Team driving

[DraftDriver]

I just got into driving a team last August when I bought Trixie, who use to be teamed up with my other Percheron mare Smoke. Since neither mare had been worked together for about 6 years, we did practice, work them and both did well and I was pleased how they did.

Now that spring is here, I have gone back to ground driving them, as I have never driven a team before, so please bear with me on my questions, but I want to do it the right way and not confuse them.

Yesterday afternoon, while ground driving them down the road, I worked on keeping them walking a bit closer together as they tend to step away from each other. I do, for the moment, use a hip chain, and this has helped. If I drive them on a wagon or fore cart, it is taken off. When I would notice them drifting away from each other, would give the command to “come over” then with the lines, tug to the side I wanted them to. Which ever mare needed to be reminded, would step over then continue walking, how do you correctly tell them to stay closer to each other? Or is how I asked okay?

We are also working on stopping and standing. Both Trixie and Smoke have that down pat, but it is still a good reminder.

What else should I be aware of when driving a team? I do watch their ears, I pay attention to our surroundings, but so far, all continues to be a go, the mares respond well to a light touch and voice commands.

Just as a side note, I don’t go out alone when they are hitched to the fore cart or ground driving, my husband is usually always with me. It isn’t that I don’t trust the mares, but for safety reasons.

[mitchmaine]

hey there, sounds like you are doing fine. they are your team so any command (word) you choose to use to get them to stand in is fine if you consistant use it. they’ll get the message and do what you wish. someday they’ll do it the minute you think it. i’ll bet on it. if you have a disc and some fresh plowed ground that is a great way to tune up a well rested pair of horses. (sounds like they come with some training). they have to work at harrowing, there is some resisitance required, and usually takes their minds off fooling around. they also can’t get away from you as easily. but they sound like a good pair of horses to me already. good luck, mitch

[Does’ Leap]

When you mention drifting or stepping away from each other, I would check the position of the cross-checks on your main lines. If your cross checks (short lines) are attached to far forward on your main lines and your horses are either: (a) attached at the hip (as you mentioned); or (b) attached to an evener they will tend to drift apart from each other. If this continues to be a problem, you might consider moving the cross-checks back a hole or two and see how they drive.

George

[DraftDriver]

George…will check that out, thank you for mentioning it.

Drove them today on the fore cart and they stayed together, we don’t drive them with a hip check, but Trixie is lagging while Smoke is more forward. Some of it could be she is lazy and doesn’t want to pick up her pace when walking, though, if we trot, she is right up there and moving out nicely. Hmmm….

Thank you all for answering my questions, your answers are helping me out…as for plowing a field or setting them behind a disc harrow…nowhere around here I personally can do that. The local draft club does have plow days but I am not well received at the moment, long story as to why. So am figuring this out on my own…

Mitch..Smoke was Amish broke and trained then did time at a few different carriage services. She didn’t want to stand still, that is why she was sold several times before I bought her. I found, she LOVES to work and be in harness so I work her and she is happy to now stand for me when I ask, but you have to wear that energy down with 10 or 15 minutes of nice steady trotting. Trixie is not as polished as Smoke movement wise but she has heart and is calm and gives you an honest days work. She too loves to be in harness and when you drive her, her ears are always forward and she is eager to please. I had a pretty scary accident some years ago so it took me some time to get my trust back…these two mares don’t have a mean bone in their body and are good for me to learn to drive a 4 wheeled vehicle again.

[mitchmaine]

Draftdriver, it can be quite exciting when you witness (and survive) the explosive strength of one or two big horses trying to get to somewhere safe. The lemonade is knowing what can happen, always have an exit handy, and build some bond between you and them so when they hear your voice you might get a second more time to change the outcome. Humor me for a minute while I tell you a story about this pair of mares I had once. There is a point to this. After a year or so, I wanted to shoot both of them, cause they would go so hard all the time. We were sugaring with them and fell through the frost into a deep hole. They fell in and jumped ahead, throwing me over the front into the hole in front of the wheel. I was wedged into the frost edge and the horses were about to jump, and it would have ripped me in two. I had the lines with two feet of slack so no good there. And I also had the nearhorses tail in my left hand. Nothing. That was it. I said (screamed) whoa. And they stopped and backed up. I felt their energy about to unload and they just stopped for me. I kept them for a long time. Somehow I think you have to get them to link your voice to something safe or good. I touch them and talk to them all the time. Pick their feet, rub there ears, feel in their mouths. Be in their ears and eyes all the time you can, so if something happens unexpected they wait one more second for your voice. Sounds easy on paper, doesn’t it?

[Donn Hewes]

Just a couple more thoughts on your questions. It is important to distinguish when your are talking about a team where one horse is stepping in front of the other; and a team that is drifting apart side to side. Usually the heads come together and the butts drift apart or vice versa, and often it will appear that only one horse is drifting in or out.

The reason it is important is the causes and our responses are totally different. The horse that is stepping in front of the other, is a case were the driver must correct this with the lines and voice. It can be hard to tell whether the offender is the one in front or the one lagging behind. It depends on whether they have the speed you asked for, and how much bit pressure you are receiving from them. Assume for a moment that the horse in front is being rude and needs to be put back in alinement with his (or her) partner.

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