Video of our Cones Course

[Happy Feet]

Okay Here is a link to our cones course at Canterbury. We were first place in Pony division, and was the fastest time all day. This was our 4th show, and I have been driving for less than a year now. Magic is a 9yo 13.2h Hackney who used to do the whole Hackney show stuff. He's been converted to a CDE pony and Loves it! So he's been doing this (CDE) stuff for as long as I have been driving! I'd love to hear your comments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq24TiAzyt8

[War Admiral]

Paging Renae, have you seen this yet? :D

Freaking AWESOME!!!!! That was a blast to watch!! Congrats!! So was he a road pony or a pleasure pony??

Commander, the little 30-ish y/o Hackney pony the BM rescued from the kill pen (now larging it in his retirement home in Alabama, eating a slice of watermelon every hot Southern afternoon, from what I hear :yes:), reeeeeeeeaaaallly got me back interested in Hackney ponies again.

Ironically enough it was a Hackney pony that darn near killed me when I was about 10 and put me off driving for 35 years (flipped a jog cart, dragged it, and slammed cart and me into the wood fence at The Big E in the late 60s some time :eek:). It took the bombproof, heroic HRH Avery to get me over my driving phobia... But now I say...

*whispers*

I'm jealous! I think I waaaaaaaaant one! :yes:

Seriously - very cool pony!!!

[Ashemont]

WOW WOW WOW!!!! I'm impressed that you're cantering the course! Maggie and I have been working together for a year and we're still trotting... but of course she has a BIG trot.

You're pony is awesome and you look super! You make a lovely team.

I'm not the most experienced person to give advice but a tip I got from my trainer - with a pony and a road cart it helps to sit in the center of the seat. A friend also recommended using a piece of that waffle-weave shelf liner under my butt to keep from slipping. I was all over the place and not making turns nearly as tight as you.

Thanks for sharing! Maybe we'll run into each other as we're starting CDE too :) Pine Tree will be our first venture out. Congatulations on your win :D and give Magic a pat for me ;)

[hitchinmygetalong]

Clever pony!

You look like a great team. Drive on!

[War Admiral]

I agree w/ Ashemont about sitting in the center for cones/hazards, in a road cart/M'brook, if you don't have a groom. Doesn't count against you - it only counts in dressage.

Speaking of sitting in the middle in 2-wheelers - let's go there :D - I've got to be honest about this. I'm a big advocate of doing it anyway. I noticed a really interesting thing when I worked the in-gate for dressage at a CDE one time: when you watch the entries from behind trying to be straight for the initial trot in/halt at X - SO many 2-wheelers are SO badly balanced that a heavier driver is actually causing lateral stress on the horse/pony's back. I think I remember counting about 12 out of 22 entries at training level that year where you could *see* the weight dragging on the horse's back...

I'm a heavier driver myself TBH, and I have always noticed that when I sit on the right HRH Avery gets annoyed and wishes I weren't. He'll still do his job, b/c he's a pro, but he performs better when I'm in the middle, b/c the shaft weight (such as it is) is evenly distributed. Now, granted, he has soundness issues on the RF, so that may be a contributor, but after watching the dressage from the in-gate that time, I also concluded that 2-wheelers were really NOT designed for this "on the right" bidness!

JMO.

[Happy Feet]

Aww Chucks! :>

Magic is the coolest pony, I owe it all to him! We have a lot of fun togather. I think he was a pleasure pony. The lady we bought him from refered to him as the "retarted child" in her barn. I don't know why they didn't like him but we love him!
Our other Hackney is as sweet as sweet can be but he has two speeds, stop, and "bat outta hell". We have tried the Quiessence (sp?) and that actually seems to be helping. I think he was or should have been a roadster pony. We had hoped to make a team out of them, but they really are way too different, Maybe a tandem??
Anyway, thanks so much for the nice comments! And I just heard about the waffle shelf stuff - Sounds like a GREAT idea!!!! Especially when I put on my apron!

Edited to Add: I will try to sit in the middle of the seat. I guess I just forget that when I am by myself, I don't have to sit on the side.
Would it be less okay to do in a "fancier" carriage? Does it matter 2wheel or 4 wheel? Just curious why, it's okay if I am in a 2 wheel raod cart/meadowbrook!

[horseyfolks]

OK lady.... you asked for comments :yes::D. First of all, you looked great! Pony looked good, You both looked like you were having a bunch of fun, and it was a super fast cones course. You and Magic earned your win and that is a fact. I even liked the music (who was it?) It was a great run.... Now lets look at what we can do to make it better, especially next time.

The first suggestion I can make is do more than carry your whip, learn to use it. You drove that complete course and never once did I see you use your whip. Remember, as much as a driver depends on his/her whip to replace the leg, so does your pony. If they don't know what you want through use ofall your aids they become confused. Now there are probably folks reading this saying "DUH.... the pony was flying! She really had no use for her whip her pony was going great without it!" As far as speed is concerned, they are right. The problem is you passed up a few chances to make it easier on your pony as well as to shave off a second or two which will change your final times.

