>>>I know the horse(s) should be bombproof before they are ever hooked up but it doesn't stop me from being nervous about the final hookup.<<<< Yeah, that first actual hook-up -- its kind of the same as when you finally swing your leg over the saddle for the first time on a youngster. All that preparation, & now are they really ready for it?? just try then , if ever, to have some horse-knowledgable help as "ground men," at least on that first day - not to tell you what to do- but to help if things don't go precisely as planned. Hopefully, after all that ground work, things will be very quiet and anti-climactic (sp?) on the actually day. after all, the horse doesnt know its a 'big step' it should be just another event in the training process. er, just Nancy in NH... not trying to sound like i have a clue - just been in that first time situation a few times now ... :~ _________________________________________________________ To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: http://www.drivingpairs.com/dpmem.html `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````