Desert Moonlight Miniatures

I started in October of 2008, teaching Dolly to ground drive. I did this on and off for a couple of months she was doing really well.  I had to stop as she started to get bigger, as she was in Foal. My Saddle was not fitting her very well any more. This is Dolly and I learning it is so fun.

Its July now and Im back at it, Dolly had her Foal in May and I think she is ready to start learning again.  I started out with more ground driving, I even put a pvc drag behind her so she could pull it around.  Dolly is a mellow mare but she gets scared real easy at noises from behind.  Bags terrify her and the fly spray bottle is evil, so this is all real challenging when you start to add noises. All went well with the pvc drag.  I had done this four or five times, so I thought I would try the Cart.  I didn't hook it all down just in case I had to get her out of it real fast, she did well, a little shaky, but soon got over it.  I just let her stand with it.

The next day I hooked it up, tightend all the straps and away we went with me walking beside her, she was still a little shaky but walked really well.  I did this for a week with each day getting better.  I then put her Bridel on with her blinkers and led her around that way for a few days, each day she seemed to do much better.  Still a little shakey and scared at times but we worked through them.  My next step was to get behind the Cart and Ground Drive her from there, I did this and was very pleased. 

Today September 02, 2009, Precia my daughter was here and I asked her if she wanted to be the first in the cart, while I led Dolly, she said,  "Yes," and out to the barn yard we went. I hooked her all up and lead her around without anyone in the cart . My daughter said, "Ok I'm ready," so she got in . I lead Dolly around a few times with Precia at the reins, she did so good.  Prec said,  "Ok I want to do this myself,  I said, "Ok, you got her."  She walked her around and she even got her to trot a little, Dolly did end up throwing a fit in the cart, so i had prec get out.  I lead Dolly around a couple more times, I didn't want to end the day on a bad note.  This is precia driving Dolly, see the smile on her face, I think they are even trotting in this picture.

Dolly is doing well at her training. I changed the shafts to my 55" instead of the 48" . when she gets use to the cart more I will put the 48" back on, right now she is more comfortable with the longer ones. Carting is so fun. I am a little affraid I dont know why I guess I just dont want her to get to scarred and have a bad experiance and then we are back at square one. Precia keeps telling me it ok Mom we are doing good. and she's right Dolly has come along way since a couple of weeks ago, when she gets a little nervouse I just lead her around and pull the cans behind and she seems to calm down crazy as that sounds. I guess she has gotten use to the cans ratteling and she knows they are not going to hurt her  crazy mare. But I guess at her age she is intitled.

I'm on cloud 9

I'm so excited Dolly, Prec and I went down the street today. We started out with Prec in the cart and me leading, We did this down the street and around the corner then I got in a Precia lead,We went about a half a mile and as soon as I felt we were comfortable enough Prec got in and we turned around to go home. Dolly did great she does real good with the dogs running up to the fences, She talked to all the horses and cows, Cars driving by didn't seem to bother her at all, She even seemed like she liked it wanted to trot right on down the road. When I got home I worked with Kissy I had some cans and a silk plant. Well lets just say I'm not sure if she will be able to go in the parade but i'm going to work with her for the next couple of weeks .

I also got out the Umbrella and went in the pasture with all three of them, that was fun it didn't seem to bother Dolly as much as the Younger two. I did put a Halter on Dolly, grabbed some treats and we went to desensitizing she did so good. I open and closed it a lot swung it above our head and rubbed it all over her it's amazing what a hand full of treats will do. I will keep doing this and she will be real ready for her first Parade October 3rd in Phoenix. Precia is coming over tomorrow and we will do this again, then I think I will be able to go myself. I am getting more and more confident as the days go by