Training a mini to pull a cart

ApplyJack · 09-17-2009, 11:12 PM

Hi,

I want to train Pikachu to pull a cart, and I was wondering if you Wonderful People

, could tell me where to look for some good books or DVD's on this. I love to read, but DVD's would be better. Need input....PLEASE,,,,,,,,,,,

kaykay · 09-18-2009, 06:14 AM

Small horse press has some really good videos

I think their addy is smallhorse.com

Slim Pikkens · 09-18-2009, 01:19 PM

Doris Gantin (spelling? Ganten) put out an excellent video on driving including the correct way to harness.

My Little Bunny · 09-18-2009, 05:27 PM

I am glad someone asked that. I want to teach Bunny to cart also. I will wait until I know for sure if she is Preggers or not. I wouldn't think you should try to train them when they might be? Or am I wrong?
Also glad to know of a mini site. Boy I found it real hard to find books on mini's! I hope I can find one about teaching tricks.

ApplyJack · 09-19-2009, 08:43 AM

Thank you for your help.

Skylight · 09-25-2009, 07:55 PM

Best book i have found. Bought it from Tractor supply. Its called Farming with horses. Its about driving big horses but still applys to all horses. I like that it shows a wide variety of hook ups and harnesses. I learned how to train a horse to drive by just doing it. Didnt know anyone who drove and never rode in a horse drawn buggy but i got a mini and decided i wanted to give it ago. Him and I stumbled through it but got it figured out. Only thing i couldnt figure out was how to do the breeching strap this book shows a great step by step process of how to harness and hitch up a horse properly. Now i recommed it to all my students..

farmergal · 09-26-2009, 12:52 AM

Research on YouTube. It's free.

here is some I found.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVeXTS_9ssE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNX0d9-8VW0

rmh05 · 09-28-2009, 02:02 PM

I Trained my mini to drive last year it was really easy. Make sure your mini has good ground manners first. Use your voice commands while leading so it get sthe idea. I started her by first harnessing and just leading her around to get used to it. Then I started ground driving. Then hooked the cart and lead her around with the cart attached. then once she was used to that I started walking behind the cart and ground driving that way. SHe was fine with everything. I then put the kids in the cart for a little weight and started over with leading then driving behind the cart. ANd then the last step was me getting in the cart. Throughout all of this she was very calm and quiet and I did not move to the next step until I thought she was comfy with everything. This only took me three days from start to finish since she already had good ground manners. Anyway good luck with your mini you will have a blast it is alot of fun!

pegzee · 10-15-2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApplyJack

Thank you for your help.

Hi,i spent a month training one of my geldings.I have 2 other drivers.But have 2 look a likes i want to put together as a team.I went to the lancaster fair,and my gelding won blues.lol I was so surprised.Minis are really easy to train to cart.I am getting a conversion kit to connect 2 harness to make a team harness.Can anyone here tell me if that works good.Or should i buy a team harness?Would really appreciate help.thanks

kaykay · 10-20-2009, 06:41 AM

Peg I have never seen that connector kit so cant comment. Sorry

I will say the biggest mistakes I see people make when training a mini to drive are:

Hooking them to cart too quickly. They should line drive for 30-60 days before you ever attach a cart.

Not teaching them to stand still and basic ground manners. If your horse does not know that whoa means STOP immediately then you should not even line drive them. Its so important in a driving horse that they know what Whoa really means. Not stop and then take a couple steps.

Teaching them to back in cart too soon. Honestly you really do not want a driving horse to back much as its probably the most dangerous. Always teach the horse to back LAST. And just back up a couple steps and let it go. Most of the accidents I have seen are when the horse is backing.

Not harnessing correctly. Cant tell you how many pictures I see online and at shows of minis not harnessed correctly. This will always cause problems such as rearing, bucking etc. And then they blame the poor horse. Traces and lines should always make a straight line. Shafts NEVER go past the point of the shoulder. Over the summer Im thinking I re harnessed at least 4 minis at shows. People were just amazed at how much better the horse drove once they were harnessed correctly.

Most minis will do as asked even when harnessed in correctly. This is almost a bad thing because in turn people think they have it right.

Always go slow!

