Can you tell by the smile? Jo has the Driver vest on along with the smile. Another step forward today, Jo drove Roop and Obie out alone, well, with Jenny and I as groom, but without Steve, who was overseeing the Shoeing of Sultan with Robert.
It was a different experience, as each drive has been. I have said before, I wished I had been able to catch the beaming faces of Steve and Jo the first time we went out together with all four horses. The second time we took out both pairs it was a little different. Jo knew what was coming and she had been working the night before and was tired.
The journey itself, that time, was not straightforward either, we met two sets of horses on the road and a panicky driver separated the pairs and then persisted in trying to overtake on the way up a hill. Quite scary. Obie spooked that time too. All of which Jo handled with great assurance and aplomb.
Today was different again. Steve has always said, trying to take out one pair and leave the other pair behind is difficult. The horses like to be together. Rupert was reluctant to begin with, a relief in one was as we thought they might take off with us as they haven't been out for a week. Jo put on her teacher voice though, Rupert's ears pricked up and he started to pick up his feet and his pace. We did meet another ridden horse and managed that and cyclists came at us from every direction. As you can tell by the smile though, Jo managed fine, everyone was safe and another first safely under her belt. Soon it will just be practice and then trying out new and longer routes until next spring and summer when she will be ready to begin competing.... That really will be a significant step!!!!! I have to learn to be brave at that point!
