what age can you start training to cart?

[Purple Hugs]

Hi, I have a 2 year old and was told today we could start teaching him to cart. commencing long reigning first... i wondered if this is an acceptable age?

Have you done this, and what process did you follow?

Thanks for any advice, as always it's appreciated. :D

[Wally]

As long as they can lead and you can handle them all over thier bodies at two that's all I think they need to worry about as such a tender age. Long reining at 2 is too much for a little brain to cope with. Let them play and be foals.

The earliest I have started Shetlands to pull carts is 3, and then only for short, easy lessons in wearing harness, lungeing and long lining. I generally get them pulling at 3, turn away until 4.

[Herbie's mummy]

I would not let him pull an actual cart until he is about 6.......as their backs are still developing.

[Wally]

6?????

What has that got to do with back delelopement, there is no weight at all (Or shouldn't be) on their backs.

A driving horse has far, far less (or should have if you have set the vehicle up correctly) strain associated with light work than a riding horse.

Although with some breeds 6 is not an unrealistic age to start riding, driving can be undertaken, with a sensible horse and do less damage than ealry riding.

I have a 4 year old who has just started her ridden work, she is a bit high spirited, so I will use her ridden work to calm her down ready for her driven work. However she will start in harness this year and I fully expect her to be between the shafts by the end of the year. Her half sister is 3, but not old enough in her head to start doing any ridden or driven work, however, she is far, far more physically mature than her older sister and physically probably up to being worked.

[Purple Hugs]

Thanks All.

Wallly, it's good to know it's less stress on them than riden work. :)
Will take things slowly till next year, thinking of using a back roller to get him used to that, and then long reigning lightly over the next 6 months or so, then maybe looking at starting his work next year. I think driving will help prolong the time till his actually riden, and he'll only be riden by really light riders once he is.

Thanks again for the help. :)

[Herbie's mummy]

6?????

What has that got to do with back delelopement, there is no weight at all (Or shouldn't be) on their backs.

A driving horse has far, far less (or should have if you have set the vehicle up correctly) strain associated with light work than a riding horse.

Although with some breeds 6 is not an unrealistic age to start riding, driving can be undertaken, with a sensible horse and do less damage than ealry riding.

I have a 4 year old who has just started her ridden work, she is a bit high spirited, so I will use her ridden work to calm her down ready for her driven work. However she will start in harness this year and I fully expect her to be between the shafts by the end of the year. Her half sister is 3, but not old enough in her head to start doing any ridden or driven work, however, she is far, far more physically mature than her older sister and physically probably up to being worked.

eekkkk i am really thick:o :eek: :o :eek: :( i will NEVER give out info EVER agin until i know its right...i promise sorry :'(

[chapman2006]

start long reining your horse at 1 and depending on the weight of your horse you can put a cart on him/her approx a year later. A heavy horse you can put the cart on when they are about 1 1/2 bt a finer horse dont put the cart on till bout 2 or 2 1/2

[Purple Hugs]

Thanks, :) he definately doesn't qualify as a heavy horse :p but is already 2 and 3 months we think, so that's good news. :D Just wanted to check what everyone thought about it all... it's always good to get more than one point of view.

[Wally]

1 1/2 and 2 1/2 is far too early to expect a baby to drive. They're still babies, they still need to play and grow mentally.

You'd never ask a 5 year old kid to take his O levels, it's not fair.

Although putting a horse in a lightweight vehicle, set up correctly is of no great strain to him, it is a mental strain. Most horses of that age don;t have the concentration span to work well and make lessons count. You will make far, far bigger strides in training if you wait and start them later on.

[Purple Hugs]

sorry didn't mean to make my last post sound like he'll be driving this year. As said before we are looking at long reigning for the next 6 months, then looking at further advancement next year, maybe start getting him used to a saddle in the spring and moving on in the summer to driving and/or backing. I think if we get him driving next year riding will likely wait till the year after.

all of this is flexible depending on how he responds. :)