Kay

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09-17-2009, 11:12 PM
ApplyJack Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 158	Training a mini to pull a cart Hi, I want to train Pikachu to pull a cart, and I was wondering if you Wonderful People, could tell me where to look for some good books or DVD's on this. I love to read, but DVD's would be better. Need input....PLEASE,,,,,,,,,,,

09-18-2009, 06:14 AM
kaykay Long Yearling Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,213	Small horse press has some really good videos I think their addy is smallhorse.com __________________ Breeding AMHA/AMHR/ASPC horses in pinto colors! http://www.baxterspaintedpasture.com Visit our newest site! www.americanshetlandpony.com Miniature Horse Conformation Book by Kay Baxter Ask me about Weefoal mare pregnancy tests that you do on your farm!

09-18-2009, 01:19 PM
Slim Pikkens Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,047	Doris Gantin (spelling? Ganten) put out an excellent video on driving including the correct way to harness.

09-18-2009, 05:27 PM
My Little Bunny Newborn Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 36	I am glad someone asked that. I want to teach Bunny to cart also. I will wait until I know for sure if she is Preggers or not. I wouldn't think you should try to train them when they might be? Or am I wrong? Also glad to know of a mini site. Boy I found it real hard to find books on mini's! I hope I can find one about teaching tricks.

09-19-2009, 08:43 AM
ApplyJack Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 158	Thank you for your help.

09-25-2009, 07:55 PM
Skylight Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alachua, fl Posts: 331	Best driving book Best book i have found. Bought it from Tractor supply. Its called Farming with horses. Its about driving big horses but still applys to all horses. I like that it shows a wide variety of hook ups and harnesses. I learned how to train a horse to drive by just doing it. Didnt know anyone who drove and never rode in a horse drawn buggy but i got a mini and decided i wanted to give it ago. Him and I stumbled through it but got it figured out. Only thing i couldnt figure out was how to do the breeching strap this book shows a great step by step process of how to harness and hitch up a horse properly. Now i recommed it to all my students.. __________________ "Lighting up the world one mini star at a time." Whoever said money cant buy love didnt own a mini! Please visit our new site! www.skylightminis.com

09-26-2009, 12:52 AM
farmergal Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 6,063	Research on YouTube. It's free. here is some I found. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVeXTS_9ssE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNX0d9-8VW0 __________________ Knowlege is out there, you just need to know where to look.

09-28-2009, 02:02 PM
rmh05 Newborn Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: U.P. of Michigan Posts: 3	I Trained my mini to drive last year it was really easy. Make sure your mini has good ground manners first. Use your voice commands while leading so it get sthe idea. I started her by first harnessing and just leading her around to get used to it. Then I started ground driving. Then hooked the cart and lead her around with the cart attached. then once she was used to that I started walking behind the cart and ground driving that way. SHe was fine with everything. I then put the kids in the cart for a little weight and started over with leading then driving behind the cart. ANd then the last step was me getting in the cart. Throughout all of this she was very calm and quiet and I did not move to the next step until I thought she was comfy with everything. This only took me three days from start to finish since she already had good ground manners. Anyway good luck with your mini you will have a blast it is alot of fun!

10-20-2009, 06:41 AM
kaykay Long Yearling Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,213	Peg I have never seen that connector kit so cant comment. Sorry I will say the biggest mistakes I see people make when training a mini to drive are: Hooking them to cart too quickly. They should line drive for 30-60 days before you ever attach a cart. Not teaching them to stand still and basic ground manners. If your horse does not know that whoa means STOP immediately then you should not even line drive them. Its so important in a driving horse that they know what Whoa really means. Not stop and then take a couple steps. Teaching them to back in cart too soon. Honestly you really do not want a driving horse to back much as its probably the most dangerous. Always teach the horse to back LAST. And just back up a couple steps and let it go. Most of the accidents I have seen are when the horse is backing. Not harnessing correctly. Cant tell you how many pictures I see online and at shows of minis not harnessed correctly. This will always cause problems such as rearing, bucking etc. And then they blame the poor horse. Traces and lines should always make a straight line. Shafts NEVER go past the point of the shoulder. Over the summer Im thinking I re harnessed at least 4 minis at shows. People were just amazed at how much better the horse drove once they were harnessed correctly. Most minis will do as asked even when harnessed in correctly. This is almost a bad thing because in turn people think they have it right. Always go slow! Kay __________________ Breeding AMHA/AMHR/ASPC horses in pinto colors! http://www.baxterspaintedpasture.com Visit our newest site! www.americanshetlandpony.com Miniature Horse Conformation Book by Kay Baxter Ask me about Weefoal mare pregnancy tests that you do on your farm!