After the evening was finished while Carol went to the restroom before heading back to our hotel, I checked my phone for any texts that might have come in while I had my phone turned off for the dinner. It is important to keep in touch because it was in the height of foaling season and I check the cameras of our foaling barn to monitor progress. I was thrilled to find that a foal had been born while we were at the dinner.

I went back in to show Chet the picture, but he was surrounded by so many admirers that I didn’t want to have to wait so long, so when Carol was ready, we left for our hotel because the conference started early the next morning. When I got back to the hotel I texted Armando, our ranch foreman, thanking him for the picture of the loud colored colt. I decided to mark the special birth to name him after the program that evening and decided on Daytripper!

I emailed the show to let them know of my decision and to make sure it was okay with them and got a gracious response and they said that Chet would probably mention it on the next Podcast which would probably be in April. Recently I remembered and checked to see if it actually had appeared and was pleased to see that it had. They even used my email and the website which included a little video of our Daytripper.

Here is that podcast. We are almost at the end of the show at the time marker of approximately 51:46. I encourage you to watch the whole show which is an hour and also check out the show on PBS and you might become a fan.

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There are several different tools used in the driving world to help horses have better action. Some use weighted boots, others chains, bands, or there are “flip flops.” Flip flops for driving horses consist of a strap that’s buckled around the horse’s pasterns with a length of hose hanging off. When the horse moves, the hose dangling makes them pick their legs up higher and helps get them in better shape and stepping bigger.

Supplies Needed to Make Flip Flops For Your Driving Horse

• 2 9″ lengths of hose
• 2 1 1/2″ split key rings
• 4 or more #10 split/lock washers
• 2 nylon dog collars
• 2 or more #10 x 32 – 1″ machine bolts with nuts (these are 1/4″ longer)
• Lighter
• Scissors
• Pliers
• Drill and 3/16″ drill bit
• Optional: Leather punch
• Optional: Duct tape

Steps to Make Flip Flops For Your Single or Country Pleasure Driving Horse

1. Cut the dog collar to be 10″ long, then use the lighter to burn the end so it doesn’t unravel.

2. Use either the drill or a leather punch to punch holes in the newly shortened collar and the lighter to burn them and prevent unraveling.

3. Next, take one of the key rings and install it on the collar’s leash loop. In the past I’ve used solid metal rings for this, but they had to be sawed to install on this piece, so I’m trying key rings this time. We’ll see how it goes! Another option is to have solid rings and put them around the collar itself, I just prefer to keep the metal off of my horse’s legs.

4. Fold the hose in half and use the drill to put holes going straight through both ends of the hose (four holes).

5. When the holes are drilled, slip the ring onto the hose so it hangs in the fold.

6. Place one washer on the bolt. Using your pliers to help squeeze the hose down a little bit, run the bolt through the four holes to hold the flip flops together. Once you get it through all four, place another lock washer on the other side and the nut. Make sure to not squeeze down on the hose too much, you don’t want a lot of excess metal from the bolt sticking out.

7. Optional: For extra durability and to help cover up the metal portions on the hose, wrap the flip flops in duct tape.

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