[drivingpairs] Re: tandem
- From: Carpediemfarm@xxxxxxx
- To: drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 10:25:41 EST
In a message dated 1/25/2006 11:04:43 PM Pacific Standard Time,
ecartis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> Driving the
> tandem on my rein board every evening. Doesn't everyone have a rein board
> hanging in their dining room?
[I've got one in my 'sunroom'!]
The LA County Fair show was coming up. I > wanted to enter the ATC class.
> I made arrangements to borrow a two wheel
> cart and talked Trish Demers into being my groom. She was always game to
> try anything and could jump out and be at their heads in a flash if needed.
> I entered the class. The time came to hook the tandem and get them into
> the ring. This was going to be my first time driving them actually hooked
> to a cart. All our previous work had been done at the walk on the ground.
> Jud Wright (extra person there to announce info about Tandem driving during
> the line up) &Grace Yaglo (ring master) were in the ring and aware I was a
> green tandem driver. Jud kept reminding me that if I could do it at the
> walk I could do it at the trot AND where the leader goes so goes the
> wheeler.
[Hey Renie, you survived!!]
>
> the warm up ring at Fairplex is too small &it already had four tandems in
> it! We enter the ring and track right, all is good. We keep our distance
> from the three friesen and two pony tandems. Change rein on the diagonal,
> OK, we can do this. All is still good. Then a child on the rail waves his
> jacket, my leader goes off the rail. Ok, ok we are fine, follow the
> leader. We circle right around the judge get back on the rail and I adjust
> the wrong rein and instead of going straight on the rail we do it again!
> Right around the judge a second time. Ok, ok, don't panic it's almost
> over. They finally call the line up. As the judge passes by she makes a
> comment, "I thought the first loop around me a bit unusual but it put you
> in a good possition to the other tandems in the arena (I had been a bit
> close to the tandem in front of me). But, when you did it the second time
> I had to drop you down a place (a red ribbon was OK).
>
> After all this more time was spent learning the finer details of rein
> handling and enjoying working with others at the ATC meets.
>
> I'm back driving again (two drives so far) after a long two year recovery
> from an accident. I've seen photos of my new pair being driven tandem.
> Future fun awaits us.
>
> Trish...a great big thanks for being brave and going out with me on that
> first drive. Barbara, I miss you, I'm sure you've taught St Peter how to
> do everything by now. Jay, someday I'll drive tandem half as well as you
> do and be very pleased with myself. I love South Carolina but, I miss my
> California driving buddies.
>
> Renie
> ponylady@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> http://www.GilcrestFarm.com
>
>
[You are very welcome, and I'd do it again anytime. Hey, when Barbara drove
the 4up of HP's the first time (I was grooming), I ended up hand walking them
thru the cones course- but we completed it and didn't give up!. I think we
even broke something...
My first time driving my pony's tandem in competition (at the LA fair), my
leader decided to dive right, (we were on the rail in the Right direction), and
my leader almost SPLIT the Fresian tandem that decided to pass us at that
moment (my groom said she saw her reflection in the wheeler's rossette!).
After I
got it under control (follow the leader), as we rounded the gazebo in the
center of the arena, and I ran over the potted plants (keep following the
leader....) we circled neatly (how did I manage that?), and came into the line
up and
just stayed there (much to the relief of the other competators to be
sure!!!).
If you don't try, you will never suceed!
Keep on driving!
Trish
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