Simviation Forums

Have till August but need to work on some things before hand.  A good friend is getting married in early August.  The wedding is going to be at a church in another little town a couple miles out.  The procession on the other hand is going to be the big part.  The reception is going to be at his new home that we've been building over the past year.  The procession is going to begin at the church, head through our downtown, then continue on to his place...aprox 10 miles total.  Both of us being volunteers the local fire department will be taking care of trafic control.

Keeping with our country style the main wedding party is going to be on hay wagons behind a couple tractors with them sitting on the back of the last one.  But heres where the horse problems begin.  Theres going to be 2 of us on horseback leading the way along with a fire truck.  The horses are used to tractors etc.  But how to get them used to flashing lights and possibly the siren could be another story.  The horse I will be riding is a farely young stallion named Buck, rode him a lot over the past year but needless to say theres a reason behind the name :-/  Hes thrown me a couple times in the past  The other horse is a little more tame.  

So basicaly we need some way to get them used to the lights and the siren.  But its not like we have easy access to a fire truck  Need to rig something simple up but dont know what...or if theres an easier way.

This may be a fairly small town...but unfortunatly that leads to many people who will be invited.  The reception is expected to have around 300+ people  Knows way to many people and both have large families in the area  Planning on a hog roast along with hamburgers etc...beef, chicken, and hogs are all our own that we are raising.  Keeping the menu simple.  

Really wasnt planning on doing something so big but everyone knows them and so why not put on a show...plus how many wedding processions do you see that involve a hayride through town

All i can say is put on some padding, and teach them by experience. I took my horse Shadow through the rough part of buckeye near the I10 freeway, he got used to lights, sounds, and things moving past his peripheral vision "like flashing lights, dogs, trucks, etc... He is almost to the point where i can fire the old 30/30 of his back, and he will just stand there perfectly calm, occasionally he will pin his ears and get my attention But get your nerve up and take him down to the noisiest most hectic place you can and you will be supriced how noise and lights will become unnoticeable to him.

Horses....?

Any animal which will happily jump over a wall, not considering that there may be a vertical cliff on the other side, is not to be trusted in a public place.... ....!

...trust me... ....!

Paul.... 8-)...!

Horses will enjoy eating you, given the chance...I know.... ...!

Hi Triple_7

Well I am not a horse person myself or dog and cat either.  My oldest sister who is in Comox has horses and several years ago they renewed their 25th Wedding Anniversary on horse back.
It is common to see horses, horses pulling wagons and hay rides here all year long.
Horses like all other creatures need to familiarize themselves with sounds so ride them down to the firehall, pull out a truck and turn on the lights and then a few short burst of the siren for a start.  It may take several trips but repetition and the horse becoming familiar with the lights and sounds should work.
Also try to take the horses down the day prior and the day of the wedding.

This particular sister of mine when she sends anyone a card in the mail (Birthdays, Easter, Christmas, Get Well) or an electronic card she signs her and her husbands name then there is several cat paws with names and several horse shoes with names.
The old girl thinks this is cute, me I think it is dumb, I don't go around sending cards with propellers of aircraft I have on them after my name.  Come to think of it I don't send cards because I refuse to pay the high cost of the stamps.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Why go to all the bother training them to get used to flashing lights & sirens, just wait until the big day & sellotape on a pair of ear defenders & some large comedy sunglasses - job done, all for less than $10 per horse.

TSC.

i doubt that is the most animal friendly way you could think off

My sister (the evil alien) is big into riding. She said make sure they're wearing large blinkers. She didn't agree with my idea of feeding them apples loaded with valium beforehand... but I still think it'd settle them down. Failing that there is the old blacksmiths technique for getting difficult horses shoe'd easily. Hit it in the forehead with a hammer and then whisper in his ear "Any trouble and I'll have your nadgers on the anvil!"

i doubt that is the most animal friendly way you could think off

Sadly it was.

Any horse people around by chance???

It's an aquired taste really........

I aquired it whilst in basic training for the USAF.........

Oh, wait, no.........sorry............

i doubt that is the most animal friendly way you could think off

Sadly it was.  :-[

My original idea was to sellotape an MP3 player to the horses' neck, then jam the ear plugs in & play a loop of really loud sirens & air raid warnings.  :-[


TSC.

No judge would mind that though, if people can do that to themselves today anyway .

i doubt that is the most animal friendly way you could think off

Sadly it was.  :-[

My original idea was to sellotape an MP3 player to the horses' neck, then jam the ear plugs in & play a loop of really loud sirens & air raid warnings.  :-[


TSC.

Martyn...

...your suggestions gain more and more favour with me in each post......!

That may discourage them from trying to bite my arm off at every opportunity... ...!

Paul...Horses always remind me of Princess Anne for some reason... ...?

Well they do say that people look like their pets Probably why Magnus Pike had a gibbon