[drivingpairs] Re: Measuring Pole and Yoke

I knew there was  more to it than looking at a chart.  Please thank your 
husband for me.  And thanks to you for putting it all in writing!

Tracey

kathy robertson <goodhors@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>I talked to my husband about how he figured his length
>on poles.  He doesn't like a formula with marathon
>vehicles, since front end attachments are so varied.
>  He starts with vehicle and horse size.  Some
>vehicles allow horses to be more closely attached to
>vehicle because the hind legs will go under the
>vehicle when they trot out.  Other vehicles will not
>allow close hitching, because of low evener, splinter
>bar, pole attachment or single tree attachment.  Some
>vehicles are too narrow for THIS PARTICULAR PAIR of
>horses to be hitched close, since legs will hit the
>wheels when trotting out.  Other smaller pairs might
>be much closer.
>  He stands one of the pair in front of vehicle, lifts
>and extends hind leg out behind, as far as possible,
>like when doing big trot, canter.  How far does hoof
>go?  Is it possible to catch the foot on wheel? or any
>other low hardware?  Move horse forward, try extension
>of leg until there is no chance of him being able to
>clip anything of vehicle with hind leg.  Measure
>length to chest, mark it in the dirt.  Write it down
>too.  Mark where hoofs were best fit, in dirt.  Bring
>out the other pair horse and do the same thing.  Start
>with first horse marks.  Some horses are more athletic
>than partner, so both must be checked.  Go with the
>biggest moving horse for length.  Pole extends about
>3" past the harnessed horse's chest.  Thick
>breastcollars are part of the equation.
>  Yoke length is measured from center of chest on both
>horses.  Horses are standing beside pole, with barrel,
>just touching pole.  Again, go with the bigger horse
>chest, so yoke is centered on pole.  Our yoke has snap
>shackles on each end.  This will allow about 4" play
>between chest ring and yoke end.  Tieing the horses in
>tight to pole, (using a too short yoke, pole head on a
>too short pole) makes horses automatically pull away
>from pole.  Side pull affects their balance.  Horses
>and driver are already in conflict, and you have not
>even moved.  Driver should be able to adjust reins to
>make horses move closer or further away from pole,
>without tieing them in.
>Yoke fitting goes into the end of pole.  Allows yoke
>to swivel, forward and back, up and down.  This will
>allow horses to fold the yoke making whole pair
>narrower for hazards.  Horses get closer together on
>pole as they go around turns.  Streamlines everything.
>
>Our poles are also adjustable, but usually left at
>working length.  Might be extended for a new horse
>being started, never shortened from working length.
>Our horses are all very similar in size and reach, so
>we don't have a fitting problem, even changing horses
>around.  Might tighten traces a hole, so less play in
>harness, for hazard practice or for marathon.  Want
>vehicle to respond to horse movement quicker, than
>when jogging down the trail.  We practice everything
>at working length on pole.  Changing major stuff, like
>turnout length, for a competition, doesn't work for
>us. We want to practice just like how we plan to go. 
>No surprises for horses.  All of our previous practice
>has made driver attuned to length, turning radius,
>capabilities of complete turnout, in the back of
>driver mind.  Leaves the faster thinking brain part to
>note immediate needs and put the whole picture
>together for action.  Changing parts of the equation
>of turnout at the last second, makes you have to
>REALLY calculate, and you don't have enough time in a
>hazard.  It has to be automatic response, from many
>previous practices.
>
>Kathy Robertson  
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do you Yahoo!?
>Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more
>http://taxes.yahoo.com/
>_________________________________________________________
>To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: 
>http://www.drivingpairs.com/dpmem.html
>`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
>
>
_________________________________________________________
To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: 
http://www.drivingpairs.com/dpmem.html
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Other related posts: