Mika Lappalainen | Friday, 31 March 2023
Last weekend there was reindeer race in Kuusamo. Two days, fast reindeers, good company and lot of sunshine. Satu was working most of the time as volunteer and I was watching race. Friday we had TV -shooting, that was was about reindeer and cooking as normally in winter it is.
We have now one racing reindeer, it has passed qualifying, time has to be under 1.24.999 in one kilometre (0.62 mi). Our reindeer is still young so it wasn't taking part on race yet. Starts are with 6 reindeer at same time and it could be too much for young. On coming Saturday they have local race and there reindeer go one by one against the time... so ours will take part, I hope. In the end it us about trainer's decision.
Monday and Tuesday we had sunny beautiful weather, some minus celsius and we trained our young reindeer to become sleigh reindeer. Basic work has been done during mid-winter and now it was time to get serious and drive them. We have three which are in the age that we need to get them ready this winter and tag them. Then next winter those will be working ones.
Wednesday it was heavy snowing and we got new snow again. First test drive was done with two reindeer and Thursday another rounds. After Thursday drive, decision could be done, It is TEABO, that means: Tag Ear And Balls Off. We have two ready reindeer, third one I have to work on more.
When training them, I realized that it has lot of similarities with casting. I have to make it piece by piece, first made foundation, in this case built trust. After they trust you, you start to small things with them, as putting harness on, then they have to get use sleigh behind and pulling it, just before driving they will have person in sleigh and eventually I'm driving them. After I'm fully sure that they stay on track and don't do stupid things, then guests can have them.
Wednesday evening I saw that one the sexyloopers was asking about outboard engines in one group. I couldn't help to give my opinion about subject. The thing is that I do have experience with lot of things, I'm not necessarily expert, yet I have experiences what comes driveable things, snowmobile, tractor, quadron, trucks, outboard motors, rafting boat, boats etc. So I was eager to give my opinion via pm.
When doing that, I realized that opinion and ass hole are the same. Mine are more important than yours. I do know that it was more like sharing knowledge and experience in this case, yet it reminded me about one of Carol's FP few weeks ago. That was something about "guide", who was eager to give his opinion about Carol's casting. You can do these things so many ways, is it discussion and advising or opinion, ice is thinner than you can imagine.
I have seen both of them, I try to avoid opinion guys as much as possible. They don't want to improve you but lift themselves.
Have a nice weekend and go fishing
Mika from Finland
