In anticipation of the babies coming home, Bill and I worked on the fence surrounding the pen today. I counted it as my workout, as I couldn't face going into the gym when the weather was so beautiful. I figure that any physical labor that I do at altitude most definitely counts as a workout. Besides, my trainer can't simulate carrying poles twice as long as I am tall, using a crowbar to pull off old poles, lifting panels out of snow and flipping a water tank with ice in the bottom (okay, it wasn't thick ice and I was helping Bill).
Wednesday, I'll be doing something that I swore I would never do again. But because I love my horse, I'll break that vow to myself. RCC's truck, "The Bitch", has warped brake rotors. I need the truck to haul hay up on Friday and to pick Estes up next week. I can't afford to pay someone to replace the rotors. Guess who's going to be doing it? Yup. Yours truly. And Bill. RCC would do it for me if he wasn't working every. single. day.
I *hate* working on brakes. Hate it. I'm not sure anyone understands how completely I despise working on brakes. Yet, because I do love that horse of mine, I'll be knuckling down and getting dirty. But I'll be swearing a blue streak the whole day.
Friday is going to be a first for me. I've never towed a trailer, which I think is a huge failing. Every horse owner needs to know how to trailer and it's something I've been planning on learning, but never seem to have the time. Since we're going to be buying 1,500# bales in order to free-feed while Mom's still on the mend, we're going to use RCC's flatbed trailer to haul the hay up to the Lodge. I could have Bill drive the truck for me, but that would just be another opportunity to learn that I'd be passing up. I think RCC's a little nervous for me to take the trailer up to the Lodge, but I figure as long as I don't have to back it I'll be okay. I'll leave the backing to Bill because I don't want to be responsible for taking out the fence we just mended. It'll be a tight fit to back the trailer into the pen and get it parked where they want it.
I don't want my first time hauling a trailer to be with Estes in the back. Nope, I'll leave that for my second time. In order to get all of the horses up to the Lodge in one trip, we're going to take both trucks and trailers. Mom and Bill bought us a two-horse bumper pull for a wedding present, which is just big enough for Ranger and Estes. The three grays will go up in their trailer and we'll get them all up at once instead of taking two trips.
Wish us luck :)
12 comments:
Oh no way... you've never pulled a trailer??? I'm relieved that I'm not the only one!
Though I have pulled it around the pasture - without a horse - just because that darn thing freaks me out.
Mr. Daddy operates heavy machinery and always manages to back those bad boys up perfectly... so I leave it up to him.
Wimp, I know.
Good luck!
I love it. You can change the brakes but you haven't pulled a trailer. A 2 horse bumper is easy, I can even do it. I get in serious trouble with a gooseneck though because they cut corners and that could mean big trouble. I have serious spatial perception problems. LOL. I am horrible at backing up too and hooking up. Mostly I just avoid it as much as possible. Have fun. My hat is off to you.
That is funny--changing brakes but not pulling a trailer. How did you miss out all this time? Necessity is the mother of invention. I learned to pull because I wanted to ride my horses on the trails, but I was horrible at backing up and everyone would laugh at me going forward and backward all day. The good news is, that if you go forward and backward enough and you're reasonably intelligent...you WILL be able to back into any space given enough time. ;) Have fun learning.
I like Linda's theory on backing up, because that's the place I'm in on my back up skills right now. I can get that gooseneck forward, and even hooking up, but backing into spaces...whew. It will be great having the horses home again!
Juanita
Hahah, I'm also laughing about the brakes but no hauling thing! I've assisted on brakes but haven't ever changed pads or rotors by myself, eek :o
If you see a parking lot on the way down to get the hay, pull off and practice backing. It's counterintuitive at first, but it's not that hard. I learned to tow and back with a 16' flatbed - and I had to thread it between a huge oak tree and a barn! All you really need is patience. And don't let your "helper" frazzle you - I can't back with a helper!
The brakes thing came from necessity. While I was a poor single mom, I couldn't afford to pay anyone to work on my cars, so I had to do it. Bill helped out a lot, but I still had to do the lion's share of the work. I've done head gaskets, brakes, tune-ups, starters...you know, all of the things that go out when you drive disposable cars.
RCC is going to hook up the trailer for me on Thursday, because there's just not enough time in the day on Friday for me to fiddle-fart around with it. And my neighbors probably wouldn't be thrilled with me blocking the street all day while I went forward and back trying to line it up, since the trailer's parked in our driveway.
Several hints to make trailer backing easier:
Learn to use your mirrors. Don't turn around and look unless you absolutely have to.
The longer the trailer, the easier it is to back.
The steering is backwards. Turn left to go right and right to go left.
Practice, practice, practice!
I drove a baby Winnabago and a four horse trailer on the show circuit for 3 months when I was 17. I never backed it up. I would get someone to move their rig so I could pull through or someone to back up my rig.
Now however, trailering is a piece of cake. I learned from some awesome big truck drivers and they taught me well.
Brakes! Yuck! Dave always cusses when he works on those things and I keep my distance. Sorry you have to do it, but it'll be good you're getting it done.
Being able to move all the horses at the same time will be good for everyone and the hroes I think.
Ugh! I just did the same thing. Cost me 700 smackers. Give Bill lots of hugs and cookies. Good thing you know someone so handy. :)
I don't like messing with brakes either. Pain in the butt!
I am surprised you haven't pulled a trailer before. Well, that will be remedied soon enough and then it's on to the horses. The two horse bumper pull will be a piece of cake.
Pony girl is dead on. I learned with our boat, but honestly, once I stopped relying on others I realized it wasn't hard, you just had to remember the opposite rule. Turn the way opposite you think you should!
However, brakes? I think that's probably beyond me.
Thanks for all the tips! We made it safe and sound :)
Post a Comment