[drivingpairs] New to List

Here I am, finally succumbing........been a browser of the Messages History for 
some time now......but time for me to 'fess up, to say that I have now joined 
this List.  I live in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California, on all of 3 
acres with my husband (grew up driving draft and mule teams), our two children, 
a smattering of cats, dogs, and our horse "herd".....no count, I quit 
counting!!!!  Plus, we have my husband's 3-doctor equine veterinary clinic on 
site.  Crowded, to say the least.....and I am about to crowd it even more!!!
Tomorrow, I shall be picking up my new (and first) pair, two young black (not a 
single white hair, even) Morgan geldings, "John" and "Sterling".......!!!!!!  
Will need to rearrange home herd first, so I can figure out where to squeeze 
them in at!!  VBG!!!!  They are travelling from Iowa to California, as I write. 
 Sweet, sweet temperaments, no pun intended!!!!  Nice looking, been driven as 
pair and as singles.  Will be borrowing a pair vehicle until I decide which one 
I want for my own.

My new boys have been driven along major roadways with trucks flying by, on 
gravel intermediate roads with modern vehicles going by so close you could 
reach out and touch them, by new age technology (they are from an Amish farm), 
past dogs charging at them (with ME driving!!!), on wheels with and without 
rubber, over rock roads, up and down hills, through water.  I spent a few days 
there, earlier this year, where I fell in love with the temperament, 
willingness, sensibilities, and steadfastness of my new pair.  I had gone 
looking for a single horse, but pairs was also an option at this place....just 
hadn't thought of it as an option for me.  My husband, well......he grew up 
driving multiples.........and he just said "let's do it, let's get a pair".  

I have a lot to learn, but even with all one learns, there is always still so 
much more to learn.  I HAVE already purchased the book out on Tandem 
Driving.....and am reading everything I can get my hands on regarding Pair 
Driving.  My plan is to spend a moment of time driving them single, to get a 
feel for them, and for them to get used to me......bonding time.  Then I will 
start driving them on weekends as a pair.  The Amish Farmer is waiting for me 
to see what mouthpiece my Myler bit is (I took it with me, left it with him for 
my boys), and will be ordering a couple more like it for the Farmer, and 
another for my other Morgan!  Have my Pair Harness, my Nearside harness that I 
bought a few years back, just in case!!!  VBG!!!!  Have my Pair Whip.  
Everything fits in the horse trailer so I can haul out and get lessons.  I 
won't have any more excuses!!!!

And, yes, I have changed my e-mail addy to reflect my new (yet so much the 
same) direction I have chosen in driving.  I rather enjoyed learning about this 
expression.  "Next pair out!" came from the Sally Walrond book, The 
Encyclopaedia of Carriage Driving, and is explained thusly:
        "The familiar order for which post boys waited in the inn-yards of 
posting houses.  The next postillion on call was ready with his boots, spurs 
and false leg strapped in position.  The pair of horses which he was to drive 
were harnessed and waiting on pillar reins, so that there was no delay."

What was really interesting about the horses waiting in pillar reins at the inn 
yards, was what they were attached to the posts of the tie stalls at the rear 
of the stall, so that their butts faced the mangers.  Explanation.....if the 
horses were to pull back, they would quickly come into contact with the 
mangers, and they couldn't go forward because they were being held by rope to 
the posts.  They could be left for a reasonable amount of time without them 
rubbing or chewing on the harness.  

Carole Sweet
nextpairout@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Modesto, CA
Why Wait?  Move to EarthLink.

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