Driving horses

[gingernut]

Has anyone got any ideas how to start breaking a horse to cart? I'm not sure where to start!! I have been long-reining Apollo before I backed him and he was good as gold but not sure what to do next!

[fimacg]

Get in touch with the British Driving Society who would be able to point you in the right direction

www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk/

[gingernut]

Oh brilliant - thanks!!

[Becca]

The BDS do stages like the BHS (if you have BHS stages you don't have to do the BDS care side ) they should also have a list of instructors for you too learn if you have never driven.

After long reining would be to get him used to the harness. Pop the harness on then and start from scratch, walking him about, long reining with someone at the head (as the blinkers can worry some horses. Once settled into this try without the person at the head again if all goes fine then you get them dragging something attached to the traces (again with person at head) an old tire is good, them obviously lose the person at the front.

When it comes to adding a cart it should be something he is already used to seeing and hearing moving so it's not a total shock.

Have one person stand at his head facing him keeping him calm and still. Approach with the cart talking to him, let him know you are there slip the shafts into the tugs but do not strap in place (you want someone doing this on the other side too), let the horse take the weight of the cart while standing still. While you and the helper on the other side keeping the shafts in place ask the person at the head to walk a little way so the pony is pulling the cart. Once he is used to this do the same with the shafts strapped in. (still all from the ground). Next step is walking next to the cart steering with the reins and having no leader (but someone on hand if needed) then is in the cart with leader.

Sorry for the brief yet long winded description (I’m at work) I would say if you have never driven before to definitely have some lessons and get help breaking him, not necessarily sent away but you can't do it alone.

Make sure you take lots of pics when you do it of course

[aimee]

I helped my aunt start her TB
Buy the harness to get him used to wearing it as the blinkers and the crupper(bit that goes under tail??) can take some getting used to. Get a leader for him if need be.
Plenty plenty plenty of long reining.
Once he is used to the harness and the longreining then get him to drag a tyre around the school, Will probably freak out at first but will get him used to the noise and having something behind him. Then gradually introduce him to the cart/trap. While longreining get someone to drag the cart alongside the horse so they can have a look and get used to it and the noise etc. gradually start moving the cart further behind him until he is comfortable with it being there but not being able to see it. Actually hooking him up will be the bit that you need to be careful about...it was at this point that me and my aunt gave up for our own safety! Get someone to hold him and at least 2 people behind with the cart, hook him up and make him stand, there should be quick-release triggers on the cart so if he does act silly and shoot off then the cart NEEDS to be off! Not worth thinking about the damage possible from a terrified horse galloping off with a cart!

Obviously this is just my experience...will be worth doing some research or getting someone more experienced to give you a hand! good luck!