RickB wrote:tahoerimriders wrote:RickB wrote:There are small mp3 players with low powered speakers that would fit in saddlebags easily. A ride with Joe might be the ticket.
Thanks for the suggestion. Do you have to buy them new or are they also available used? Do they hold up we to some jostling as I am sure the horses would pick up the pace, inspired by the music ! How much volume can an mp3 player produce, or is that more what kind of speakers and power source determine that aspect? Thanks again!
Tahoe Jo
There are a lot of small battery powered mp3 speakers available with a quick online search. I bet a visit to a local pawn shop would score a cheap mp3 player. Realistic price for the works should be under $50. I see Amazon lists several speaker systems for around $25.
Great! Part of the trip East when I spend time with my daughter is to upgrade my knowledge about these kinds of things and how it can help improve my life thru better technology understanding. GREAT tip about checking the pawn shop.
Thanks for help and thanks to all on this Forum who are so generous with knowledge, and friendly too.
I have yet to encounter a Joe B fan who does not also reflect those qualities, either here on the Forum or face to face.
I should have this rigged up by the First week of July ( I still have to sew the bags and want to put the electronics together first) I will post about how this turns out. The volume at first will be mostly determined by what the horse feels comfortable with. The music over their flanks will have to be introduced systematically so they understand it won't hurt them.
This will also be a new twist on their training. We try to get them what is called" bomb-proof" because we train our horses to qualify for therapy work as well as work with the kids in the 4-H club.
Over the past 25 years of the 4-H project we have gone from a small town rural environment to an urban interface. The old pack station we use is on a commercial street that has seen quite a lot of development and even the Forrest Service property behind the corrals has seen a dramatic change of use. You really have to ride a mile out before the crowd thins out in the summer.
We also have a real problem with garbage fed bears, with little fear of humans. Music in the saddle bags will give us the advantage so we are heard by the wild life. The bears tend to give ground to our horses because of the association with the electric fence we installed to prevent them from climbing into the horse's pens for water. If they hear or see you coming first, most of the bears will just stay out of peoples way. Just don't hang out late on garbage night. Tough to deliver pizza on the North Shore for sure!
Tahoe Jo
Tahoe Jo