New to Pairs
Carol Justice
Helen Garza Roeder
1. DO NOT drive alone!
2. Take your horses to a trainer for some refresher training, since they haven’t been driven for a while.
3. Take more lessons with your horses. You’ll need to develop a relationship with your horses. It’s not so much knowing how to drive, as it is knowing what to do when there’s a problem.
4. Remember, “slow is fast”. Don’t be in a hurry. Driving a pair is very different than driving single…..and lots more fun….once you get going with them.
I’m sure you’ll be getting more input from other pair drivers on the list.
Helen
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Douglas Russell
Tom McIntire
Short answer: Have a helper around for a while, probably quite a while… 😉
Longer answer:
It all depends, but from what you describe, I would not, at least for now. You ask do you tie both to a rail. If you do, and you hitch, the first thing you need to do is back a pair up (safely), or do an absolutely perfect step-over. Both have substantial risk for failure.
You WILL make mistakes harnessing. You will see them from “in the box”. Correcting solo is difficult at best.
My personal experience is that I have managed to get to the point where I was OK driving solo, and on a good day, could unhook solo, with a pair I had worked with regularly for 3 or 4 years (half of which has since passed). Hooking solo was out of the question. Their “work ethic” got them “too excited” to consider it. I always had a “planned route” that I drove, which my wife knew, and also knew how long I’d take to complete. She helped me hitch, then came out when I returned if I needed help unhitching. That said, it is inherently risky. Choose your personal “acceptable risk”.
My first step, “when ready” to hitch solo is to do so with a helper handy. Let them just stand quietly to the side, ready to step in and assist, if needed. This is how I approached “unhitching” solo. It worked well. Once we had unhitched 5 or 10 times in a row without assistance, I got to the point where I felt comfortable “judging” if they were quiet enough that day to unhitch solo.
Those who have told me (privately) about how they approached hitching multiples solo told me that they spent a LONG period of time working on how to stand as a prerequisite, to the point of “parking” horses prior to turnout when cleaning their stalls. When they got to the point where they did not move a foot when “parked” for 20+ minutes, it was time to try hitching solo, but with help handy, “just in case”.
Could I see hitching a quiet pair of Belgians solo? Perhaps. Based on my limited experience with Fjords, however, and the experience of others I know, they tend to be both “strong headed” and “food motivated”. So, if they see something that might be “nice” to munch on, they are going to “bull” their way that way. You won’t stop them.
My two cents…
-Tom McIntire
--
Carole Moss
Hi Carol,
I’ve been driving a Welsh Pony pair for about 1 ½ years, after many years with singles too. I do not ground drive, hitch/unhitch or drive the pair alone, nor venture off of our property alone. Just too easy to get into trouble with two ponies and one set of hands. 90%+ of our drives are uneventful, but there is always that spooky moment you didn’t expect.
If I don’t have help, I drive each of them single. Single driving builds a much better relationship with each pony, we both learn a lot about each other, helps me understand how they behave as a pair. Very valuable.
On the walking off, I found that both of my ponies, whether single or pair hitched, were anticipating moving off once the lead ropes come off. Walking off before you are ready is unnerving and dangerous! So each time I dwaddle around on the ground or in the box, making them wait until I’m ready to go. Took some time, but they got it!
Driving a pair is a whole new ballgame. Enjoy!
From another backyard driver,
Carole Moss in TN
From: drivin...@googlegroups.com [mailto:drivin...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Carol Justice
Sent: Monday, September 04, 2017 10:57 PM
To: DrivingPairs <drivin...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [DrivingPairs:6740] New to Pairs
I have been driving single for many years (not a professional, just a casual back yard horse owner). I recently bought a friends pair of Norwegian Fjords that have been driven as a pair, though it has been a while. I have never driven a pair. I have taken two lessons with someone much more knowledgable then me. I have learned how to harness and have ground driven a couple of times.
--
Kruse, Doris K {BIS}
I agree with everyone that has responded to this email. Having a helping hand is a must, when driving a team. I personally think horses learn your routine. I don’t use a hitching rail. Once fully tacked I lead them into their spot in front of the buggy and with the help of a header, hook up. Unhooking is easier, because they are normally tired. Again routine seems to be key. Driving a pair or even a single is great fun and very enjoyable, may you have many hours of enjoyment with your team.
Doris
From: drivin...@googlegroups.com [mailto:drivin...@googlegroups.com]
On Behalf Of Carol Justice
Sent: Monday, September 04, 2017 9:57 PM
To: DrivingPairs
Subject: [DrivingPairs:6740] New to Pairs
I have been driving single for many years (not a professional, just a casual back yard horse owner). I recently bought a friends pair of Norwegian Fjords that have been driven as a pair, though it has been a while. I have never driven a pair. I have taken two lessons with someone much more knowledgable then me. I have learned how to harness and have ground driven a couple of times.
--
Sandi Messner
Sent from my iPad
sstarrr
Another hitching hint is to take them where they normally hitch and have them stand there for a half hour or so, daily. It breaks the idea that they get to go running off soon. And trains for a "whoa".
-Catherine
-----Original Message-----
From: "Kruse, Doris K {BIS}"
Sent: Sep 5, 2017 9:12 AM
To: "drivin...@googlegroups.com"
Subject: RE: [DrivingPairs:6745] New to Pairs
I agree with everyone that has responded to this email. Having a helping hand is a must, when driving a team. I personally think horses learn your routine. I don’t use a hitching rail. Once fully tacked I lead them into their spot in front of the buggy and with the help of a header, hook up. Unhooking is easier, because they are normally tired. Again routine seems to be key. Driving a pair or even a single is great fun and very enjoyable, may you have many hours of enjoyment with your team.
Doris
From: drivin...@googlegroups.com [mailto:drivin...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Carol Justice
Sent: Monday, September 04, 2017 9:57 PM
To: DrivingPairs
Subject: [DrivingPairs:6740] New to Pairs
I have been driving single for many years (not a professional, just a casual back yard horse owner). I recently bought a friends pair of Norwegian Fjords that have been driven as a pair, though it has been a while. I have never driven a pair. I have taken two lessons with someone much more knowledgable then me. I have learned how to harness and have ground driven a couple of times.
I have some questions:
Do you drive alone? Do you harness alone? How do you "hook" the pair together when ground driving? Do you both to a tie rail?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I did manage to ground drive them by myself one day. It was tricky. I tied the harnessed horses to a rail (by the halter), attached reins, then unsnapped from lead ropes and before I could get in position correctly behind, one started walking away. You can't really "pull back to whoa" because one is already stopped. It was quickly becoming a train wreck, and I managed to get to both of their heads, unhook the reins, get back to the tie rail and try again. We ended on a positive note, but any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks for reading,
Carol
