Unicorn hitch

I had a goal this summer of driving a Unicorn hitch. I have done a lot of reading on it so “no guts no glory”. A few weeks ago I invited a friend up and she brought up my big gelding Roy’s older brother with her. We goofed off most of the day hitching them together, reminiscing, picture taking, and a drive etc.. She sold Roy to me like 4 years ago and she and I have stayed in touch and become friends, but it has been a while since she had driven Roy.

We decided to hitch my older team up and put her guy on the front of a Unicorn hitch. We ground drove and worked on that arrangement for a while. It was the first time for everyone involved. Horses included. What a rush! I have driven my bigguns three-abreast but the perspective was much different being all out front like that. This was my first time with such a mature hitch also. My horses are 5, 4 and 3. This guy is like 8 yo. and 18 hands closing in on a ton. I guess in terms of total horse flesh there was about 500lbs. net gain in using him rather than my three year old. We hooked them to a fore cart too and I drove it for a little while. I am really looking forward to doing that again. Although we had some near wrecks It was a total blast and although we were just having a little fun, I think we were safe. I think it was a necessary step in my maturity as a teamster, horseman. Not to mention a goal attained.