Before I go any farther I would like to state that I am not addressing the question of should cones be judged on speed or not. In your case, doing schooling shows, and competeing with most of the lower level drivers in Florida at said schooling shows speed is important.

The easiest example of when you should have used your whip was the stair step (or zig zag). Look at the video and you will see that when you asked for the first zig (to the drivers left) you did it suddenly with the reins through his mouth. He was focused on the next set of cones straight ahead anticipating where you were going to send him before you did it and you caught him completely by surprise. He is a very smart pony and you can see in the video that as soon as he got over his surprise at the sudden turn he was back on track anticipating (again) the next gate. You could have trained so that you can use your whip (just a touch, not a smack) to let him know (set him up) by just a touch on the inside (or outside, depending on how your looking hehe) shoulder that a turn is coming so he will be ready to do it when you ask. The same for the next Zag back to the right for the next cone in the series. Use your whip to set him up for and make a turn (especially a sharp one) and not just your reins/bit.

I'm assuming that you have a cones course to train on at home. If so, do not set up a course like the one in the video. It was a wide open speed course with very little detail. There were long stretches which encouraged speed and a lot of gradual sweeping turns. When you set your course up at home train for the things which might become problems at a more technical course. There were very few areas on this course that required multiple rein changes, tight turns, or switchbacks. Always make your training course harder than you expect to find at a show. Set your clearance for each gate at the clearance higher than you are competing at. Then when you arrive at a show the course will look like a 4 lane highway and you will enjoy driving it instead of worrying about it.

By practicing on tighter turns you will also become very good at knowing your carts limits. You will know through the seat of your pants how tight you can turn before you lift a wheel. A very good friend of mine (you know him through the shows at Cypress Keep) always used a 2 wheel cart for cones and dressage. He felt very comfortable after training for a year and a half on Florida's type of arenas. Then he went to Gayla. The cones course at Gayla is sloped 2 ways with long runs down both slopes. As his class went 1st thing in the morning he also had to cope with wet grass on the course. Add to this the fact that his 2 wheeler had no brakes and his pony did not like being pushed down a slope and that the turns at the bottom of the slope were sharp, he scared the bejesus out of himself, started knocking down balls, and his trip to Gaya was costly. Now he makes his training cones as difficult as possible and travels to the Ocala area to find slopes to train on.

As far as where to sit? Sit in the middle. I don't know of any Dressage penalty (at least at a CDE) or if there is one it is either so small no one worries about it or its simply ignored. Look up the pictures from the Laurels, Ironhorse, or any of the big shows and you will find the top drivers (and their students), when they compete outside of Advanced, all sit in the middle. I mean, nothing is constant and there may be one or two that sit on the side but I have not seen them.

Now, the question I want to ask.... How did Inspiration do at Canterbury? Who was the winner between the two? Heheheheheeeeee....

When will your new carriage be ready?

Don

[49'er]

You looked great. But...I would not be doing that kind of speed in a 2 wheel with wood wheels. You are ready for a marathon carriage in my opinion.

[Happy Feet]

Yeah Don, I was waiting for your 2 cents!!!!

I really appreciate everything you talked about, noticed the very same thing. I must admit, my use of the whip has been a very slow progressing thing. I guess when I get nervous, or too focused on what is before me I forget to use this new tool. (Okay not so new but we dressage riders only use whip when nessesary) I will say, on this topic, this last week, I have been ground driving Magic, and teaching leg yielding, shoulder - in. What a HUGE difference this is making. One, I have WAY more control over the pony, I HAVE to use my whip, I have to plan ahead, and take my time.
I totally agreed with all your suggestions! And will work hard at it!
I don't really have a great place to practice cones, on my dressage horses days off, I put up a couple of cones in my dressage arena (thats Ridden not driven size arena!)
But I have taken you comments at cypress Keep to heart and have been working on the Prelim distance, and find it okay. not perfect yet though... Advanced width, umm, well... I'll try in, a, umm, awhile!

Well Inspiration was not very well behaved! He wasn't listening, and Dads gloves had gotten wet from sweat, and he couldn't hold him. He ended up retiring half way thorugh because it justn't his day. So I beat but only by default!! :<
Oh well. Next time, I'll beat him fair and square.
He also called me this morning to tell me the Tandem harness came. Ughh ohhh. I am not watching this!

Cart - oops. My Carriage, will be done in a week or so??? I haven't heard from Russ, but any day he should be calling to find out what color to paint it!
I can't wait!!!

[whoopdeedo]

He looked great and really seems to enjoy the challenge.
Remember to work the basics and keep it fun!:lol::lol:

[Happy Feet]

Whoodeedo ! That is too cute Peg!

Marathon Carriage is on its way 49'er.


