Training to pull a cart.

theloneappy · 01-25-2006, 09:51 PM

I am looking to train Phoenix (horse in my avatar) to pull a cart. Not really sure how to go about doing this. She already ground drives. I do that with her every so often just to mix things up. I am looking for a harness for her and I want to get her used to that before I introduced a cart.

I appricate any advice anyone can give me. I appriciate it all so much. Everyone on here is very knowledgeable I know every bit of advice is good. Thanks everyone.

Malauree

Fox-Hunter · 01-26-2006, 05:43 AM

The advise I have is to buy a good harness set. We started with a cheap one thinking, if he runs it will break and all will be better. That was not the case. It did break but not at a good time.

Also, when you hook him up to a cart be sure and have the cart pulling something heavy, like tractor tire or two, this way he can't bolt and run when he gets scared.

We always put the pulling harness on a new horse in the round pen. Then lunge him. He gets use to the weight and noise of it in a safe area. Some don't react much to it others run around the pen for 10 mins or so.

Good luck with your training! Keep us posted!

ToveroMom · 01-26-2006, 08:20 AM

The first thing all the folks who drive mention is not getting the nylon or biothane harness. You want a good leather harness but if a crash occurs you DO want the leather to break-before something on the horse does.
I am brand new to driving myself so no words of wisdom but for you to find an experienced friend or driving trainer. It is something that will make or break your first driving project.
It is a blast to drive but I am a timid driver[not so on horseback] It is a hobby that is rather risky till everyone is all trained [horse and driver] and things are stable. That is why I started out with a teeny horse

Excited to hear any info you glean from your search
Good luck to you

Netta · 01-26-2006, 01:16 PM

I'm sorry, I have to agree with the above advice about having the cart pulling a tractor tire or two the first time you hitch a horse up. Never in all my years of training harness horses have I hitched the horse to something heavy the first time I hitch them....I hitch to a light training cart. Never have I had a runaway. The trick is to have the horse well trained to "Whoa" before you ever hitch him. Make sure he is used to the sound of the cart, the feel of shafts at his sides, the feel of the harness--put pressure on the breeching, the wrap straps, the traces so that he is used to how it feels when he pulls, stops, etc.

The first time I hitch I have him in an enclosed area, and I have a helper to help with hitching--the horse wears a longe line & my helper walks along & holds the line just in case. We walk, turn, stop, and try a few steps of trot. Depending how it all goes that may cover one lesson, or it may be two lessons. Once the horse is okay with all that we move out into a bigger area--usually the back pasture. I'll have the helper & the longe line for the first drive out in the open, and if the first trot goes well then we're on our own.

Somewhere I have a "starting your horse in harness" page I wrote up for someone awhile ago; if you want to PM me I will see if I can find it & e-mail it to you.

To go back to hitching to something heavy--a horse new to driving will sour very quickly if he's asked to pull something heavy. He doesn't understand what he's supposed to do, his muscles aren't accustomed to pulling, it will be hard for him and the excessive weight alone may very well frighten him. Some horses will get balky very, very quickly if asked to pull too much too soon.

Fox-Hunter · 01-26-2006, 01:47 PM

I agree with Netta that you don't want something too heavy. You just want enough resistance if the horse spooks he won't be able to bolt. We have used this is technic on our 8 pulling horses and none have soured to pull.

Ground training is the MOST important part. The first place to start and stay until the horse understands completely voice commands.

**Range** · 01-26-2006, 06:00 PM

I started attaching just a pole to the traces to get my mini used to the sound and feel of pulling, then a small tire, then a large tire. However, don't think that makes them ready to pull a cart! The cart is freaky due to noises, etc. Spend a lot of time with you pulling the cart...next to the horse, behind the horse, let the horse chase it, all while on the lead line. That's as far as I've gotten except for getting my mini to stand in the shafts.... Oh, remember they can't "bend" into a turn while in a cart, so work on that some, too!

Nogami47 · 01-26-2006, 08:45 PM

I'd love to teach my horse to pull, too. Have never even looked into it at all, so pardon me if these questions are really basic.
- Do harnesses come in different sizes? Can I get one for a small 14.3 horse?
- How much do they cost?
- If a horse is already well trained under saddle, will that help with harness training?

I drove a cart once one lap around an arena - whoo! It was fun. You're really close to that ground flying by.

