Pre trip truck and trailer inspection: under the hood.
In Saskatchewan you need a G Endorsement on your driver's license to haul a heavy trailer weighing over 10,000 lbs.
So far I've completed a medical, vision test, general knowledge written exam, written sign exam, and a heavy trailer knowledge exam. That earns you a learner's permit.
Next I need to complete a Pre-trip circle check.
Part one of the circle check is under the hood. Check all fluids, belts, wiring, batteries, and hoses.
All helpful tips are welcome!!
If you are interested, there are further practice videos posted below.
2. Exterior check of truck and trailer.
3. Check of hitch and coupling on truck and trailer.
4. Check of all truck and trailer lights.
5. Interior check of gauges, instrument panel, horn, wipers, seat belts, mirrors, windows, and switches.
After the circle check there is the driving test!
Yikes--maybe I'll post a practice video on that too.
PS: I PASSED!!!!
Thanks for all the tips:)
Exploring the beauty of Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park.
Sumchi Monday!
Aeda had a big weekend at the eventing clinic at Valley Equestrian Centre. Friday dressage and jumping for 2 days. So its Sumchi day! She came from the pasture and relaxed. A little Monday Sumchi Massage helps recovery after a big weekend. Check our sumchi.com. Ask me for details!
Violet and Rowdy
Rowdy is our registered miniature horse. He grew too big to be a breeding stallion, but he is the perfect size to be a mascot for SPR. Violet, our granddaughter, has been working with him, practicing her horsemanship skills, doing ground work, and riding him. He is mature in age, but still learns very well.
Minis take as much care as a full size horse, even more so, as many mini horses founder if left on grass. Rowdy receives regular vet care, foot trims, dental exams, and vaccinations. Rowdy offers a great introduction to horses for very young children. He is kind, gentle, and small. He happily takes young children on lead-line rides or pulls them over the snow in a toboggan. He readily took to being in a breast plate and pulling weight.
Training minis for children to ride is a challenge as adults are too big to ride them. Lunging and other ground work is essential. We put him through the same program we use to train full-sized horses. As an adaptation, we used sand-filled old pants tied to his saddle so he could get used to weight and "legs" on his sides. Gayle once saw Monty Roberts, in person, use this method. A talented light weight rider certainly offers an advantage. Thank you Violet! Go Rowdy!
At SPR we use ground pole and cavaletti patterns in our lesson program. Ground pole work is valuable physiotherapy for the horse and helps the rider develop a more secure seat. Cavaletti are valuable in exercising the horse's muscles in a disciplined fashion by requiring the horse to lift their feet higher than normal and set them down securely. Proper ground pole and cavaletti instruction evaluates the number and distance between poles and adjusts them to the fitness level and training of the horse and rider. Different patterns help the horse and rider develop bend and balance. Horses are encouraged to lower the neck, lift the back, and keep rhythm in the work. Cavaletti work with a group is fun!
Here’s another Sumchi6 story where I share my experience using this tool. Kit is a little OTTB mare who is adorable and expressive. When giving her a massage I noticed a lot of muscle twitching and behaviour—turning her head, touching me, and leaning in. The next day I massaged her again and kept using the strokes (half, moon, fan, tear drop, froggy, ski slope etc.) until her muscles quit twitching and she relaxed.
Her muscular response and behaviour made me wonder about saddle fit. She has added muscle and weight and has a thick coat. I checked her measurement and changed the adjustable saddle’s gullet plate to the next widest size. After her massage and saddle change she was more relaxed being tacked up. This is a testament to the importance of being observant, saddle fit, and how Sumchi helped reveal a problem. I was able to use this information to make a change to improve my horse’s comfort. Thanks Beth Shaw at SUMCHI technique.
#gosumchi #magneticmassager #equinemassage #fasciahealth.
During winter we change our focus. We’re looking forward to activities such as: in hand and ground work, chute jumping, ground pole patterns, obstacle work, gymnastics, Sumchi in the stable, skijoring, and practicing our polocrosse racket skills.
Aeda benefitted from her Sumchi today. She takes herself very seriously so it’s good to see some big yawns.
Here our 2 minute news video by Global Saskatoon Sports! Brady also used a little footage from last year to show full teams in action.
Check out Sumchi!
SPR is the first place in Canada to have an in person clinic July 13 with Beth Shaw! Registration is still open. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5o7E3u1vETdFFE0GZcnnkXC7-TaO8VNsI2hRwoaw7S5Go9g/viewform?usp=sf_link
Check out this video.
I’m doing the froggy stroke on Kit who was really offering her gaskin for massage. Kit and 3 other horses were in a terrible accident where a semi truck clipped the back driver’s side corner of our horse trailer and tore it off. One horse fell out. The others stayed tied in. We all walked away and are doing well.
I did Sumchi on my horses and found some reactive areas. This mare, Kit, was sore on her right atlas and this left hock. Check out how her gaskin is connected to her whither!
You can also see me discovering a small nick and minor swelling.
I really appreciated Sumchi to help me evaluate the impact of the accident on their bodies.
Sumchi stroke 1–the Half Moon. Aeda started swaying forward and back. It was really amazing to have her move underneath my hands like that. The video barely captures how obvious her response was. I am fascinated by my horses' responses to the massage patterns. Thanks to Ilse for catching this amazing response on video.
If you are interested in Sumchi check out our 1 day workshop led by Beth Shaw herself, on July 13.
Sumchi Level 1 Stroke 5
While listening to Ryan Murphy’s recent Chukka Talk podcasts with Beth Shaw I became intrigued by Beth’s Sumchi stroke routines to reduce muscular and fascial tension.
I wanted to understand more deeply how my horses were feeling and what I could do to promote relaxation. I also have small hands that are developing arthritis and so being able to use the Sumchi6 tool was appealing.
I have been practicing the 6 stroke routines and notice obvious responses from my horses, especially Aeda. Notice how she turns her head to me. She also yawns repeatedly, later in her treatment. In this video I’m working on a spot on her back where muscles were contracting. After a few strokes her back relaxed. Please note, that I work with my veterinarian and massage therapist to determine any underlying causes of back pain or muscle tension.
Aeda loves her Sumchi treatment! When I take her out to pasture she hangs her head over the gate after I let her go.
I was sceptically optimistic about the Sumchi method but I’m becoming a fan. I’m learning where my horses carry tension, while improving my relationship with them and helping them relax.
I have 2 on-line training sessions booked with Beth Shaw.
More info and videos at www.sumchi.com.
Let me know if you want to order a Sumchi tool as I can help you save shipping costs.
