playin' with horses.....

This is going to be a fun!!! and interesting day... and I am so excited to see Becky and Butch pulling into the farm with their trailer!!!! 

Bill and Ben have arrived.. because they have a very special job coming up and we humans need to be sure they are up for it.....

The Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters convention is in a few weeks, and Ed had the idea of having Protection II pulled by horses. I would have loved it to be our two, but, I don't quite dare since they are not used to parades, people and the like... so we asked Butch what he thought about his team... and knowing Butch, he said.."sure, why not". So, today they have come to practice and see how it all goes. 

The first part was measuring. Protection II has the long poles that the pumping was done with. They stick out well beyond it's body and we had to be sure the horses had room to work around them. 

And as it turns out... they didn't. So, Ed needs to make a longer pole for the horses to be able to turn when they are pulling....for today, Butch could lengthen the tugs, but for the parade the pole is going to have to be longer....

Becky and I drove the team around the farm while Ed and Butch made adjustments for today's practice and plans for what needs to be done for the parade... My two... walked along with us....you'd think they were helping in some manner...

With temporary adjustments made... they tried hitching again...

And things looked good enough for a test run....

The horses weren't even bothered by the weight or the sounds... and Butch confidently headed out to the road and onto the pavement where it will be easy pulling...

They went along as though they had pulled that hand tub their whole lives.... what a beautiful sight... it brought all our neighbors out to see what was going on... and I can just imagine what it's going to be like in the big parade....

Butch took the time to practice... turning it around, handling it on different surfaces, just getting the feel of the piece and the team together... all I could do was take about a 1000 pictures.....

Ed is so happy that his idea will work out. We know the Red Shirts are going to be thrilled to see this.... its an event that not likely to happen again for a very very long time, so this is truly something quite special. 

After all the practicing, plans made and everyone looking forward to the big event... the boys got to have some rest time in the pasture, while we had a little cookout dinner together. Friends like Becky and Butch are so special.. we don't see each other for months at a time, and when we do, we just pick up and continue on. We have so much in common that it's just really fun. 

They've been busy doing a lot of weddings this year too.. so their wedding carriage is in the trailer. Becky has been out almost every weekend... makes me wonder if i could do a business like that..... something to think about...

And, as with most days that are fun and have been looking forward too.. it's over in a moment's time. The boys need to head home, and will be back for the convention...

I'm so looking forward to that weekend.. but don't want to rush time... because the days are just never long enough....