What's in a Wagon?

More specifically, what will be in my wagon?
       I want to share my compilation of equipment, built-in furniture, and other items that I have thought of so far. It is interesting to think about what will go inside, and how much will actually fit!
       Commonly, a vardo (gypsy wagon) will have a raised pull-out bed with space for a child to sleep underneath, a wood-burning stove for heating and cooking, cabinets and drawers for dishes, food, clothing, and knick-knacks, bench seating, maybe a pull-out or foldable table, and a whole lot of charm!
       My wagon will have all this (including the charm I hope!) plus some extras, like a composting toilet, solar panels, a removable basin for washing dishes, and a charging station for a wireless tablet so I can keep writing while traveling. The bed will take up a significant portion of the back of the wagon. I have worked and re-worked my designs, but that bed just doesn't get any smaller while maintaining it's comfort level. At one point I considered a hammock, but I don't know that I could sleep in one of those every night for a year!
       The over-all length of the wagon will be around 9 feet, so even a twin bed, which is 3.25 feet wide, would take up a third of the length. Hopefully, with a pull-out bed, it will be two feet wide when closed, and four feet wide when pulled out at night. It might look something like this:

Photo from: http://imgfave.com/view/2074661

       Another important item will be a stove. I haven't yet decided which option will be best, but here is what I have found so far. 

A small wood stove: 

Photo from: small-scale.net

A Rocket stove and camp stove oven:

Photo from: livingprepared.blogspot.com

A BioLite camp stove:

Photo from: secure.huckberry.com

       The basin for washing with storage below might look something like this:

Photo from: picasaweb.google.com

       In the front of the wagon beside the door, there will be an enclosed space, probably with an accordion door, for a composting toilet. There are several designs available, but I need to learn more about how they operate before deciding which one would be best. I don't really care for how they look, which is why it would be hidden behind a screen, but I know I will want a bathroom in the wagon, and these seem like the best option - or something like them.

Photo from: http://blog.enn.com/?attachment_id=2203

The wagon will have storage space built in everywhere possible, inside and out, with shelving, drawers, and cupboards. There are many possible arrangements for this storage; here are some examples:

Photo from: flickr.com

Photo from: gypsyvanners.com.au

Along with storage boxes on the outside, I will likely have Jerry cans, or another type of water storage for the horses and for myself. The Jerry cans seem good because they are small enough that I could carry them to a water source and back.

Photo from: pangaea-expeditions.com

       There are still so many items to consider, such as lanterns, to have plastic or aluminum dishes, what kind of tablet, and how many solar panels on the roof. I will continue to add to this list as I consider what else will be needed during a year-long wagon adventure!

       Here's one last photo showing the beautiful exterior of a vardo, along with its practical and decorative storage:

Photo from: craftyaspirations.blogspot.com

Old Wagons, New Life

        I ran across an old covered wagon for sale in someone's yard yesterday. Though it is not the type of wagon I am looking for, as I am hoping to stick with the shape, size, and style of a gypsy vardo, it was still exciting to see an old wagon like this one in person.
       The wheels were huge, the rear ones around three feet across, and the body of the wagon appeared to be between 12 and 15 feet long, not including the pole for hooking up the horses. However, the wagon was surprisingly narrow, maybe four feet wide; and the bows bending over the top were fairly low, I thought.
       Though this wagon is old and in need of lots of TLC to bring it back to life, I could see a rustic beauty in it. At one point it must have held someone's belongings; maybe their whole life fit in that wagon. I hope this wagon finds a home with someone who can give it new life.

Wolf Teeth

I learned about wolf teeth in horses just a few months ago. Who knew? Wolf teeth in horses.

A horses wolf teeth are vestiges of premolars from prehistoric horses. They are located behind the incisors and in front of the other premolars, usually only in the upper jaw. I learned about wolf teeth when I was told my young horse, Leo, was going to need to have his removed.

Veterinarians often recommend these teeth be removed in riding horses because they are positioned in such a way that the bit could catch on the teeth, hurting the horses mouth. Because the teeth no longer have a use in our modern horses, the removal does not cause any issues. Also, the procedure can be done on location and only takes about twenty minutes - so it is relatively low cost and quite safe!

Here is an image of where the wolf teeth are located in a horse's mouth:

This image is borrowed from: http://www.kbrhorse.net/hea/float.html 

And for those who don't mind the sight of blood...unlike myself - here is a photo of Leo's pulled wolf teeth, demonstrating how small they are (for a horse):

Leo has recovered very successfully from this small procedure and is chewing on everything, per his usual self. :)

Learning to "Pony"

As Leo passed by the 18-month mark, it was time to teach him something new. 

"Ponying", which there does not seem to be an online definition for, means to lead a horse while riding another. This is a good skill for both horse and rider to have when out on the trail, whether for catching a loose horse or for bringing along a pack horse for long trips. 

It took only four or five sessions of leading Leo from another horse before he began to understand what we were asking him to do. I found out he can be quite stubborn; the trick is to be more stubborn than him. (And, of course, reward him for his good behavior!) For awhile, he didn't want to go when the riding horse went forward, and he didn't want to stop when the riding horse stopped, but he got it eventually. 

We started this training in mid-December, and by early January, he was easily following the lead of the riding horse (her name is Jackie-O). 

 

On a Friday afternoon in January, we took Leo on his first trail ride, being ponied, of course. Seeing him take in all the new sights and smells with ease was exciting! He didn't bat an eye at bicycles flying past, he picked his way through rocky terrain, and he wanted to say hello to every passing pedestrian.

 

Just as an aside, in case anyone is curious: though my trainer is pictured handling Leo, I also spent lots of time working with him. I just happened to be the one taking all the pictures!