The American Driving Society (ADS) presents - PAIR DRIVING 101 With Hardy Zantke November 2013
The American Driving Society (ADS) presents - PAIR DRIVING 101 With special thanks to: Bill Long; Maureen and Paul Grippa, MCDC, and their Turbo Friesians Dark Uke and YK Topspeed Turlock ; And Pat Belskie, MCDC, and her Polish Driving Ponies Maggie, Mollie, Maya, Lola and Layla PPP by Pat Belskie, Moore County Driving Club NC
WHY PAIR DRIVING? - Twice the fun (but also twice the work)? - Safer than single? - Easier to start a youngster? BUT - More dangerous bridles can rub off! 3
What Makes a Pair? Size Gaits Sex Age Color and Markings Temperament Training 4
Size - BIG Size - Small 5
Similar Is best but a few inches off is no big deal if temperament and way of going work well 6
GAITS Similar 7
Not so important: Sex maybe not a stallion Age doesn t matter; although best to start a greenie with an older schoolmaster Color and Markings nice but not needed 8
TEMPERAMENT Calm & Willing Most Important!!!! 9
BITS Make sure they can t catch on anything Neither pole head or each other 10
Buxton with Slobber Bar and Swivel Cheeks Mullen Mouth with Swivel Cheeks Low Port Liverpool Roller with Swivel Cheeks F. Brasseur Cherry Roller with Fixed Cheeks F. Brasseur Figure 8 with Fixed Slobber Bar and Fixed Cheeks High Port Mouth with Fixed Cheeks For more bit information see: http://www.drivingessentials.com/bit%20overview.php 11
SAFETY NEVER allow rubbing ALWAYS keep them on bit 12
SAFETY Prevent rubbing bridle off Gullet straps Braid mane 13
SAFETY Can be unkind Swivel Liverpool (pony with blaze) Safe - Liverpool with tubing over shanks 14
EQUIPMENT Vehicle 2 vs 4-wheels Wheels Pole Straps/Chains Pole Single Trees/Splinter Bars Breeching False Martingale Open Bridle vs Blinders Pair Reins 15
2 Wheels vs. 4 Wheels 2 Wheels Can turn over too easily No shafts for balance 4 Wheels - Preferable More stable Best to use modern marathon vehicle NOTE: Delayed steering is good for hazards, not so good for dressage and cones.
Wheels Pneumatic Hard Rubber 17
Pole Straps/Chains Why straps vs. chains Tradition Safety make sure there is nothing on which to catch bits! Pole straps with crab 18
Pole Straps/Chains Pole chains with carabiners 19
Poles Drop Pole (weight on the neck) Traditional Pole (long pole straps or chains) Modern Marathon Swing Pole (Best!) With Yoke and Quick Releases 20
Pole Length With marathon yoke in front locked into D rings of collars, make sure there is enough room between the hind legs and the single trees to not hit the horses in the hocks. For horses 2 is plenty of room. 21
Tug bearer strap too short - Creates an angle that causes a downward pull on the saddle 22
Single Trees/Splinter Bars Fixed Splinter Bar must have full collars Single Trees can use either full collars or breast collar (but MUST use Single Tree with breast collar) 23
Breeching Not necessary with a pair but if not used then brakes are a must If not used then False Martingale is needed 24
False Martingale 25
Open Bridle vs Blinders OK to train single in open bridle Must use blinders for pair to enable proper use of whip 26
Pair Reins MUST HAVE! Don t even think of starting with two sets of single reins it won t work and will create more problems with possible damage to all involved! Achenbach reins 27
Pair Reins Why Achenbach? Usually wider thus easier to hold Holes far enough back to make adjustments from the box seat Holes are standardized so easy to see if evenly adjusted 28
Pair Reins Important tip Lay reins out on the floor and make sure they are EVEN (especially important if you have used reins) 29
QUESTIONS?? 30
SO, WE HAVE THE HORSES OR PONIES, WE HAVE THE VEHICLE, WE HAVE THE HARNESS, NOW WHAT????? 31
PUTTING TO Harness same as single EXCEPT Make sure pair rein goes on correctly Near horse gets the rein with the buckle on the end 32
Pair Reins Near horse gets the rein with the buckle on the end Draft rein goes on the OUTSIDE Coupling rein goes on the INSIDE Draft rein gets buckled to the bit Coupling rein gets hung around the throatlatch
Putting To Stand horses to pole 34
Putting To Attach coupling reins 35
Putting To Connect pole 36
Putting To Attach off-horse s outside trace, then inside trace 37
Putting To Throw off-horse s rein over to near side of near horse 38
Putting To Walk around front and buckle both rein ends and KEEP OVER ARM 39
Putting To Attach outside trace of near horse, then inside trace 40
Putting To Stand next to near horse s saddle, measure reins properly in your hand 41
Putting To Keep reins in left hand and enter box seat from near side 42
Putting To You re ready to drive off! 43
QUESTIONS?? 44
ADDITIONAL ARTICLES BY HARDY. http://www.drivingpairs.com/ Click on Articles See Pair Driving 101 Pair Driving 102 Pair Driving 103 Pair Driving 104 45