Mouse and his (my) adventures in harness training

[nootka]

On Wednesday while we were waiting around for his Hunter class, we decided to see if Mouse would be amenable to hitching up to the Hyperbike and pulling it around. We have been working up to this point for two years (his one year old and two year old years were spent on ground manners/lungeing commands) and the last three months we have been ground driving.

Here he is:

So any tips or ideas for me to fit this better to him? Not sure why the breaststrap/traces look so wonky but it is HARD to get the Hyperbike shafts to seem to fit the right length and he'd stepped back in the shafts some but I will pay attention to it the next time we try it out, also it looks like I could take it down a notch so the shafts are more level?

Never know what to do w/the overcheck. The one on this harness is far too short to adjust for a horse of this size w/out being too tight so it hangs there. Thinking of just cutting it off!

Forgive all the dust on the 'bike, it was awful there at the Fair and I left it uncovered next to Mouse's stall, where he churned up dust all night w/his silliness.

Thanks for looking!

Liz M.

Another thought: How would I use breeching on this cart? I never have as it seemed like it would get in the way, but would that be something any would recommend?

If we have a downslope, I usually dangle my feet and use them as brakes sorta...

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Liz, as I said on the beachdrivers list I am so excited that you took the big step with Mouse in time for the ocean. :aktion033: I don't care if all he does is walk down the beach with someone line-driving him, it will be awesome!! I promise I'll take lots of pictures of him.

:

I can certainly take a look at your traces and such when we get there and see if there's anything we can do, but from the pictures it looks like they only need to be little tighter. The shafts are about where Hyperbike shafts should be relative to his shoulder in that picture so I'd simply tighten the traces so it stays there once it is in draft. The shaft height also appears to be correct for the vehicle.

Is your bridle constructed so that the overcheck is an integral part of it? The one I have slides out of a slot below the blinker-stay buckle on the crownpiece. If yours cannot be removed the best thing to do is probably to add a length of string (like baling twine, shoelace, something) to it until it can reach the waterhook just so it isn't flopping around and annoying Mouse while he's trying to learn.

Another thought: How would I use breeching on this cart? I never have as it seemed like it would get in the way, but would that be something any would recommend?

As I discovered myself you really can't effectively use breeching on an old-style Hyperbike unless you secure it to the stirrups and unfortunately they aren't usually in the right place for that. Nor would I necessarily trust any non-welded stirrup not to give under pressure. The good news is Bob will make a new set of replacement shafts with footman's loops on them for anyone who asks. :bgrin

I didn't have the footman's loops on the one I originally borrowed so I got used to driving it without breeching. The turns and transitions weren't as smooth as they could be because it was light enough to lurch in the tugs until the slack was taken up but otherwise it didn't really effect anything. And it sure is faster to hitch up that way! :new_shocked: :lol: But I did find that eventually Kody became reluctant to back up until he got to the point where he would rear rather than push backwards with the saddle. The minute the new shafts arrived and I put the breeching back on the problem disappeared.

Bob likes to see tight fast hazard work done with breeching because he says the rearward pull of the breeching and the forward pull of the traces keeps the Hyperbike perfectly placed and with the horse during such sharp turns. For big sweeping turns I don't think it would matter at all. The Hyperbike is probably the only vehicle that I would actually say without caveat is okay to drive outside of a ring without breeching and that's because there is absolutely nothing to run up on the horse's hind legs if you are properly using the tug stops. It is EASIER on the horse with breeching, but it is not courting a wreck to drive on a slope. You may even (gasp!) see Kody driving his 'Bike without breeching next weekend!

: :risa_suelos: Depends on the terrain.

:

Liz, I'm so happy that Mouse is driving.

:

Leia

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Ditto what Leia says with one suggestion.

If you cannot take off the Checkrein I would change it to side check- I can see the rings for this- and I would use elastic- the bungee type- to lengthen it with- that way it will be held in place but if he stumbled or for some reason fought it it would not be rigid.

 

[lyn_j]

[SIZE=14pt]Oh Liz....the baby is growing up! Isnt it fun when you see the little ones fulfill their destiny??? Sweet tart and Mouse are the same age and he is now driving too. First baby I raised to working age and didnt sell! You are going to have so much fun with him.[/SIZE]

Lyn

 

[Jill]

I will not ever be tired of seeing Mouse pictures!

 

[Shari]

Liz, mouse is looking good! :aktion033: That is neat you have him in cart.

