how would you start to put a horse to a cart we have a 3 yr old gypsy cob stallion 13 hands copes with most new things very well dont want to scare him as he is such a star can anyone help please
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Hi Joanne.Hewitt! Not so long ago there was some item about this with one of the "Willing Partner Program"-horses. I seem to remember they started with longlines, then long reins, letting the horse pull some small cart, walking behind it. The arena was a safe place, so no risks. Seems like fun starting a 3 yr old that way. Stay safe, have fun!
Hi Joanne Hewitt! You may want to get the book "Educating
Horses From Birth to Riding" by Peter A. Jones.....Chapter 6
is Training and Driving....I highly recommend this reading.
The author was born in England and moved to Australia where he is became a supervisor of horse education and stallion management at the Lindsey Park Stud at Angaston, South Australia home of the stallion Without Fear.
This book is an easy read and quite helpful....
Aside from the long lines and the long reins needed for this venture you will also need a surcingle to help him along on his journey....
Good luck!
MaryJo E. Morse
morsemaryjo@yahoo.com
ok thanks guys will give it a try thanks for the input
Hi Joanne.
I have helped train two young horses to go in front of a cart. we started with long lines and getting them used to the harness, as descibed above. when it was time to get them in front of the cart for the first time we used a cart for two horses and had an older experienced horse pulling next to the young horse. this worked very well as the young horse could get used to just being in front of the cart and not actually pulling a lot of weight to begin with. good luck!
Hi Joanne,
Another option is Meredith Hodges series of DVDs on Training Mules & Donkeys. The lessons on driving work for any equine, and Meredith is a believer in non-violent training. You can check her out at www.luckythreeranch.com.
Her lesson #3 is the one that addresses the A,B,Cs of Driving.
Jack
Hi, I have recently broken my mare to harness this is what i did and she took it all in her stride. 1- long reining and getting her to respond to vocal cues, particularly stand. 2- introduce the harness bit by bit in an open bridle. 3 - allow the traces to drag on the ground, so they get used the having something behind. 4 - put some pressure on the traces so they get the feel of having to pull. 5 - attach a small tyre and long rein over various ground, first in walk then in trot. 6 - introduce the blinkers and go back over the pulling the traces, then tyre. 7 - Final thing was to get used to the feel of the shafts so used some broom handles in the tugs so she could feel these agains her sides. 8 - when hitching up have at least two people, start by just leading him without anyone in the carriage and when he seems ok get in but still have someone on the ground to reasure him. when hitching for the first time its advised to do in infront of a wall etc so they cant go forwards however this means that they have to turn the cart straight away so i would use a showjump instead so you have a barrier but can move it out of the way. For saftey invest in some snap shackles so you can get him out quickly if need be and always unhitch before removing the bridle as many accidents occur due to the horse seeing the carriage behind them.
Hope that helps and good luck.
http://www.montyroberts.com/horses/willing-partners-program/willing-partners/
Enjoy carriage day here!