hobbyhorse23
Well-Known Member
For our trip to the beach I rigged up a way to pony Turbo (my two year old stallion) off the back of my easy entry cart and took him along. I fully understood how risky this little venture was and made sure we practiced at home with me being the "pony horse" so I'd know exactly what the horse between the shafts would be experiencing with Turbo back there shoving on his little PVC framework or trying to graze or otherwise pull us around by the leadrope. Mom had a lead on him as well and as I pulled the cart around she showed him what was expected and then slowly stood further and further off until she unclipped the leadline entirely and we did a full dry run. It really wasn't bad! I weigh considerably less than he does and was able to easily stop him by braking the cart itself and he was unable to drag it sideways even unloaded to snatch grass so I felt relatively confident in trying it for real.
Now, again, in BIG PRINT: THIS IS NOT A SAFE ACTIVITY TO TRY!! There are many, many ways this could go horribly wrong, especially with a stallion as the ponied horse, and I'm well aware of that. I would NEVER try this in a situation where I'd have to stop in company of other horses as what if the stud decided to start acting up? I'd have zero control and an excited stallion is not going to hesitate to yank the cart around and possibly even start dragging it off backwards, hapless horse between the shafts and all. It's also dangerous for the ponied horse as what if the driving horse took off?? He could be dragged to death or severely injured by the cart. I did my best to eliminate that type of danger with a quick release arrangement but it's still a terrible risk for all three of us, even with the framework to keep him from being able to come up beside the cart, rear over the back or bite me. Still, after careful consideration of the risks I decided it was worth trying given the two individual horses involved and our lack of exercise facilities at home.
Okay, with the disclaimer finished....
So we tried this arrangment out at the beach and it worked remarkably well. Turbo was fascinated and eager to come along and the framework kept him from coming too far forward so Kody and I were able to pretty much forget he was back there and simply perform as normal with no drag or delay from behind. Turbo got a feel for how the voice commands he's been learning at liberty work in the real world (and Kody's prompt obedience ensured Turbo's
) and he got used to the sights and sounds of driving including being passed by other horses. After some careful consideration I'd put Kody in an open bridle for this experiment as he is more dependable in strange situations if he understands what's being done or going on around him and I felt this way he would be inclined to lean on the breeching and hold Turbo back instead of becoming upset by the shafts making strange gyrations or any odd noises he might hear behind him. He proved me right, at first cocking an ear and becoming a little concerned when Turbo was trotting and cantering behind him but he quickly figured out that the spacing never changed and relaxed. He took quite a bit of glee in forcing Turbo to back up when he'd start pushing on the cart during breaks!
Tee-ko got excited during the runs and wanted to charge up on Kody and start nipping him as they do in play but the framework held him back and away from the wheels and all was well.
I haven't gotten to use the arrangement since then as I left immediately after that trip for the UK and was gone until the end of August. I finally got the boys out last night and hitched them up again and watched with some amusement as Turbo pushed the cart down the street via his framework and lead line, leaving Kody no work at all to do up front! Kody seemed to quite enjoy that little vacation and simply sat on his breeching with a smirk. Turbo chilled out after an 1/8th of a mile or so and we proceeded off our dead-end street and onto the main road. (Remember, this is the only place I have to drive and both horses are quite used to it.) All was well until Kody spooked at something and tried briefly to bolt, giving me an idea of how tangled things can get when your tandem leader does something silly. Thankfully he listened to "Whoa" and froze, stopping Turbo's run as well, and we resumed walking when all were calm. I realized then as I ducked up a quieter private drive that this really is going to be good preparation for our eventual work as a tandem and pair. I watched Turbo's ears flick uneasily as the cart rolled through the first dried leaves of autumn and saw him settle as nothing happened, watched Kody learn to accept Turbo coming along fast behind him and both horses get used to feeling the movements of the other through the cart and thought that although distinctly dangerous, this is also a very useful exercise.
However, I would never, NEVER try this with an inexperienced or spooky horse between the shafts as it only works because my driving horse trusts me and looks to my leadership. He understands that he must sit down on the breeching even when it pushes back, that if Mom says it's okay that the other horse is following fast then it's okay, and he doesn't get rattled as things get tense. At the end of our walk last night I let the boys move into a trot on the home stretch and part of the framework behind us slipped loose, allowing Turbo to come up beside the cart. Both boys immediately broke into a canter and were racing up the street, not panicked but definitely moving fast and ready to turn it into a rumble as boys will. Kody listened to my attempts to rate him and stayed straight between the shafts even though Turbo kept trying (unsuccessfully) to reach over the singletree and bite him and he allowed me to put the reins in one hand so I could use the other to try and manage Turbo. The kid was clueless and is lucky the wheel nut didn't nail him in the leg but did eventually back off as the initial excitement wore off and he started listening. Both boys were soon easily brought down to a trot and then a walk and were quite calm and happy. This would not be the case if Kody weren't as experienced as he is! He might easily have panicked or bolted or started trying to kick at the "pursuing" horse (I say "try" because I had a correctly-adjusted kick strap on as a precaution) and caused a true disaster. I cannot reiterate enough the value of a full partner between the shafts in an exercise like this. I trust Kody to pick up the slack when I fail and to know his job inside and out. We've had our accidents just like anyone else but he has never, ever failed me when I've needed him.
With the addition of a set of sport boots for Turbo to protect his front legs and of course redesigning the part that failed, we will continue this exercise over the winter and I will start cautiously mixing it up with blinders on Kody, blinders on Turbo when he starts carrying a bit, and eventually I'll have Mom ground-drive him beside and ahead of Kody with blinders on to get him used to hearing the other horse without seeing him. Of course each horse will continue to be taken out solo and worked as well so we don't get into too many buddy issues. Kody could care less where Turbo is but Turbo is not fond of being left behind.
