[drivingpairs] Forecart
- From: kathy robertson <goodhors@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 07:13:16 -0800 (PST)
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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