05.27.08
Practice cantering your driving horse
Pleasure driving is most often done at the walk or trot. But sooner or later the horse will canter pulling a cart or carriage, whether directed by the driver or in a moment of startle or panic. It is a good idea for safety reasons to have your driving horse canter in controlled training situations and on different surfaces, to get him used to the increased noise and bumping of the cart. This way he will not frighten himself when suddenly he DOES break into a canter. Please see my Horse training disclaimer
Our young horse in training, Glendale, sometimes starts cantering voluntarily when his load becomes harder to pull, such as going uphill or on rough ground. This is a green horse thing, and we generally let him canter a few strides before slowing him down again to a trot, so as not to discourage his forwardness. At other times we ask him for a canter during his training sessions. A few canter strides out on the street is also a good idea, as the sound and feel of cantering on pavement is different than in a field.
Glendale pulls training cart in walk-trot-canter transitions, in straight line on relatively level grass field.
Gilford, Glen’s older brother, at walk-trot-canter pulling the training cart, getting some refresher training.
Glen driven by Hubby practicing hills, overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee.
Glen, on an outing near home, trots and canters in an open hilltop field (Lake Winnipesaukee below.) It is always safest to canter up a slope, which helps keep the horse in balance and his speed under control.
Another scenic view near home… what a place to drive!
Glen canters with two in the training cart, our young friend horselover Bailey who joined us!
