Der Meadowbrook
Jan. 11th, 2025 10:46 pmI'm going to try and be better at both posting and being involved here. I blame getting distracted by Discord and also writing like MAD. When I'm not working I'm most often poking at my manuscript(s), even if it's just bits and bobs and little snippets here and there. It feels good and I'm close to finishing book one, but I guess it isn't going to end there because I have three more planned, but! Yes. Anyway! This wasn't going to be me rambling about writing.

This comic pretty much sums up some of the feelings.
But yesterday! The little spaces in the physical journal aren't enough to cover it all.
I had my montly Rio Verde/Scottsdale grouping. They didn't want to start until 8am so I still got up around 5am and fed the herd and myself before striking off just after 6am. I had errands to run! I had left my bit bucket at Linda's Thursday so I needed to acquire that. From there I ran up to Amaris' place to pick up shaft tips that will hopefully work for Linda's cart and replace the shaft that Panda bent when she spooked early in her training.
I forgot there was no Mesa Drive entrance on that part of the 202, but wandered through Lehi/the Indian reservation to get to Gilbert Rd and swing up to Rio Verde. I made it just on time and managed to avoid most of the traffic.
We started with Kris and Carmella. The little Quarter Horse mare is coming along nicely and we're starting to get Kris on the lines more. She had some nervous moments, but that's okay. Carmella did quite well and is settling back into the job.
Knight was up next. We swapped out his bit to a 6" and while it took a bit to persuade the bridle on his head he warmed up really nicely in the new bit. He drove well and Brian and I discussed that maybe part of his bit-taking issue was the bit having become too small for his mouth. They're going to try out the glroy/victory mouthpiece as well and see how that goes over the next few weeks. There was a huge difference in how Knight long lined and drove over last time when he was very sour to the NW corner of the arena. He was much easier to maneuver this time and barely thought of falling towards his favorite corner after an initial correction in the warm-up.
Theresa got to drive Sharan's Welsh cross mare Ginger since Buttercup is currently waiting to hear back from the vet on her bloodwork. They suspect cushings. She had some pretty obvious sinus swellings last month and her energy wasn't up to where it usually is either. Theresa really enjoyed the chance to drive Ginger and feel out a four-wheeled vehicle as well as playing with cones and more precise work in the arena instead of just down the road.
Jenny and Galaxy were next and Galaxy put in a pretty relaxed drive. We even asked for the trot and did some work with the cones as well. He's slowly improving in how he handles the turns, but it does take a lot of concentration to be sure he carries himself through the turn instead of dive-bombing.
Sharan and Ginger were last. Sharan is pretty funny because she gets what she wants and doesn't want to belabor the lesson. She doesn't need to suck up the full hour and if she gets what she wants 30 minutes in she's perfectly happy. Fine by me!
We worked on precision to the cones and how to set herself up to come through them, even when they're just a few inches outside of her wheel base. The big thing for her was thinking about steering and setting up for the rear wheels because the front of a four-wheeled vehicle are so mobile and you have to line it up for the hinds and can change the front at the last second to make it through. She was starting to get it and was pretty happy with ther homework assignment to do inbetween.
From there it was to Pam's to deliver the wheels and axle she bought from Sue and Henry. The axle was the right width so we didn't have to worry about taking wheels off and on, however, it wasn't a simple matter!
The axle connection to the body was strange, a series of four bolts and plates that wedged against each other to hold it in place. I managed to get those pieces off and we went to slide the axle off and ran into the upright holding the seat up. Bugger. Ok, take out the four carriage bolts there. One of the bolts broke as I was unescrewing it so we sent Pam off to get new bolts.
Seat support removed, we moved the wheels back and ran into the support backe at the back of the vehicle between the floor and the base of the shafts. Crap.
I tried undoing the bolt at the last floorboard only to realize the piece of metal runs ALL the way to the front of the vehicle and includes ALL of the floorboards. So the top it was! It was only a 2" brace point, but it was that point that was supporting the top of the seats, the fenders, and the whole of the shafts. This made maneuvering the axle up and over it a trial. We ended up removing one of the fenders and still had to fight and wrestle the dang thing to get the old axle off and then more muttering and wrangling and resetting of the vehicle as it's trying to fall apart to get the new axle and wheels on. Those fenders are beastly things to deal with. We got the back end put back together in time for Pam to return with the new carriage bolts for the seat.
She missed the fun part, but also the slight heart-attack that may have been enduced by seeing her beloved cart handled so brutishly as we dismantled and put it back together.
