[drivingpairs] Re: Pole height
- From: "Karen Johnson" <kjohnson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 12:36:38 -0700
I have a question so basic I didn't want to post it. I have been mostly
lurking and learning; I only drive singles - What is the difference between
dropped and fixed poles? Which would be better for steep hills (I assume one
would allow the pole to "move" with the shoulders of the equines, on hills?)
Can a pole be used on a two wheeled vehicle for a pair to pull? Is there a
basic video or book that has elementary information like this in it? I have
miniature horses that are trained to drive.
Karen
_____
From: drivingpairs-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:drivingpairs-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Hzlax@xxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 11:21 AM
To: drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [drivingpairs] Pole height
In a message dated 2/15/2006 11:04:18 PM Pacific Standard Time,
ecartis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
What is the proper height for the pole (in relation to the animal)? Meaning,
elbow height? Breastcollar height? Halfway in between? etc. I look at photos
and it seems like the heights are all different. Also, would the height be
different for a marathon vehicle vs. a pleasure vehicle? Thanks.
Yes, height can be different with marathon and pleasure vehicles depending
on the pole set up.
For modern marathon vehicle with a sprung pole I like a short marathon yoke
on the pole end with quick releases to snap directly into the breastcollar D
rings. For that I like to pole to be just slightly below the D rings, so it
rests with very little weight there. I don't want it entirely "floating" as
then it tends to go up and down too much, so very little weight - like a
pound or so - which means that it's not really "hanging" heavily on the
brestcollars, but on te other hand doesn't come up too much and too high
either.
For a Pleasure vehicle we have basically two different set-ups: The American
style Pleasure Vehicle has a drop pole and is also driven with a yoke. So
basically the same applies - only since it's drop pole, it does have a
little more weight hanging there in front, but it should also be used with a
yoke - which would be slightly longer than the marathon yoke, but I would
still like to have the yoke attached close to the center of the collars,
which then automatically gives us the height.
The other set up is the European fixed pole with pole straps or pole chains
and no yoke. That pole should be longer so that the angle of the pole straps
or pole chains is not too wide so that the pole straps or chains do not pull
the horses into the pole. On antique vehicles we often see those poles
extend beyond the heads of the horses, which for the angle is fine. Modern
vehicles have the poles not quite as long, as folks use them in CDE's for
dressage an cones, and for the cones don't want too long poles sticking out
in front restricting tight turns, but still the poles is longer than short
marathon poles. So then we need to make sure that these poles do not hit the
horses in the noses when moving up and down with uneven terrain, thus they
tend to be a little lower.
In addition, since these often are fixed poles on antique vehicles, at times
one has little choice and can't change their height easily. That's why you
see different heights on different pictures, as different height horses were
still using the same vehicle over the years. Hope this helps.
Hardy
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