Great advice, confirms what some have been suggesting but in much more and excellent detail. Note in particular how Kathy suggests unhooking. Also note the suggestion to use more care when not at home. Always be setting an example for others to follow. It may seem to be over done but I am sure that if followed, it will eliminated 99% of the problems and insure a more pleasant experience for all. One additional step, before bringing horses to the vehicle, have someone check the complete harness and reins on each horses, making doubly sure all is connected properly, all adjusted correctly. This is very important on a four and pairs. Takes only a small amount of time and how many times something which is not quite right is caught. Doug Kemmerer Middleburg, VA In a message dated 9/5/2006 5:27:11 PM Eastern Standard Time, goodhors@xxxxxxxxx writes: Wow, reading the order of hitching is scary on some of these posts. Just hasn't happened yet. We follow the Coaching methods, horses paying attention to holder. One holder per each 2 horses. Reins, pole straps or chains, then traces. We do outside trace first, because we were taught that way, to keep rumps from swinging out. Reach behind horse and attach the inside trace. Don't get in there, reach. Yes we have large horses, but not drafts. Still can reach. Pole strap before trace, ALWAYS. Horse can stop carriage with pole straps. Attached pole strap won't allow carriage to hit horse in the rump if it should roll forward. Can't stop carriage with only traces attached, though he can move vehicle forward. Anyplace away from home we use more care. Extra safe in procedures. Safety is MOST important when hitching or unhitching a set of horses, any configuration. Handlers need to be paying attention to the animals. Horses should be obedient to handler, not have wandering attention, sightseeing. Holders need lead ropes to the equine head, not depend on reins for grasping the animal. One big head toss can rip reins from your hand, loss of control. Inattention by holder or horse, can lead to bad situations, then major trouble. Our horses are led to stationary vehicle, one at a time, stood in correct places with holder, then attached in the described manner, Reins, pole straps, traces. Holder moves away, clear, AFTER driver is seated, has reins, whip, lap robe, passengers seated, EVERYTHING ready to go. Unhooking is done in reverse. Holder or groom at horse heads with leads attached, passengers off, driver off. Traces removed by second person, then pole straps off, then reins uncoupled. Horses are then EACH taken by their own person, turned sharply sideways away from pole to leave at the same time. NOT walked forward as in a harnessed departure for "walk on". We want horse removal in multiples DIFFERENT than driving forward. They are used to moving together, will likely move as you start the other horse away. Forward could allow horse/harness to catch on pole head, yoke, leader bars, create a problem. So do the moving-away-turn as a directive, not allow moving to be a disobedience. Horses want to be together, don't get them excited by seeing one horse leaving him. We then lead them together to where we will unharness. Easier on everyone's stress levels if you think of these 2 horses as one unit. Pair thinking, will keep them happy together when away from home. They are Pairs, whether Wheelers, Leaders or just 2 horses driven as a Pair. We also treat our Tandem as a Pair when doing things with them at shows, kept, led, washed, harnessed together. We never bring horses to vehicles as a harnessed-together Pair. NEVER have them step over a pole. I know it is common with drafts, but I have seen many problems with horses jerking each other around, tripping on pole to get in place, pole BREAKING with damage from repeated shoe spikings. Drop pole for buggy is much more slender, breakable than a wagon pole if horse steps on it. Does take more people for light horse, carriage style of putting horses to vehicle. Kathy Robertson _________________________________________________________ To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: http://www.drivingpairs.com/index.php?pg=2 `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````