Good explanation Jim. Some tricks of the trade that you learned over the years that might be helpful to others. I’m like you, I always wanted to see the evener straight and not one horse doing more work than the other. Thanks for sharing.
It was hard to see from the video but by the description it did sound like a gag bit. I've never ran a gag bit but they're famous for getting a horse to rear and/or head tossing.
Have you ever ran chains from the cart to the end of both sides of the evener about were the single trees are. Adjust the chains so when they're pulling even there will be slack in both chains but when one steps out front to much it takes up the slack on the chain and that horse is pretty much pulling all the load. An old timer told me about that.
That sounds brilliant, thanks for sharing that. I would hate to have something get tangled up and have the evener tilt forward too much. I have my first team of horses to train and not looking forward to it too much...
Very good video of explaining and showing the before and after adjusting the lines. Very educational🙌🏼Years ago I had the use of two Belgium open mares from the PMU Barn, they too were very different….one was a draft cross, older, sway back, slower and slighter than than the younger, heavier, prancing one! So at the time it seemed to make sense to snug the chains on the tugs shorter on the younger one. So when I do get a team again, will certainly try adjusting the lines. 🤠🇨🇦
So many ways to adjust. Must have taken quite some time to master the technique let alone tailoring to each individual horse. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing!
This is now may and we are waiting to see what is going on with the new young colts/horses,,anything new training besides walking behind the wagon? Kinda waiting.,,
In the riding video you really see a night and day, instant difference after you set his brain strap. He really seems to be trained to it. Thanks for explaining it.
Enjoyed your video. Informative. Do you ever work 3 abreast. I work my mules that way and enjoy it . I plow rake hay and work them to the wagon. Thanks
Here are a couple vids with more than a team working if you’re interested: czcams.com/video/nAlHx1B4iig/video.html czcams.com/video/42sIDm6Dfg8/video.html
I also have mixed feelings about the behind the ear to mouth rigging you mentioned. NO DRIVER WITH A TEMPER SHOULD EVERY USE IT. It can cause permanent physical damage to the horse, if too much force is used with the reins, as you mentioned.
I have my adjustable strap on the outside and have a hard time getting it tight so I can turn my hosrses and I am sure thi sis how they were done since I bought them.
Your line adjustments seem to have worked , I do not see that anything harsh would be necessary with your horses. I have been using Liverpool bits with the Achenbach system of holding the lines, that does the trick, too. I once had a team, with whom I used two pairs of single lines, in other words holding four lines in the left hand, the right hand only to support and adjust. That turned out to be the most efficient way to individually steer those horses, because I could lengthen and shorten the lines individually to the extent the horse needed it. Of course, as you point out, one has to have a soft hand, once the horses get hard-mouthed it will be difficult to direct them period. The risk is greater, when like most people drive here, they hold the lines in two hands, because it is much harder to have an even pressure or release, especially when the arms are stretched out to the front . When the lines are held in one hand, separated by two fingers, then when you tilt your hand, which is held vertical, you release as much on one side as you increase pressure on the other, making it easier for the horse to understand where you want him to go, thereby teaching him to respond to respond to the slightest change of pressure. Most horses seek contact with the lines anyway and so they can stay soft-mouthed.
have you ever tried using a spreader on your lines that s what i use on my team that will give you a little more room for adjustment and it lets them walk a little further apart just a suggestion it helped my team
Good explanation Jim. Some tricks of the trade that you learned over the years that might be helpful to others.
I’m like you, I always wanted to see the evener straight and not one horse doing more work than the other.
Thanks for sharing.
The set up you are describing is known with pleasure horses is a gag bit. The other thing that it does is change the mouth pressure as well.
It was hard to see from the video but by the description it did sound like a gag bit. I've never ran a gag bit but they're famous for getting a horse to rear and/or head tossing.
Have you ever ran chains from the cart to the end of both sides of the evener about were the single trees are. Adjust the chains so when they're pulling even there will be slack in both chains but when one steps out front to much it takes up the slack on the chain and that horse is pretty much pulling all the load. An old timer told me about that.
I have heard of people doing that before, but I’ve never done it.
That sounds brilliant, thanks for sharing that. I would hate to have something get tangled up and have the evener tilt forward too much. I have my first team of horses to train and not looking forward to it too much...
I really think an oldtimer tried to explain that to me before but I didn't understand it until now.
Very good video of explaining and showing the before and after adjusting the lines. Very educational🙌🏼Years ago I had the use of two Belgium open mares from the PMU Barn, they too were very different….one was a draft cross, older, sway back, slower and slighter than than the younger, heavier, prancing one! So at the time it seemed to make sense to snug the chains on the tugs shorter on the younger one. So when I do get a team again, will certainly try adjusting the lines. 🤠🇨🇦
So many ways to adjust. Must have taken quite some time to master the technique let alone tailoring to each individual horse. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for watching!!
Very informative Thanks Jim
Best Regards UK
This is now may and we are waiting to see what is going on with the new young colts/horses,,anything new training besides walking behind the wagon? Kinda waiting.,,
Thank you for sharing.
In the riding video you really see a night and day, instant difference after you set his brain strap. He really seems to be trained to it. Thanks for explaining it.
Enjoyed your video. Informative. Do you ever work 3 abreast. I work my mules that way and enjoy it . I plow rake hay and work them to the wagon. Thanks
Here are a couple vids with more than a team working if you’re interested: czcams.com/video/nAlHx1B4iig/video.html czcams.com/video/42sIDm6Dfg8/video.html
I also have mixed feelings about the behind the ear to mouth rigging you mentioned. NO DRIVER WITH A TEMPER SHOULD EVERY USE IT. It can cause permanent physical damage to the horse, if too much force is used with the reins, as you mentioned.
👍👍
I have my adjustable strap on the outside and have a hard time getting it tight so I can turn my hosrses and I am sure thi sis how they were done since I bought them.
how do your cross lines and outside lines compare for length
Your line adjustments seem to have worked , I do not see that anything harsh would be necessary with your horses. I have been using Liverpool bits with the Achenbach system of holding the lines, that does the trick, too. I once had a team, with whom I used two pairs of single lines, in other words holding four lines in the left hand, the right hand only to support and adjust. That turned out to be the most efficient way to individually steer those horses, because I could lengthen and shorten the lines individually to the extent the horse needed it. Of course, as you point out, one has to have a soft hand, once the horses get hard-mouthed it will be difficult to direct them period. The risk is greater, when like most people drive here, they hold the lines in two hands, because it is much harder to have an even pressure or release, especially when the arms are stretched out to the front . When the lines are held in one hand, separated by two fingers, then when you tilt your hand, which is held vertical, you release as much on one side as you increase pressure on the other, making it easier for the horse to understand where you want him to go, thereby teaching him to respond to respond to the slightest change of pressure. Most horses seek contact with the lines anyway and so they can stay soft-mouthed.
have you ever tried using a spreader on your lines that s what i use on my team that will give you a little more room for adjustment and it lets them walk a little further apart just a suggestion it helped my team
I don’t think I ever have. But I agree, it would help spread the horses apart.
Jim do you shoe you horses?
I used to but now there is an Amish shoer nearby that I take them to