[drivingpairs] Re: Forecart

Kathy...what do you train your light horses on?  My morgans drive nicely.  I
have a Pacific Carriage training cart that has marathan wheels  and is easy
entry (I can get a pole for it).  It has marathon wheels...and that's what
my mare were trained on.  The problem is I use the Pacific Carriage cart
with shafts alot and I don't want to disassemble and reassenble shafts and
poles.  The Pole will cost as much as a fore cart!  Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: "kathy robertson" <goodhors@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 7:13 AM
Subject: [drivingpairs] Forecart


>   Sorry to be a little late on this topic.  We really
> do not care for forecarts as a carriage pair training
> vehicle.   Forecarts, as mentioned, were developed to
> pull tools, like cultivators, drags, spreaders.  They
> don't balance well, usually being very heavy at the
> pole tip.  Driver getting in seat, seldom affects
> balance.  Yoke between the horses supports pole, but
> pulls down heavily on the neckcollars.  This can be
> hard on a horses neck, just holding pole up.  With a
> tool behind working, the drag of towed tool, will
> lighten up the pole weight some, but usually does not
> reach a balance point.  Pole weight can vary, jerking,
> as tool behind forecart hops or drags on ground
> surface.
>   If horse does not spook from jerking pole, load
> behind, he does learn how to pull hard.  Ground driven
> spreaders are heavy, hard work to empty.  Light,
> carriage driving horses should not be pulling with
> front legs, but pushing from behind.  Just the
> difference in jobs.
>
>   I really would not like seeing new pairs, light
> horses,  ponies, having to carry such a heavy pole
> weight, while learning their job as a pair.
>
>   Most of the forecarts I see are homemade, balance is
> not a consideration!  Solid is the big selling point.
> Around here it is draft drivers and people moving down
> from big horses to draft ponies, so they stay with
> their previous training and thinking.  Heavy harness,
> heavy vehicles.  Most do more heavy pulling, spreading
> manure, stoneboats, hitch wagons, all at fairly slow
> speeds.  Their horses don't get speed and mileage,
> jogging down the road being pulled down on the neck.
>
>   Just putting this forward, to be considered, before
> purchasing a vehicle.  How you want the horse to
> finish, should be thought of, as you go thru training
> steps.  Even light movers, get flat, learn bad habits,
> bad body carriage, when dragged down by the vehicle.
> Light horses, ponies, have a lot more work, physical
> effort, to manage a forecart than draft horses would.
>
> Kathy Robertson
>
>
>
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