[drivingpairs] Tandem Talk

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to help a friend with her newly organized 
tandem of Morgan ponies.  She had driven them as a tandem once before, and 
really 
got hooked.  Fortunately, she is wise enough to know NOT to drive them without 
help, not that her husband is not a helper, but he does not know much about 
tandems.

We switched positions from the way they had been hooked before, to see if the 
younger, more forward pony would make a leader.  He was absolutely at a loss. 
Although bold and forward as a single, out there all by himself, with his buddy 
right behind, he was totally confused. He kept drifting back alongside the 
wheeler.  We switched them back and viola, we had a tandem!  The point I am 
making is that one cannot always tell from how they act as singles now they 
will 
perform in a tandem.  Poor Rio just did not know how to deal with it, but in 
the 
wheel, he was super!

Since my friend does not have any real tandem harness, we "made do" with two 
single harnesses, and a bunch of baling twine.  She did have a pair of buckle 
in 
to the throat latch roger rings, so that was good, and a bountiful supply of 
pear 
snaps, including a couple of very large ones we used as tandem terrets. Pear 
snaps also took the place of tandem keys on the trace buckles.

Needless to say, with two greenies, we had a couple of "tandem moments" where 
things got a little exciting, but we were very pleased at how well the boys 
did. 
The leader went forward when asked and the wheeler backed when asked, and 
things 
got straight in a hurry.

After a very pleasant session with the boys, we took out my new mare as a 
single 
and had a nice drive around the neighborhood.  Jazz is intended to become my 
wheeler, assuming she continues to progress.  We will be at the Arizona and Ram 
Tap CDE's as a training single pony and after that we'll see how she is doing. 
Needless to say, I really miss the tandem!

Y'all play nice and drive safely!

Jay E Hubert
Coffing Oaks Welsh Ponies
Galt, CA

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and taste good 
with ketchup.

And I STILL drive too fast to worry about cholesterol! 

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