Ready to Ground Drive

[MajorClementine]

The harness I bought (second hand, had to punch a few holes ) has an overcheck. I don't need to use this do I? I don't plan on competing or showing I'm just driving for fun. I'm ready to ground drive Major and haven't worked him with the headstall yet. We were just lunging on a line. He has been worked with before I owned him but we started back at the beginning because I wasn't sure how much training he had.

So saddle, breaching, breastcollar and headstall. Just like if I were going to put him to a cart right? What's the best way to tie the tugs up?

Any tips?

 

[Minimor]

When I long line I rarely put the breeching on and never the breastcollar. Both are just extra parts to get in the way; they serve no purpose in long lining and so I leave them off. I do get the horse used to them otherwise prior to actually hitching to the cart. And no, you do not need to bother with the overcheck.

 

[MiLo Minis]

I quite often use the holdback straps to tie the breeching to the tugs and leave the breeching on but don't usually put the breastcollar on when longlining. I do round pen with the breastcollar to get them used to it and tie the traces up through the tugs and onto the backstrap so they don't drag or use my buckle-in breast collar without the traces and tie the breast collar ends to the tugs. You certainly don't need an overcheck to drive for fun but if you have trouble with your horse grabbing grass you may want to look into a sidecheck at some point. You don't need either check for longlining at this time.

 

[MajorClementine]

We still don't have any snow here (yea!) so I thought I'd move him to the "next step" so we can work through the winter and hitch up next spring. Especially since I got a cart for Christmas. An EE by Kingston saddlery. I know there was a thread asking about their carts and I can say that this one is very nicely put together and fits my guy really well. I backed him between the shafts to see how he looked and it's a nice fit. I'm excited to get to use it next spring! Thanks for the help. Any other suggestions would be wonderful.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

I know there was a thread asking about their carts and I can say that this one is very nicely put together and fits my guy really well. I backed him between the shafts to see how he looked and it's a nice fit. ... Any other suggestions would be wonderful.

First suggestion: Never back a horse between the shafts.

Draft drivers do that because their carts are too heavy to be easily brought to the horse, but that is not the case for our miniatures and it is much safer to bring the cart to the horse with the shafts pointed up in the air then lower them over the back until they are horizontal. When you back the horse into the cart you risk them stepping on a shaft and scaring themselves or at worst, breaking the (wooden) shaft and injuring themselves. You also don't want to bring the cart up to the horse with the shafts horizontal because you can poke them in the rear and cause the horse to kick. There's safety reasons for everything!

An overcheck is definitely not needed and your horse will be happier without it. If you hold regular soft contact with his mouth and carry a whip to send him forward you shouldn't have much problem with him trying to snatch grass.

For introductory ground-driving you usually start with just the bridle, lines, and a surcingle (often with backstrap and crupper to keep it in place) but as you get closer to driving him you'll want to add the other harness parts so he gets used to them and the feel of them moving on his body as he trots and canters.

Leia

 

[shelterwood]

I agree with everything that has been said. For my green mare, who is 2, I usually use the saddle with breeching, and use the holdback straps to run through the tugs and back to the breeching just to hold it from flopping around and even to gently "snug" up the breeching a bit so she gets used to it touching her backside. She's a little jumpy about her hind end, so this has been a good way to introduce pressure and movement in a non-threatening way and get her used to the idea of something rubbing and hitting her there. I like to spend quite a bit of time ground driving with the full breeching and crupper before I ever hitch, as it seems they need extra desensitization to these things, at least mine did. I don't really add the breastcollar until I am ready to add a drag of some sort, either a tire or training shafts or whatever your using. Otherwise, either the breastcollar is flopping around, if you have buckle in traces, or the traces are looped over their back and risk falling and flopping around near their feet. This is good training too, but there are better ways to desensitize them to ropes and such at their feet!

I don't use checks, and never will. I don't have issues with grass snatching, just be firm about your discipline in this area and you won't have a problem. Never let them so much as sneak a bite if you can avoid it. Train for a stand that includes all body parts. To me, as a non-show driver, checks seem like some archaic invention to please a human desire for a "headset" and false collection. I know they are required in the show ring, and most people on here seem to do the obvious right thing and leave them loose enough to never even be an issue. I hate seeing pictures of horses with their heads so checked up that they are practically ewe necked. Can you imagine? Ohhhh the muscle fatigue. And, for me the extra straps and leather on the horse's head just seems like way too much! I have enough trouble right now getting my bridles on with all the fur, I don't need anymore challenges!!

Katie