very short time! It is so high up there!

woot woot!

I actually got no photos, so all these photos were taken by Karen B. She took a ton of great photos! Fun times down in Ohio and even though I got heckled for my University of Michigan hat (hey,we pulled a comeback from the game the day before), I can't wait to do it again. I love this group of people, we always have the best time. Hopefully, I can get Shyloh to come one time!

Neal's mares taking people for a ride

This guy was a Dexter look alike

Haley's glamour shot

Me and Meatball!

I really like this Haflinger, pretty movement.

Curly, Art, and Beth

fun show

Today we had the draft club's fun show. It is different from the circuit shows; it required no washing of ponies, no mane rolls or tail bows, and no show clothes. It was just a day to hang with friends, show ponies and mules low key, and have fun.

One of my new friend that helps out with all the shows, Lisa, and Becky came up to take Shyloh down to Ohio. Shy was going to have a sleepover at Beth's house!

Yeah. . .Shy is the only horse in that bad boy

In the morning, me and Beth loaded up the ponies and headed to the show, a mere 10 minutes away! We got there early and got a coveted under the tree parking spot. Ahhh. . .shade. It was much needed for the 90 degrees and humid day that was ahead of us.

Can you see Shy and Art?

First up, halter class. We never place in halter or showmanship. So when it was out turn and Shy drug ass up to the judge, then decided to speed trot away from the judge, then half trot back to the judge, I figured we were just doing halter just because. . .  imagine my surprise when the judge called us out for second! Second place!! I was shocked!

Happy pony with her ribbon

Showmanship was our usual blah. I get so bored standing in line and so does Shy. But next up was line driving obstacle course. . .which we rocked! We took third place and I think that was because She refused to trot around the cones. But she did go over the bridge without a problem!

Next was the scary part. Hooking Shy to the cart. She had not been hooked since the last show she was at, which was in May. But Shy was a superstar! Beth rode with me, just to be safe and we ended up taking fourth in the class. 

Go Shy!

Nevermind the hair-fro. . .it was so hot and humid!

Then Shy was used for youth cart class. The little girl who drove Shy did an excellent job and Shy was great for her. I think they took second place. 

Becky took a spin on Shy and I convinced her to do the obstacle class with Shy. I rode with her. Shy was doing good until we had to back in a U shape, then pull out. She did a major scoot coming out of the U. A major scoot. Becky got after her and made her do it again so she could do it right. After Shy got herself together, Becky had me drive her back to the trailer. 

Now it was time to hook Shy and Art together. They did an obstacle course and I think they took either first or second with Beth driving. Then they did a farm team open class. Beth said that the way they drove together was amazing, they were so good! And they took first place!

Teamsters

The last team class was on a wooden sled, where the driver stands. A water bucket was filled to the top and placed on the back of the sled. The driver had to take the team around three cones and back around the cones. The winner was the person who spilled the least amount of water. Beth went first with Art and Shy. Then it was my turn. Let me tell you, driving two horses is hard! I don't know how people drive those hitches with six and eight! And since Shy and Art aren't technically a team, they both have different words to go. So I had a bit of a difficult time getting started. . .but Beth helped. Then I took over. It was fun, but I have a difficult enough time with just one horse, I am not sure I am ready for two! And turning them is much easier than making them go straight. But when we crossed the finish line, I had more water in the bucket! Me and the team took first place!!

After that, Shy and Art got hooked back up to the cart and gave pony rides to Lisa and her husband Ed.  And by the time Shy was unhooked, she was exhausted and sweaty! Pony doesn't know what it is like to work! She took a little snooze at the trailer, then resumed her eating. We loaded up and Lisa and Ed took us home. How awesome are they for coming to get us and bring us home for the show? Super awesome!!

That's the sign of some hard work!

The rains when we got home probably felt so good!

I am so proud of how Shy did today!! I wish I would have gotten way more photos, but I was so busy all day! If anyone at the show took some, I will share them on Shy's Facebook page.

it was magical

I rode Shyloh in the walk/trot class today at the Draft Club show!!!

After our ride! Go us!

She was amazingly as perfect as she could be. I mounted her from the ground and she didn't move a muscle. Then me and Jaime, on Notch, walked around the grounds a little bit. I warmed Shy up and tested her brakes. They worked!

Our class was called and in the arena we went. Since this was our first time and I am still working with her on her trot, we walked the class. But to me, that is not the point. The point is that we rode, we were away from home, we were with a bunch of other horses, and Shy was awesome!

She set her head and had such a relaxed, beautiful, and forward walk. I was able to do all the things we practiced, like moving her to the rail with my leg and using my seat to control her speed. When it was time to trot, we moved off the rail and stayed on the inside, to be out of the way. 

Getting ready for the obstacles

The only teeny, tiny hiccup was when all the horses were trotting and I thought to myself, Gee I am glad Shy doesn't want to pick up the trot when everyone else is trotting. . .and at this point she trotted about five steps. I was not expecting it and even though it was a smooth transition and an nice trot, I brought her back to the walk. I toyed for a mili-second about keeping up the trot, but I think the fact that she went into the trot without me asking was a more important thing to correct. She went right back into the walk. We lined up and Shy even backed up up for me! It was a magical day!

Halter and showmanship were. . .eh. But the judge provided useful feedback that I will work on next time. For the line driving obstacle course, Shy refused to go on the tarp (ugh! She does tarps!) but she did cross the bridge. Again, the judge gave me some pointers to work with her on, like keeping more contact.

And for the magical finale. . .

I had my first cart ride! Jaime let me ride with her and Notch in the cart class. It was so different, but fun. Notch was such a good boy.

Again, we did not win anything, but I think we are taking away a lot more from the shows than ribbons. Experience, friends, fun. . . can't be beat!