[drivingpairs] Help with Hitching New Pair

Hi

Well we tried to hitch my new pair of Geldings today.  We got them hitched
but had a lot of problems.

One pony was very steady.  The other one was scared of the pole and it took
us a while to get him hitched.  When asked to move off, he started leaping
forward but  then settled down.  Somehow, the cart seemed to bump him and he
leaped and reared.  Both ponies were being led by assistants.  I don't think
I had the traces the correct length or the pole straps set right.  He seemed
to get bumped by the carriage.  It all happened so fast.  We then unhitched
and went to unhitch the coupling reins and the carriage pole bumped him
again and he reared and leaped up barely missing one of my assistants.

We have been ground driving them for weeks now and also driving both single.
The one pony, Step, seems to be so afraid of the pole. Thank god no one got
hurt.  I am now afraid to rehitch.  I think Step needs more single work and
ground driving.  He tends to be a little goosy and used to scoot forward
when driving single. He hasn't done that in a while though.  He is the type
of pony who needs to go thru procedures before hitching.

The ponies are 44" long, chest to rump, the carriage pole was set at 68".
Do you think we need a to make the pole longer?  They are 11.1 hands tall.
We had the carriage pole, which is a fixed pole set at 33 1/2".  Is this too
high for them?  How far in front of the chests should the pole be?   The
carriage is my Jeff Day Marathon.

I drive a pair of 43" mares to this carriage and the pole is set for them
only the height of the pole is 31 1/2".

Any helpful ideas on where to proceed next?  Thanks Bettyann Seablade


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