Private Universe

Teaching Shadow to drive, stages 4 & 5

After Shadow was ground driving reliably, we went through two stages designed to prepare him for pulling a cart.

Tire:

We hitched him to an old car tire to let him feel what it's like to pull weight. The rope trailing behind the tire was originally there so that Liz could pick the tire up and give him a break, when he was first learning.

That's Baxter following, and farm dog Daisy supervising.


Shaft trainer:The shaft trainer gets the pony used to the feel of shafts on either side. This step was a real challenge for Shadow. He would wiggle one way and Oh No That Pole Is Touching Me!! so he would wiggle over the other way and Oh NO! Pole On That Side Too!!! He also got worried about the shafts coming on and off. He finally got the hang of pushing into the shaft with his shoulder when he had to turn.

Bax thinks that these are all just odd ways of taking a walk.

Labels: horses

posted by Jaime_sama @ 11:41 AM