Driving with my son

My son with lines in hand

Today I decided to do some things just for me.  I came home from work early, and decided that I'd work the horses.  It's funny to me that whenever you think you can do something quickly with horses, life happens.  My first delay was getting Whinnie (the little buckskin filly) back into my pasture.  She managed to get in the neighbors field somehow, so I had to cut the fence, get her back on my side, and then fix the fence.

Delay #2 came from a preggo mare Pam acting like a total butt.  She refused to let me halter her.  This meant we spent 30 minutes of her running away from me while I slowly walked behind her (like a murderer in some slasher movie from the 1980s).  After 30 minutes she finally tired herself out, and she stood.  I chuckled when I saw how sweaty she had made herself.  After that, she was a perfect mare.  She had no more strength to act up.

My boy driving the sled across the pasture.

About that time, my son got home from school.  To my surprise, he told me he wanted to come out and work the horses with me.  We had an awesome day!  He helped me halter Rachael, and also helped me groom them and harness them.  We hooked the girls up to the sled, and I started driving them.

He actually did pretty good at keeping slack out of his lines

About that time, Riley asked if he could drive.  I quickly agreed, and he took over.  He did so good!  I was very impressed with him.  I took a few video's of him driving the horses.  The first one below is of him starting the girls from a stop.  It took him 3 tries to get them to respond to his voice, but he got them to listen.  (turn the sound up and you can here him talking to the horses)

The next video is of Riley turning a 180 degree circle.  He completely impressed me with his ability to command the horses.  By the time we finished working the horses, Riley had driven much longer than I had.

There is something very fulfilling about sharing this stuff with my son.  I love that he wants to be involved, and I love that he does so well with the horses.  Had a fabulous day with my boy!!