Cart re-assembled I headed home. I made a stop to deposit money and made it just in time to do my 4pm art lesson.
I also got the idea for a new podcast episode featuring The Meadowbrook Cart: Carriage Driving Right of Passage.

This comic pretty much sums up some of the feelings.
But yesterday! The little spaces in the physical journal aren't enough to cover it all.
I had my montly Rio Verde/Scottsdale grouping. They didn't want to start until 8am so I still got up around 5am and fed the herd and myself before striking off just after 6am. I had errands to run! I had left my bit bucket at Linda's Thursday so I needed to acquire that. From there I ran up to Amaris' place to pick up shaft tips that will hopefully work for Linda's cart and replace the shaft that Panda bent when she spooked early in her training.
I forgot there was no Mesa Drive entrance on that part of the 202, but wandered through Lehi/the Indian reservation to get to Gilbert Rd and swing up to Rio Verde. I made it just on time and managed to avoid most of the traffic.
We started with Kris and Carmella. The little Quarter Horse mare is coming along nicely and we're starting to get Kris on the lines more. She had some nervous moments, but that's okay. Carmella did quite well and is settling back into the job.
Knight was up next. We swapped out his bit to a 6" and while it took a bit to persuade the bridle on his head he warmed up really nicely in the new bit. He drove well and Brian and I discussed that maybe part of his bit-taking issue was the bit having become too small for his mouth. They're going to try out the glroy/victory mouthpiece as well and see how that goes over the next few weeks. There was a huge difference in how Knight long lined and drove over last time when he was very sour to the NW corner of the arena. He was much easier to maneuver this time and barely thought of falling towards his favorite corner after an initial correction in the warm-up.
Theresa got to drive Sharan's Welsh cross mare Ginger since Buttercup is currently waiting to hear back from the vet on her bloodwork. They suspect cushings. She had some pretty obvious sinus swellings last month and her energy wasn't up to where it usually is either. Theresa really enjoyed the chance to drive Ginger and feel out a four-wheeled vehicle as well as playing with cones and more precise work in the arena instead of just down the road.
Jenny and Galaxy were next and Galaxy put in a pretty relaxed drive. We even asked for the trot and did some work with the cones as well. He's slowly improving in how he handles the turns, but it does take a lot of concentration to be sure he carries himself through the turn instead of dive-bombing.
Sharan and Ginger were last. Sharan is pretty funny because she gets what she wants and doesn't want to belabor the lesson. She doesn't need to suck up the full hour and if she gets what she wants 30 minutes in she's perfectly happy. Fine by me!
We worked on precision to the cones and how to set herself up to come through them, even when they're just a few inches outside of her wheel base. The big thing for her was thinking about steering and setting up for the rear wheels because the front of a four-wheeled vehicle are so mobile and you have to line it up for the hinds and can change the front at the last second to make it through. She was starting to get it and was pretty happy with ther homework assignment to do inbetween.
From there it was to Pam's to deliver the wheels and axle she bought from Sue and Henry. The axle was the right width so we didn't have to worry about taking wheels off and on, however, it wasn't a simple matter!
The axle connection to the body was strange, a series of four bolts and plates that wedged against each other to hold it in place. I managed to get those pieces off and we went to slide the axle off and ran into the upright holding the seat up. Bugger. Ok, take out the four carriage bolts there. One of the bolts broke as I was unescrewing it so we sent Pam off to get new bolts.
Seat support removed, we moved the wheels back and ran into the support backe at the back of the vehicle between the floor and the base of the shafts. Crap.
I tried undoing the bolt at the last floorboard only to realize the piece of metal runs ALL the way to the front of the vehicle and includes ALL of the floorboards. So the top it was! It was only a 2" brace point, but it was that point that was supporting the top of the seats, the fenders, and the whole of the shafts. This made maneuvering the axle up and over it a trial. We ended up removing one of the fenders and still had to fight and wrestle the dang thing to get the old axle off and then more muttering and wrangling and resetting of the vehicle as it's trying to fall apart to get the new axle and wheels on. Those fenders are beastly things to deal with. We got the back end put back together in time for Pam to return with the new carriage bolts for the seat.
She missed the fun part, but also the slight heart-attack that may have been enduced by seeing her beloved cart handled so brutishly as we dismantled and put it back together.
Cart re-assembled I headed home. I made a stop to deposit money and made it just in time to do my 4pm art lesson.
I also got the idea for a new podcast episode featuring The Meadowbrook Cart: Carriage Driving Right of Passage.