I should of had Theia in cart by now

: ...sigh ~ ~

 

[nootka]

Thank you for the input on this one! Leia, I totally see what you mean about the breeching and I understand now some of the reluctance we have had in the past with other horses. I will contact Bob when I get a chance (going to be too late for next weekend but I can get them for next Spring no doubt!) and see about those shafts.

The overcheck on this harness doesn't slide out it's stitched at the top, but I think I could just have it cut away and replace with a side check. I DO have a harness that has sidecheck and I believe I will be using that instead on him.

Do you think the saddle is in a good place for him? We did fuss some with the traces and I think later we chose another loop rather than this one, I will have to look at pics again.

Also do you feel he looks ok w/the bit and the whole situation? He does open his mouth a lot when we're driving, and chomps on the bit etc. but that may be MY fault?

He seems to be relaxed at that point though he gets awfully antsy at times to get up and go!

Thanks for peeking! Yes, Lyn, it's hard to believe these little ones are "learning to drive!" *LOL*

Liz M.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

I tell you what Liz, since I'll be seeing you and Mouse next weekend why don't we take a look at everything then? I think you and Mouse are doing just fine but it's always better to look things over in person.

:

Fizz has a good idea with the elastic, I like that better than a shoelace.

Leia

 

[D.M. Minis]

Liz, as I said on the beachdrivers list I am so excited that you took the big step with Mouse in time for the ocean. :aktion033: I don't care if all he does is walk down the beach with someone line-driving him, it will be awesome!! I promise I'll take lots of pictures of him.

:

I can certainly take a look at your traces and such when we get there and see if there's anything we can do, but from the pictures it looks like they only need to be little tighter. The shafts are about where Hyperbike shafts should be relative to his shoulder in that picture so I'd simply tighten the traces so it stays there once it is in draft. The shaft height also appears to be correct for the vehicle.

Is your bridle constructed so that the overcheck is an integral part of it? The one I have slides out of a slot below the blinker-stay buckle on the crownpiece. If yours cannot be removed the best thing to do is probably to add a length of string (like baling twine, shoelace, something) to it until it can reach the waterhook just so it isn't flopping around and annoying Mouse while he's trying to learn.

Another thought: How would I use breeching on this cart? I never have as it seemed like it would get in the way, but would that be something any would recommend?

As I discovered myself you really can't effectively use breeching on an old-style Hyperbike unless you secure it to the stirrups and unfortunately they aren't usually in the right place for that. Nor would I necessarily trust any non-welded stirrup not to give under pressure. The good news is Bob will make a new set of replacement shafts with footman's loops on them for anyone who asks. :bgrin

I didn't have the footman's loops on the one I originally borrowed so I got used to driving it without breeching. The turns and transitions weren't as smooth as they could be because it was light enough to lurch in the tugs until the slack was taken up but otherwise it didn't really effect anything. And it sure is faster to hitch up that way! :new_shocked: :lol: But I did find that eventually Kody became reluctant to back up until he got to the point where he would rear rather than push backwards with the saddle. The minute the new shafts arrived and I put the breeching back on the problem disappeared.

Bob likes to see tight fast hazard work done with breeching because he says the rearward pull of the breeching and the forward pull of the traces keeps the Hyperbike perfectly placed and with the horse during such sharp turns. For big sweeping turns I don't think it would matter at all. The Hyperbike is probably the only vehicle that I would actually say without caveat is okay to drive outside of a ring without breeching and that's because there is absolutely nothing to run up on the horse's hind legs if you are properly using the tug stops. It is EASIER on the horse with breeching, but it is not courting a wreck to drive on a slope. You may even (gasp!) see Kody driving his 'Bike without breeching next weekend!

: :risa_suelos: Depends on the terrain.

:

Liz, I'm so happy that Mouse is driving.

:

Leia

If you are wantint to show him I would not put a breeching on him because they are not used to show in. If you put shaft stopes on you cart and push the cart ahead alittle so the part your shafts go thew are pushed ahead alittle. Then hook your tughs tight this will keep your cart were it needs to be. I have found if you do not have your tuges tight when you back your hors that is why they stop a rear. They backup tell they have to move the cart os if you hook them tight so when they first move back they move the cart to you will get along a lot better.

 

[nootka]

Thanks, D.M., I would not use a breeching in the ring.

Hopefully I would not encounter any hills anyway in there. *LOL*

Hopefully we can get things arranged next weekend and I can learn what works and how/why.

Liz