[drivingpairs] tandems vs 4s

Tandem is more difficult as a four for a few reasons: 1. In a 4 the two 
leaders steady each other, whereas in a tandem the leader is all on his own 
and can jump sideways or turn around much easier. 2. In a 4 your left and 
right reins are going off from your hand in much more of an angle to the left 
and the right than with a tandem where all 4 lines are running almost 
parallel out of your hand, so that it's much harder in a tandem for a 
beginner to not get mixed up with the reins. 3. A 4 needs distinct rein 
commands to turn, e.g. the leaderreins need large loops for a proper turn 
(because the outside rein has a long way to go all around the head of the 
outside wheeler in a turn), whereas in a tandem the loops are much smaller, 
as the distance around the head is not as far, THEREFORE a tandem leader will 
react to much smaller rein signals than the leaders in a four, so that a 
tandem leader can go left or right even unintentionally when the driver 
unintentionally just has a little left or right rein signal much easier than 
in a four. 4. Horses are herd animals, most of them like to be in company, 
the more the merrier. It gives them group mentality safety. As a good pair 
goes along much happier and nicer than a single (this is the pairs list, I 
can say that here without being stoned by single drivers), so do two leaders 
and usually feel much more secure, than a single leader.(Not sure if  can say 
that safely, as now the tandem drivers will stone me, grin).

Due to all the above, the situation that two leaders are coming all around 
facing you and the necessity to straighten out the mess occurs only very 
seldom with a four, but quite often with a tandem.

So that's all what makes a tandem harder to drive, on the oher hand, there 
are also two thing that makes it easier: You only need two horses that you 
know well and trust and that know each other etc, and you only need to deal 
with two horses at a time, and only equipment for two, and can use a two 
wheel cart and since many of us have easier access to two such horses and the 
equipment than to four of them, thus many start with a tandem, which then is 
an excellent learning tool for driving 4 later. When you manage a tandem 
well, driving a 4 is a piece of cake.  Also, with a tandem, you can work your 
way up to doing it with riding one and longlining the other, which isn't as 
"easy" (grin) with a 4, although the Hungarians certainly do, but then, they 
don't ride on the wheeler, they stand on them, and they don't do it with 4, 
but with 5, Hungarian Post, standing on the two wheelers, driving 3 in front 
of them, and coming into the arena in a full gallopp with all 5, a 
breathtaking sight ! 
Hardy

 


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