>>>> Rule number one, first you have to be able to run, or have a 100 lb girl that can run. I tried this with Willie and he took off with me too fast and oops, I lost him. Maybe a smaller arena next time. Sylvia
Yep, a small arena is key at first. Shirley has been ground-driving horses for many, many years, and is very experienced...and even she likes to start in a small arena. Or maybe it's because she has so much experience that she doesn't take unnecessary chances! Why tempt fate...as we found out yesterday... I wish I'd gotten it on video, but I didn't. Shirley is one of those innately graceful and athletic people - totally unlike the klutz that I am. It's very rare to see her do something ungraceful...but I saw it yesterday while she was driving Runa. She was wearing a pair of Ariat paddock boots, the type with the "quick-lace" hooks at the top. Somehow, she got her shoelace from one boot caught in the hook of the other, essentially tying her feet together for the moment. Over she went, right on her face - klunk! Runa's head came up sharply, like, "What the heck was that!?!?!", but she stopped dead in her tracks and stood until I could walk over to her. Even Angie, just 15 feet away, stood looking puzzled, but didn't tense up at all. I assume Runa would have stopped and stood just as quietly had she been in an open space, but it sure was a relief to know we didn't have to go after a horse on the loose dragging long driving reins. (I was VERY proud of Angie!) So...I'd credit all the pre-driving work we've done with Runa, and the fact that she trusts Shirley and us and that she was content that stopping is the right thing to do if in doubt...but having her in a small area was certainly another level of insurance! Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.6/1193 - Release Date: 12/22/2007 2:02 PM IceHorses Community for Photos and Videos: http://kickapps.com/icehorses "The greatest enemy of the truth very often is not the lie- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic." "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer [] Lee Ziegler http://leeziegler.com [] Liz Graves http://lizgraves.com [] Lee's Book Easy Gaited Horses http://tinyurl.com/7vyjo [] IceHorses Map http://www.frappr.com/IceHorses Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