I didn't intend on doing things this way but I hope that this process will result in a 3 year old who is very relaxed around carts, already experienced in the things he'll meet on the trail and all the scary sounds a driving horse must learn to deal with. Between that and all the ground work I'm doing all I should really have left to teach him in the spring is how to push into the breastcollar and sit on the breeching. Then it's just miles and confidence!
I know this isn't exactly standard driving training and I hope I've been clear about the risks (aka, "Seriously, don't try this at home!") but I wanted to share what we're doing.
Leia
Now, again, in BIG PRINT: THIS IS NOT A SAFE ACTIVITY TO TRY!! There are many, many ways this could go horribly wrong, especially with a stallion as the ponied horse, and I'm well aware of that. I would NEVER try this in a situation where I'd have to stop in company of other horses as what if the stud decided to start acting up? I'd have zero control and an excited stallion is not going to hesitate to yank the cart around and possibly even start dragging it off backwards, hapless horse between the shafts and all. It's also dangerous for the ponied horse as what if the driving horse took off?? He could be dragged to death or severely injured by the cart. I did my best to eliminate that type of danger with a quick release arrangement but it's still a terrible risk for all three of us, even with the framework to keep him from being able to come up beside the cart, rear over the back or bite me. Still, after careful consideration of the risks I decided it was worth trying given the two individual horses involved and our lack of exercise facilities at home.
Okay, with the disclaimer finished....
So we tried this arrangment out at the beach and it worked remarkably well. Turbo was fascinated and eager to come along and the framework kept him from coming too far forward so Kody and I were able to pretty much forget he was back there and simply perform as normal with no drag or delay from behind. Turbo got a feel for how the voice commands he's been learning at liberty work in the real world (and Kody's prompt obedience ensured Turbo's
I haven't gotten to use the arrangement since then as I left immediately after that trip for the UK and was gone until the end of August. I finally got the boys out last night and hitched them up again and watched with some amusement as Turbo pushed the cart down the street via his framework and lead line, leaving Kody no work at all to do up front! Kody seemed to quite enjoy that little vacation and simply sat on his breeching with a smirk. Turbo chilled out after an 1/8th of a mile or so and we proceeded off our dead-end street and onto the main road. (Remember, this is the only place I have to drive and both horses are quite used to it.) All was well until Kody spooked at something and tried briefly to bolt, giving me an idea of how tangled things can get when your tandem leader does something silly. Thankfully he listened to "Whoa" and froze, stopping Turbo's run as well, and we resumed walking when all were calm. I realized then as I ducked up a quieter private drive that this really is going to be good preparation for our eventual work as a tandem and pair. I watched Turbo's ears flick uneasily as the cart rolled through the first dried leaves of autumn and saw him settle as nothing happened, watched Kody learn to accept Turbo coming along fast behind him and both horses get used to feeling the movements of the other through the cart and thought that although distinctly dangerous, this is also a very useful exercise.
However, I would never, NEVER try this with an inexperienced or spooky horse between the shafts as it only works because my driving horse trusts me and looks to my leadership. He understands that he must sit down on the breeching even when it pushes back, that if Mom says it's okay that the other horse is following fast then it's okay, and he doesn't get rattled as things get tense. At the end of our walk last night I let the boys move into a trot on the home stretch and part of the framework behind us slipped loose, allowing Turbo to come up beside the cart. Both boys immediately broke into a canter and were racing up the street, not panicked but definitely moving fast and ready to turn it into a rumble as boys will. Kody listened to my attempts to rate him and stayed straight between the shafts even though Turbo kept trying (unsuccessfully) to reach over the singletree and bite him and he allowed me to put the reins in one hand so I could use the other to try and manage Turbo. The kid was clueless and is lucky the wheel nut didn't nail him in the leg but did eventually back off as the initial excitement wore off and he started listening. Both boys were soon easily brought down to a trot and then a walk and were quite calm and happy. This would not be the case if Kody weren't as experienced as he is! He might easily have panicked or bolted or started trying to kick at the "pursuing" horse (I say "try" because I had a correctly-adjusted kick strap on as a precaution) and caused a true disaster. I cannot reiterate enough the value of a full partner between the shafts in an exercise like this. I trust Kody to pick up the slack when I fail and to know his job inside and out. We've had our accidents just like anyone else but he has never, ever failed me when I've needed him.
With the addition of a set of sport boots for Turbo to protect his front legs and of course redesigning the part that failed, we will continue this exercise over the winter and I will start cautiously mixing it up with blinders on Kody, blinders on Turbo when he starts carrying a bit, and eventually I'll have Mom ground-drive him beside and ahead of Kody with blinders on to get him used to hearing the other horse without seeing him. Of course each horse will continue to be taken out solo and worked as well so we don't get into too many buddy issues. Kody could care less where Turbo is but Turbo is not fond of being left behind.
I didn't intend on doing things this way but I hope that this process will result in a 3 year old who is very relaxed around carts, already experienced in the things he'll meet on the trail and all the scary sounds a driving horse must learn to deal with. Between that and all the ground work I'm doing all I should really have left to teach him in the spring is how to push into the breastcollar and sit on the breeching. Then it's just miles and confidence!
I know this isn't exactly standard driving training and I hope I've been clear about the risks (aka, "Seriously, don't try this at home!") but I wanted to share what we're doing.
Leia
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