"...> One of the funniest moments was when I said to Katie my leader to walk > on but I forgot to say anything to Foxie my wheeler. Foxie stood fast as > Katie hit the breast collar. .." Congratulations on a great tandem start. Now to the above line: That's another one of the many reasons, why I don't use many voice commands but more of the reins. My upward transition is a half halt as a preparation and then a give of my hand together with a cluck at the very same time as I give my hand. The half halt wakes them up and prepares them (actually, it's perhaps not even a half halt but just taking up a little contact with their mouths), it gives the signal: "Hey, now the old man wants something, what could it possibly be?" Only one of two things when we are at the halt: Either going forward (90% of the time) or backing up (hardly ever, and for backing up I would then increase the contact.) Then out of the half halt, I GIVE with my hand, they stretch their necks forward to "seek the contact" which really starts the forward movement, and at the very same moment that is enforced with the cluck, and BOOM, they go forward, and no matter, how many are in front there (one, two, four, even six) with properly adjusted rein length the half halt should reaches all at the same time, so the GIVE as well, and the cluck certainly does. So then, all start together. No need to call different names :-) Hardy _________________________________________________________ To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: http://www.drivingpairs.com/dpmem.html `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````