01-25-2006, 09:51 PM
theloneappy Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: North Dakota Posts: 712	Training to pull a cart. I am looking to train Phoenix (horse in my avatar) to pull a cart. Not really sure how to go about doing this. She already ground drives. I do that with her every so often just to mix things up. I am looking for a harness for her and I want to get her used to that before I introduced a cart. I appricate any advice anyone can give me. I appriciate it all so much. Everyone on here is very knowledgeable I know every bit of advice is good. Thanks everyone. Malauree

01-26-2006, 05:43 AM
Fox-Hunter Weanling Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Deep Woods of South Georgia Posts: 490	The advise I have is to buy a good harness set. We started with a cheap one thinking, if he runs it will break and all will be better. That was not the case. It did break but not at a good time. Also, when you hook him up to a cart be sure and have the cart pulling something heavy, like tractor tire or two, this way he can't bolt and run when he gets scared. We always put the pulling harness on a new horse in the round pen. Then lunge him. He gets use to the weight and noise of it in a safe area. Some don't react much to it others run around the pen for 10 mins or so. Good luck with your training! Keep us posted!

01-26-2006, 08:20 AM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 15,785	The first thing all the folks who drive mention is not getting the nylon or biothane harness. You want a good leather harness but if a crash occurs you DO want the leather to break-before something on the horse does. I am brand new to driving myself so no words of wisdom but for you to find an experienced friend or driving trainer. It is something that will make or break your first driving project. It is a blast to drive but I am a timid driver[not so on horseback] It is a hobby that is rather risky till everyone is all trained [horse and driver] and things are stable. That is why I started out with a teeny horse Excited to hear any info you glean from your search Good luck to you __________________ In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. Aaron Rose

01-26-2006, 01:16 PM
Netta Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Manitoba Canada Posts: 40	I'm sorry, I have to agree with the above advice about having the cart pulling a tractor tire or two the first time you hitch a horse up. Never in all my years of training harness horses have I hitched the horse to something heavy the first time I hitch them....I hitch to a light training cart. Never have I had a runaway. The trick is to have the horse well trained to "Whoa" before you ever hitch him. Make sure he is used to the sound of the cart, the feel of shafts at his sides, the feel of the harness--put pressure on the breeching, the wrap straps, the traces so that he is used to how it feels when he pulls, stops, etc. The first time I hitch I have him in an enclosed area, and I have a helper to help with hitching--the horse wears a longe line & my helper walks along & holds the line just in case. We walk, turn, stop, and try a few steps of trot. Depending how it all goes that may cover one lesson, or it may be two lessons. Once the horse is okay with all that we move out into a bigger area--usually the back pasture. I'll have the helper & the longe line for the first drive out in the open, and if the first trot goes well then we're on our own. Somewhere I have a "starting your horse in harness" page I wrote up for someone awhile ago; if you want to PM me I will see if I can find it & e-mail it to you. To go back to hitching to something heavy--a horse new to driving will sour very quickly if he's asked to pull something heavy. He doesn't understand what he's supposed to do, his muscles aren't accustomed to pulling, it will be hard for him and the excessive weight alone may very well frighten him. Some horses will get balky very, very quickly if asked to pull too much too soon.

01-26-2006, 01:47 PM
Fox-Hunter Weanling Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Deep Woods of South Georgia Posts: 490	I agree with Netta that you don't want something too heavy. You just want enough resistance if the horse spooks he won't be able to bolt. We have used this is technic on our 8 pulling horses and none have soured to pull. Ground training is the MOST important part. The first place to start and stay until the horse understands completely voice commands.

01-26-2006, 06:00 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,898	training to pull I started attaching just a pole to the traces to get my mini used to the sound and feel of pulling, then a small tire, then a large tire. However, don't think that makes them ready to pull a cart! The cart is freaky due to noises, etc. Spend a lot of time with you pulling the cart...next to the horse, behind the horse, let the horse chase it, all while on the lead line. That's as far as I've gotten except for getting my mini to stand in the shafts.... Oh, remember they can't "bend" into a turn while in a cart, so work on that some, too! __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

01-26-2006, 08:45 PM
Nogami47 Newborn Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 24	I'd love to teach my horse to pull, too. Have never even looked into it at all, so pardon me if these questions are really basic. - Do harnesses come in different sizes? Can I get one for a small 14.3 horse? - How much do they cost? - If a horse is already well trained under saddle, will that help with harness training? I drove a cart once one lap around an arena - whoo! It was fun. You're really close to that ground flying by.