See Sam Drive, Horse and Cart Edition
Sam started driving lessons about two years ago. Sam would watch other riders at Born 2 Be dress up in costumes and drive their carts in exhibition drills that he enjoyed watching. I mentioned he didn’t have to resign himself to watching, he could participate and he finally decided to give it a try.
Today wasn’t his first competition, but it was the first time I was able to go and get video for you, dear internet readers. We got to the stables (near Terrell) about 9 this morning, in time for Sam to watch his instructor and many of the other competitors. His class was the last of the day to compete, and he was the last competitor. (You will see that he is joined in the cart by his instructor as a safety measure. Also, we very grateful that it was all done by noon. We both napped after we got home. It’s going to be a long and very hot summer this year.)
He said that he planned to trot the “Fault and Out” course. He’d seen a few people scratch over the course of the morning, but he was confident in his ability, along with Doc’s, to weave the cones. You can hear the whistle after the sixth set. In the stands, we were all surprised to hear the whistle because it looked like they were through, but Sam knew. He had to stop because he and Doc had knocked a tennis ball off the top of the cone. That’s the Fault. So they were Out.
Things went better for the Gambler’s Choice obstacle course. I learned that this, too, is a timed event, unlike trail patterns for riders. The more times he and Doc completed one of the obstacles, the more points they got. You will see that Sam started to try to back Doc and the cart into the U and bump out the back, but when things slowed down too much, he wisely gave up. I learned later that it’s quite difficult for a horse to back a four-wheel cart without jackknifing it.
After the events were over, one of the technical judges came by to encourage Sam and tell him what all went right. Sam told her he just wanted to finish the course anyways, because it was fun.
Racing alone. That’s the spirit.
Congratulations, Sam. It’s all about the journey and not necessarily the destination. Have fun and enjoy the ride – literally and figuratively. Very exciting!
Thanks, Ann!
Fascinating, I love that Sam challenges himself to learn new skills and to enter competitions. Thanks for the window into that world.
It’s fascinating. Just when I think I finally know a few things about horses, I realize, uh, not so much.
It all looks so graceful! Congrats to Sam for new skills learned.
It does look graceful, doesn’t it?
I also thought it was low-risk compared to riding, but apparently, not always. While I was sitting in the stands, another spectator relayed a horrific story about another cart driver who took a bad roll two years earlier. She lost her horse in the accident and it took her a year to recuperate from her own injuries. She was competing that day, so everyone was glad to see her. But egad.
Good job Sam. Looks like fun.
He really enjoys it.