[drivingpairs] A pair with a cart
- From: Hzlax@xxxxxxx
- To: drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 3 May 2005 12:26:02 EDT
Candis has some good points, and yes, it can be done, IF one follows all the
right steps with proper balancing and proper harness and equipment and has
enough knowledge for all of that. As I stated, I too have done it for some
years,
but it still is not very safe, and the main big issue is, that mostly that
set-up is used by beginners who precisely do not have the knowledge and skills
to have everything set-up very well, and know all the implications and risks so
precisely for beginners it usually is a bad choice, other than being cheaper,
and easier to transport (and lighter to pull).
And Candis wrote too, which problems she faced and had to overcome and
recommends a four wheeler unless you know all the details and how to balance it
etc.
Exactly the point. Most beginners don't !
As a side note: I have no problem with replacing a traditional yoke with a 12
inch "T", as that's probably similar to what I described before on modern
marathon yokes.
Hardy
In a message dated 5/3/2005 12:03:01 AM Pacific Standard Time,
ecartis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> From: "Candis Hankins" <kess@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [drivingpairs] A pair with a cart
> Date: Mon, 2 May 2005 21:01:44 -0500
>
> The recent messages have been truly fascinating since I drive a pair of 48
> inch ponies with a cart. This easy entry cart has an adjustable axle
> position
> and I am able to adjust it to put about five pounds of weight on the ponies
> while I am seated in the cart. I use full collars and the ponies seem quite
> comfortable.
> At first I had some trouble with the cart pushing the ponies on the neck
> while going down hills. By snugging up the breeching just a little the
> collars stay in place better and hills are not much of a problem. Most of my
> driving is on rough grassy and rocky trails. I've never had the pole come up
> on a
> hill even though I can purposely rock back enough to raise it a little.
> I also have broken another rule by removing the yoke and replacing it with
> a 12 inch 'T' crab (not the hook just the T) I found it difficult to
> position the pole high enough with the yoke, and it added extra weight. Now
> I use
> leather straps that give about four inches of space between the collar and
> the
> 'T'. That puts the ponies in a fairly straight position in the center of
> the singletrees. They usually position themselves so their bellies are about
> four inches from the pole.
> This is not my first experience with a pair pulling a cart. I used to
> drive a pair of Tennessee Walkers to a Meadowbrook believe it or not. I was
> always concerned that if the pole were to break there would be nothing to
> stop
> the cart from turning upside down on the axle. To remedy that I added steel
> reinforcement to the bottom side of the wooden pole. The other problem was
> the horses tended to be heavy on the bit and the cart would roll forward and
> tighten the breeching when I held the lines. Yikes! The more I pulled the
> more the cart pushed! Anyway, aside from that the cart was always quite
> stable and the horses never appeared uncomfortable.
> Since I am mostly a recreational driver with a few parades thrown in I
> can't comment on competitive driving, but I wouldn't completely write off the
> idea of pairs with carts. I love to drive pairs and loading up a two wheel
> cart for an afternoon on the trails is a whole lot easier for me than getting
> out the heavy four wheeler. I also find it a good means for training because
> it turns around so easily. Adjustment and balance is everything however, so
> if you are not sure, choose the four wheeler. Or how about a castor wheel
> under the pole...just kidding..... Candis
>
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