cart training

**Range** · 07-25-2006, 05:47 PM

Well, this is my second summer working on training my miniature to pull the cart. She is STILL not ready! She ground drives well and, after many adjustments and fixings of the harness, that is going well. After working on the cart, that fits fine. The problem is, no matter how much I round pen her for respect, she wants to do what she wants to do! If she doesn't want to go down the road, she pitches a fit. Now, without the cart, I can usually deal with this. With the cart, it becomes a disaster in the making. I ground drove her with the cart (me behind) for the first time last week and it was the scariest thing we've ever done! She didn't want to go where I wanted her to go, so she pitched many fits. In fact, I got to find out I'd hitched her right since nothing came apart. However, it's so not safe for me to get in the cart if she's going to continue this! Anyone have any ideas how I can convince her this will be fun? I know I have to do yet more ground driving with her, but after two seasons, walking behind the horse sure is getting old. I'm beginning to think she just doesn't like it and is never going to pull a cart!

Craftylady · 07-26-2006, 04:44 PM

I hate to say it, but maybe she's not tempermentally suited to driving. You have a lot less control over a horse when you're driving than when you're riding. The Paso gelding I have is 23 but I'd never trust him to drive; he's too nuts.

Since she's a mini, I can think of nothing more than stick with it.

**Range** · 07-26-2006, 06:14 PM

Unfortunately, that's what I'm thinking, she's just not got the mindset to pull a cart. She likes to jump, but it's too dang hot to be doing that every day! I'm going to keep at it, but I may just give up to her wishes soon. Cart accidents are just as dangerous as falling.....

BarrelGirl · 07-26-2006, 07:52 PM

Maybe it was because I trained my first driving mini when I was 10 and was a little fearless, but I had a routine to training the minis to drive. It worked for me, as I trained 9 excellent driving horses. They were respectful from the ground already, and their 3 year old year I put the harness on them for the first time. I'd work with them for an hour or so, to teach them how to turn and stop. Second day, they would get a refresher course, and get the cart hooked up for good measure. Third day, I was in the cart, and away I went. I only had one mini try to run away on me, but I got her attention back after a few strides.

I went to look at a stallion to breed my mare to (like 8 years ago, I never did it though) and they were working with one of their new horses. Their son did the training as well. He would put the harness on in the round pen. He would put side lines on one side to teach the horse how to turn. When they were spinning around that way, he would hook up the side line to the other side to teach the horse to turn the opposite way. Then, he would go get the cart, hook them up, and let them go in the field. I wasn't quite that brave.... But he said he'd never had one flip over, and if they attempt to run off, he let them. They eventually got tired, and when he came back with them, they were great. He would have a mini trained for a show in a week (headset, gaits, and all!!)

I'm sorry I can't help more, Range. This was how we taught our horses, and we never had one flip over, rear, or kick at the cart.

07-25-2006, 05:47 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,898	cart training Well, this is my second summer working on training my miniature to pull the cart. She is STILL not ready! She ground drives well and, after many adjustments and fixings of the harness, that is going well. After working on the cart, that fits fine. The problem is, no matter how much I round pen her for respect, she wants to do what she wants to do! If she doesn't want to go down the road, she pitches a fit. Now, without the cart, I can usually deal with this. With the cart, it becomes a disaster in the making. I ground drove her with the cart (me behind) for the first time last week and it was the scariest thing we've ever done! She didn't want to go where I wanted her to go, so she pitched many fits. In fact, I got to find out I'd hitched her right since nothing came apart. However, it's so not safe for me to get in the cart if she's going to continue this! Anyone have any ideas how I can convince her this will be fun? I know I have to do yet more ground driving with her, but after two seasons, walking behind the horse sure is getting old. I'm beginning to think she just doesn't like it and is never going to pull a cart! __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

07-26-2006, 04:44 PM
Craftylady Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 276	I hate to say it, but maybe she's not tempermentally suited to driving. You have a lot less control over a horse when you're driving than when you're riding. The Paso gelding I have is 23 but I'd never trust him to drive; he's too nuts. Since she's a mini, I can think of nothing more than stick with it.

07-26-2006, 06:14 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,898	cart Unfortunately, that's what I'm thinking, she's just not got the mindset to pull a cart. She likes to jump, but it's too dang hot to be doing that every day! I'm going to keep at it, but I may just give up to her wishes soon. Cart accidents are just as dangerous as falling..... __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

07-26-2006, 07:52 PM
BarrelGirl Coming two Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,893	Maybe it was because I trained my first driving mini when I was 10 and was a little fearless, but I had a routine to training the minis to drive. It worked for me, as I trained 9 excellent driving horses. They were respectful from the ground already, and their 3 year old year I put the harness on them for the first time. I'd work with them for an hour or so, to teach them how to turn and stop. Second day, they would get a refresher course, and get the cart hooked up for good measure. Third day, I was in the cart, and away I went. I only had one mini try to run away on me, but I got her attention back after a few strides. I went to look at a stallion to breed my mare to (like 8 years ago, I never did it though) and they were working with one of their new horses. Their son did the training as well. He would put the harness on in the round pen. He would put side lines on one side to teach the horse how to turn. When they were spinning around that way, he would hook up the side line to the other side to teach the horse to turn the opposite way. Then, he would go get the cart, hook them up, and let them go in the field. I wasn't quite that brave.... But he said he'd never had one flip over, and if they attempt to run off, he let them. They eventually got tired, and when he came back with them, they were great. He would have a mini trained for a show in a week (headset, gaits, and all!!) I'm sorry I can't help more, Range. This was how we taught our horses, and we never had one flip over, rear, or kick at the cart.