An early Christmas present.

[Tam]

All the hard but fun work is paying off. BMR gave me my Christmas present early. He put his welding and blacksmith skills to work and made me a pony size double tree. He used square tubing from an old bale feeder and some rod iron . It's light weight and is eazy to hook up the tugs to.

He also made a neck yoke and pole for our son's old bobsled. He used cold rolled tubing that has been kicking around for at least 35 years and more of the bale feeder to make the pole. For the neck yoke he used a piece of the pipe from the car port I replaced this summer and a couple eye bolts and some more rod iron. He had me out in the shop after supper holding things while he was heating, bending and welding. Everything works as he hoped they would and they are just the right size.

Yesterday afternoon we went out to finish up the pole by cutting it the right length and welding the neck yoke stop on it. After BMR finished we hooked up the girls and went for a ride. First time out and they did great we had a very nice ride.



BMR mom was watching us drive by from her window and it brought tears to her eyes. When we went to the house after putting them away his Dad said he was very surprized at how well they did, they looked good.
Our son was home today, so he and I took the girls out and he was very happy with the way they were going. We went for a ride out to the flat then when we got back we went out and put mineral out to the calves. The girls stood nice while Lane put out the mineral and then move to the next pen and stood waiting for him to get back on.

The one thing I realized is, driving two is a bit harder than driving just one. Running the lines right is something I need a bit more practice on. But I'm sure I will get it.

[Soapweed]

Looks like ol' Big Muddy came through with flying colors, so you can ride in style with your ponies and sleigh. Nice outfit. You will have a lot of fun with the ponies.

Even though we don't hook up our team very often anymore, we still have a pair of big Belgian geldings. I got my first team, a pair of mules, when I was a freshman in high school back in the late 1960's, and have had at least one team on hand ever since. Peach and I got married in the spring of 1979, and fed all our hay the first two years of married life with four head of big Belgians. They were the Rushmore four: Abe, George, Teddy, and Tom. Lots of fond memories spiced with some spooky run-aways.

[gcreekrch]

Looks good Tam, you are in better country for runaways than Soap as your hills are steeper.

With a four-up you could be doing all the chores.

[katrina]

Tam, I'm soooooo excited for you...Nothing like a team of horses... You definately have the fever now... enjoy.....

[burnt]

Looks good! I'm glad that guy you have to feed 3 or 4 times a day can do something useful to earn his keep around there.

But the sledding part - wouldn't that involve going out in the cold and snow?

[per]

[hillsdown]

Wow, what a great present. Love it !!!

You both are so very talented with your beautiful art work and craftsmanship.

[Faster horses]

WOW Tam. WOW, WOW, WOW. How much fun can one gal have?

They are so cute and you have done an amazing job with them.
Thanks for sharing!!!

Nice that it turned into a family project.

[Northern Rancher]

They'll be harnessing themselves before you know it-sweaty harness=broke horses. That is just a nice sized team to go cut firewood with if you had more trees. If life gets boring you can build yourself a dogbox and get some coyote hounds.

[MsSage]

I am so jealous.
They are awesome and you have done an outstanding job working them.
Keep the pics coming

[Tam]

I took the bobsled back to the shop and did a bit of work to it. I had built a sleigh before but BMR and Lane didn't think the runners were strong enough so I took the body and attached it to the bobsled runners. and added a tray to the back to carry feed buckets. When we pulled it out it went right to work putting mineral out. It is alot smoother and has a nice padded seat with a back. and has a convertable top. This is the top down.

And here it is with the top up

Notice the whip in the holder. It was my Christmas present from BMR dad and it came will a red bow and jingle bells. I also finally tried the silver bells on the sides of the ponies. The first time I hooked thyem to their harness, they didn't care for the noise but they got use to them after I carried them in my pocket for a few times.



I promised BMR's mom we were going for a sleigh soon. His sister and brother in law are suppose to be coming down tomorrow so I'll try giving them a ride first then after a few more eventless trips around the yard, I'll chance taking her out. I'm hoping that will be her Christmas day treat weather permitting.

[burnt]

Well it just keeps getting better! An all-weather, 8 hoof drive, choring vehicle! Has you installed a heater yet or are you still relying on hot bricks wrapped in a blanket to keep your feet warm?

But I don't know what man in his right mind would give a woman a whip for Christmas or any other occasion . . .