problem with pair

[horsemadire]

Hi there just looking for any advice. I have two full sisters who drive no problem as singles under shafts or in traces as a pair pulling a harrow or roller.
As soon as I try to put a pole between them one acts up and keeps pushing out sideways away from the pole and stopping.
Am trying to get them to work in a forecart as it will cut out a lot of walking for me.

[LStone]

Horsemadire,

Welcome to the group. You will find it to be a very helpful resource with people that have a tremendous willingness to help if you haven’t already. About your problem, I can’t say that I have had that issue before, but it seems to me that you describe that the problem seems to be only the pole and that they seem to drive as a team just fine in other apps. that don’t require a pole. Maybe try mecanically attaching a pole to a neck yoke and just ground drag it around hitched to their collars unattached to any type of vehicle for a while until they get used to it. Then after familiarization I would attach a pole to a worksled or similar. Best I can do with limited experience. Or I guess you could just persist with what you are doing and sooner or later they will come around after more esposure to it. Maybe with an assistant(s) on a leadrope to the offending horse(s) for encouragement. Good luck though I am sure others will chime in here.

LStone

[Michael Colby]

Two things come to my mind immediately: First, have you tried the offending horse on both sides of the pole? If it’s not that simple (hardly ever is), try giving them some good challenging work — something they’ve really got to get into their collars with. Warm them up without the pole and then hook them to whatever you have with a pole and some weight. My guess is that the monkey business will end pretty quickly.

[colttrainer]

Try attaching a pole to your manger and leaving tied in the barn for a few days. Do it with all your colts.

[grey]

I’d put a butt rope on the team and then just drive em a lot. The butt rope should be long enough to go from one horse’s outside hame, around behind both horses and up to the other horse’s outside hame. Keep an eye on that one horse and make sure there isn’t something about the harness fit and adjustment that is making it uncomfortable.

[grey]

I have two lengths of butt rope in my arsenal; the long one that I use when I’m expecting trouble from a green team and the short one I use when I’m letting someone else ground drive my broke team. The long one has bull snaps at either end and I snap those into the lower outside hame rings, pass them through one outside breeching strap on either side to keep them from sagging too badly. My shorty butt rope just has a couple of nice beefy brass trigger snaps and I clip them to the inside britchen dees, just to ward off trouble of the inside-out variety.

[blue80]

A couple other options,
I put an open bridle on my one mare and she straightened right up.

Maybe also check your line adjustment? If you have been ground driving and the team was set close together and you go to a wide neck yoke and double tree, you will need to move your check lines forward to allow them to move their heads apart for proper alingment. Just a thought,

[horsemadire]

Thanks will try some of the sugestions over the weekend. It’s hard to get help or advice over here in Ireland as people seem to forget the use of horses but with the price of petrol heading for £2 a Litre and above horses could turn the wheel around again.

[Lane Linnenkohl]

I hate to be negative or single out anyoneone’s advice, but I would not attach a loose pole between the horses and let them drag it. if your one horse decides to freak out, there’s nothing there to stop a disaster. I see that one potentially ending badly.

I agree with using a butt rope and sweaty collars. Also try hitching on different sides. Be patient with them.

Good luck.

[Author]

Posts