training for a cart

[Tiff 36]

I would like to get a lightweight cart to use my older mare while trotting the dogs, but have 1.) never used a cart 2.) never trained a horse to use a cart. Is it relatively easy on a calm horse, or should I look somewhere like the Amish or a local Haflinger farm for help?

[antg 1,784]

go to someone with the experience to do it. its not as straightforward as you may think. the clamest of horses can be very unpredictable once they feel the shafts

[MuttleMcTuttle 21]

As antg said, it's not that easy... you really need to learn with an experienced horse before you attempt to break one in yourself. I'd imagine it's even more difficult if your horse has been western trained (neck-reining and stuff)

 

You can start by long-reining (I think they call it ground-driving in the U.S.) this will at least get the horse going forward without the help of your legs and get her used to you controlling her from behind. Next step is to work her with the harness on, but I'd definitely seek the help of someone experienced before you actually put the cart behind her.

 

Good luck - it's a fun way to travel!

[Flamin'Nora! 50]

Its easier to break a horse thats been ridden to drive than one thats never been backed. The way I used to do it was start off by long reining the horse along the roads wearing the driving harness so it gets used to the feel of it, then when I was happy the horse was ok with that I would move onto the next stage, trailing some lengths of chain behind, this is best done on the lunge in a round pen or menage. Once the horse will trot round happily with the chains jangling along behind it, I would add a wooden t bar with a car tyre attatched and fit the chains to the t bar. This takes a while for the horse to get comfortable dragging a weight behind it, so I would long rein it over different terrain, fields, arena, and eventually along the roadside. I used to then move up to a larger heavier tyre and then only when it was comfortable doing that for long periods, I would introduce to the cart, walking around it letting it have a sniff etc first before finally hitching it up, its very exciting driving a horse you have broken yourself for the first time I was shown these methods by a traditional romany gypsy who used to go on the road every summer with a horse drawn wagon up until a few years ago when age and health got the better of him, these old horsemen are a wealth of knowledge

[nat 8]

it depends on your horse, and if he/shes been broken before.

iv broke 3 horses to drive they were all calm horses and took to it really well, one of them were broken to ride and the other two untouched, but because they were calm horses it was easy

if i was you get soe one experienced to give you hand and set u off on the right tracks

good luck

[Tiff 36]

thanks folks, good advice and I'm being put into touch with someone who is into carting.

 

She used to be a rehab horse for handicapped kids, and I remember them saying something about her not "liking" the rails they used, so I am going to call the horse facility and ask more about what they meant by that.