[drivingpairs] Answers to More tandem questions

In a message dated 5/14/2003 12:11:05 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
ecartis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

>  Please forgive all the questions but this seemed like a good place to ask 
> them.
> 
>  a.. What is the avg. length of leader traces for horses?

Mine are 10'  (but I have 17 h horses) and these are for going to the trace 
buckle of the wheeler with the tandem key. For a ttandem lead bar they can be 
shorter.

>  b.. What is the avg.  length of the leader reins for horses? What width for 
> reins did you recommend? 

Mine are 14' . I prefer them the same width as my wheeler reins, and I prefer 
1" wide reins, as only wide reins one can hold properly pressing sideways in 
the palm of the hand Achenbach style.

>  c.. Where should the splices for the leader reins be? 

mine is in the middle at 7'

>  d.. How do you know where to put the buckles when joining the wheeler and 
> leader reins together? 

First drive regular without any buckles and find your best positions. Then 
you can mark those and do buckles. But rather than buckles, I use rein clips 
which you can vary anytime to any place.  (I'll bring some to the clinic 
after In Harmony-you can try them there)

>  e.. How long should the Roger Rings hang down? 

So that the reins run comfortably underneath the blinder of the wheeler, but 
high enough to not get caught in his bit.

>  f.. How long should the trace carriers be?

So that the trace is carried comfortably besides the horse for  a straight 
line of draft, if ever he gets into draft. Also as high as possible so that 
he can't get a leg over a trace, but as low as necessary to not have it go 
over his back (which you can prevent also with a strap underneath to his 
belly band. Also sme prefer second bungy cord trace hangers.

>  g.. How long should the tandem whip be and how long should the lash be? 

Long enough to reach the leader comfortably. The longer the stick, the easier 
it is to aim properly, however, the longer the stick, the harder it is to 
carry in your hand, and the easier it is to get tangled up with it while 
driving. So as all the rest, it all comes down to a lot of personal 
preference and experience, so you need to play with it all a little  to see 
what suits you, your size and your horses' size best.

>  h.. What are the disadvantages to driving two handed? 

First, same as with a single, when you use your whip, you lose the contact 
and disturb the horse in the mouth. But added to that for tandems and teams, 
when you take a loop, your hand needs to go forward to take the loop, so you 
lose the contact at that moment. When you drive Achenbach, you have a hand 
free to use the whip as well as too take loops without losing any contact. So 
for dressage and daily training I prefer Aachenbach, but for hazards and 
cones two handed works quicker and well trained horses can survive those few 
moments there with a quick loss of contact in those turns. 


>  i.. Can you make a turn without taking loops two handed if you rotate your 
> wrists correctly ?

With a tandem on a large turn yes, but for a narrow turn not so good, and 
with a team less than with a tandem as the team is so much wider thus the 
outside rein shortens itself so much more in a turn so that you need to also 
shorten the inside rein so much more, which you can do properly only by 
taking a loop. 
> 
>  j.. Do you ever take a loop in the wheeler's reins? 

Not really a loop, only the small opposition if needed. Not needed as much in 
a tandem as with a team.

>  k.. What is the best wood to make tandem bars and how are they attached to 
> a neck collar?

I don't know which wood, but most hang them with a leather strap from the 
middle, plus add short trace stubs on both sides. 
Hardy





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