Drive

Today was a wonderful day, got lots of riding in, but the most important thing happened today: Fred was started to cart!

We got another harness, but still can't make heads nor tails of it. The second one has TWO BITS and Lil Fred is so small, I knew we weren't doing this right. He was very tolerant with our fumbling. In the end he looked like Macrame gone wrong.

I took a picture, sent it to Martin and he let us know there were issues. Poor Fred! I know he was trying to tell us it wasn't right.

Sunday Martin and Tracey came over to help with the harnessing, Martin got it sorted out for us. He got rid of this and that piece of leather that was extraneous and extra holes punched into the bridle and rigging. Martin threw in a little bit of baling twine, too. Got rid of the second bit, the Blinkers where they should be, the bit turned around, and everything adjusted. In the end Lil Fred looked rather smart in his new outfit.

This new harness is leather, very stiff, too. The key to 'seasoning' new leather is to put a tablespoon of cooking oil, olive oil, in a gallon-size zip-lock bag, stuff the leathers into it and place in the Sun for two, three days. The oil will disappear and the leather will be pliable without being weak.

After Lil Fred was fully 'dressed' Martin and Tracey took him for a spin around the barn. He's a natural. Soon after that Martin pulled the cart along side of Lil Fred until he stopped jigging. He then was hitched up to it and pulled it with no issue.

Sprite was extremely interested in the doings, and trotted along side or behind the whole time. She also dropped down and rolled in front of the cart. She's going to get her own cart, real soon.

After Martin got in the cart Lil Fred had a hard time making the incline next to the barn with that added weight. We have to work on getting him into shape, we all could use some of that, right?