mulesuk

As half the internet knows about Blue's best bit of tack I was hoping Ruth would jump in on this one but as she hasn't I will cos I love to talk about it.
I bought Blue as "Ride and Drive" but all Mules are ride and drive even if they are far too young and never had a bit in their mouths!......So I sent her away to be cart trained by a dealer and the fun began.We had fun together when we were on our own,it's when other people came into the equation the trouble started
Granted Blue was a fizzy little right brained girl but she did well until we got in with "Them Wot Does it Proper".
I learnt I had to have a groom to leap out and grab her head if something went wrong (That's if they can get out of the cart quick enough!) The only groom I'd ever had was when I was first learning to drive and they grabbed hold of the reins as soon as the animal broke into a trot turning a perfectly calm situation into a near spill and putting me off having anyone in my cart ever again.Besides You have to talk to the groom (Another distraction)to be polite, and I'd rather be polite to Blue
Next there was the bit problem! Blue put her tongue over the bit which never bothered her or me but seemed to be a henous crime.She had various ported bits that got higher and higher then they tried nosebands that crossed over and got tighter and tighter and then one well known carriage driver even tied a bandage round her nose and I'd had enough!!!
Finally "Them Wot does it proper" in the local Donkey group said "it's her or us" so I had to bow out and just before her new Hillam cart I'd saved up for was delivered all her tack was stolen so I just stopped driving her as it was no fun any more and she became a paddock ornement.
Then I went to a Working Mule and Donkey day in Shropshire and heard about The Saddlechariot.I say heard,because I went on the Sunday and Simon had given his display on the Saturday but even the concept excited me,and then I got to see one at a Mule Camp in Wiltshire.
It seemed the answer to all our problems.It was light and could fit in the boot of a car.The tack was incredible,so easy to fit,very light and easy to release (This was even before Simon had developed the instant release mechanism)
It took me three years to get hold of one and by then Blue had not been driven for ten years.She took to the chariot like a duck to water.I promised her we would go back to having fun so the bit went and so did the blinkers as decided a lot of our previous problems had been because she could not see.
She became a differant animal. We could go anywhere,it was just like riding except I was just behind her and the chariot was narrow enough to be slipped up paths that riders could go on.I always dismounted and led her up these and it was rather like walking a dog.As the shafts are rounded at the end,plastic and halfway along her side you don't get broken ribs if something startles her and she jumps foreward.
About 3 wks after we got it I popped into the local Donkey rep with her to show her and she immediately invited me to bring her along to their "spook busting" do the following weekend.I was hesitant as I didn't want to cause her any trouble with her members again but she insisted.
There were some ashened faces and dropped jaws as I rode Blue through the gate that Saturday but by the end they had to admit she was the best behaved animal there,due I'm sure because the ease of using Blue in the Saddlechariot meant we spent so much time together.
We went to the Mule Camp in Shropshire that year....a thousand acres of parkland to drive round!!!! The treasure hunt was easy because I could sit astride the seat and write notes,circling obstacles to find the hidden notes and even a trip to the little church was easy for us although other carts couldn't go because they couldn't get through the gate and up the narrow little lane like Blue and I.
Now Simon has fitted the new instant release I have been practising with that and also practising Parrelli with her in the round pen with the Chariot attached...we can do the yo-yo game,moving the forquarters,driving game etc ,all on the 12' rope because the cart doesn't hinder her. I'd like to get to the stage where we can do it at liberty especially the back up!



http://naturaldriving.co.uk/content_real.php
Go here to see Simon's site

Well, I haven't spoken up because I have only just found this forum board!!
Having owned that saddlechariot before you Jinglejoys I can only say what a wonderful vehicle it is. So easy, go anywhwere and above all, SO SAFE.

One day....

Whoops! Looking around and I see there is already a Ruth here with a saddlechariot.Sorry.

Aah now I know who I'm talking to

This one's for you then just after I got it but I don't think you can read your web adress on the shafts I thought it came up better than that.

Have you got to driving it standing up now? It's so much more fun like that, and the faster the better!!
I see Simon still has our photo on his website, luckily we hadn't added the web address then!!

Yes standing up is fun you can see over the hedges!
Simons also adding the new collor which makes turning even easier so Blue doesn't have to do the cross over feet thing (Shame cos she was getting so good at it!)

What I really like is the shafts only coming half way along the body, It means Miss Scratchy (Charcoal) can have a gnaw without the fear of putting an eye out!
Certainly no limits on where you can go either.

Yes and you don't end up with broken ribs when leading either and she can turn easier