Don,
Okay I re-read your post. I would like to talk more about the zig zag. I understand what you are saying about the use of the whip but not sure when and which side. I think I need to watch my video again! I can't remembet which way I was coming into the zigzag...
Do I use the whip on the inside (drivers) of the turn or the outside (making him move away from that side into the turn) Or am I using it on the new (upcoming turn) inside?And when should I be doing this!
Thanks for the help. Except for pestering poor Peg daily, I have only had one lesson. So this is VERY helpful!

[Thomas_1]

What a thoroughly nice pony and well done too.

Main thing to improve on that particular sort of course is the smoothness of gaits and turns. It seemed to me that there was occasion when you were too late with your decision and the pony was already committed and so you had to check him rather than encourage and guide him. It was that which resulted in the less smooth turns and the transition down from canter to trot and back again. And if and when you do that as the pony is turning it makes it harder for him to get back into draft and transition back to canter. Indeed rather than doing that you might be better to get him into a good flow at trot.

Simple rule is once you've got your pony going try not to interfere too much with him - rather encourage him at his canter pace, and maintain it and you can help him with that by setting him up for the next set of cones as you exit the ones you're in...... same principle as showjumping for a rider..... so keep looking ahead. Also, just the same, its important to walk and consider the course and where and how you're going to make your turns before you get on board. You need to be going straight and evenly through the middle and npt cutting across on the diagonal.

Also your rein handling was a little slow but I don't know from just watching a video if that was because you weren't focussing ahead and were busy on where you were or if it is just a little slow. But again I'd say practice at home. I'd suggest you practice with a course that's similar with good long runs and nothing too tight to turn and only once you've perfected that sort of course with a maintained pace, progress on to altering to introduce a couple of tighter ones. Remember when you're practicing to keep altering the order you go through and then the pony gets into the practice of listening and waiting for you rather than anticipating too much.


Personally speaking I'd say if you get the aforementioned right you'll probably never need your whip to back up or reinforce what you want and because the pony looks eager and clever. And appreciate there's plenty of drivers at top level that never ever use a whip on a cones or marathon course. BUT you always need to have it available and be able to use it in case one of you gets something wrong or late and then you need it and its not the time to realise its tucked away and you don't know what to do with it. And you use it exactly as you would a leg. So if you want him to turn left, then use it on the right side so he moves away and dependent on whether you want to move fore or hind over will dependent on placement. I'd suggest practice whip use at home from the ground first.

As others have said, sit in the middle. Your carriage is well balanced and I can see that because of this the pony is able to move freely and without being encumbered. I know you are light, but it will help him further if you sit in the middle.

[horseyfolks]

Audrey... I asked Sam to respond (after watching your video) to your question on this one and here is what she said....

"in this case I (Sam) would have used a half halt to set him up and let him know a turn was coming and then touched him (anywhere) on the outside so he would move off the whip into the turn. You probably wouldn't need to half halt for the next turn but use the whip on the outside as before. If he acts like he doesn't understand what is going on (I don't think this will happen) you can always use a half halt again. This whole process is really something you would use more in hazards than cones but the half halt is something you should always use to set him up and let him know something is coming"

Hope this helps....

Don

[Happy Feet]

Thanks Don and Sam!

Okay, if he is blowing off half halts, should I make a correction (like transition to walk) Sometimes he gets very tunnel vision - locking onto cones and he has sort of tuned me out. Obvisouly I wouldn't do this in competition, but in schooling. For a dressage horse that has tuned me out, I make a quick but abrupt transition, and maybe a few in a row until they are "with me" or on my seat, again. And I don't mean pulling them into the transition. But how do I make a statement to a driving horse - the same?

My interpretation of Thomas's suggestions was to use the forward energy and just get better at balancing and making it smooth, I can't go into a zigzag cantering really, or maybe I should? He does do lead changes quite handily.
This all I understand, but making something smooth doesn't mean letting him control the speed?! Right?
Also although this video was just 2 weeks ago it was before, I introduced leg yeliding and shoulder-in. So I am excited to work on cones with better bending. So am I training for smooth bending lines - like a dressage test through cones or am I training for smooth but fast ( I don't mean fast as in going like a bat outa hell - just the fasted way through the course while being safe!) - I don't know if this makes sense. I don't want people to think by going fast I mean unsafe or racing around. I know that it really isn't about fastest time, just optimal time and no balls down. But like Don stated earlier and the lower levels and at schooling shows, cones time does matter and fasted time does win. Okay maybe I should put more like this:
Am I training the cones course like a hazard or more like a dressage test through the cones?
Maybe train smooth and dressage like at home, and go more for it at the shows?
I am sorry to be asking so many questions and you all are very generous with your time and knowledge - I appreciate it!

[War Admiral]

I agree w/ Thomas - work on the reinsmanship will probably lessen the need for the whip work. Hackney ponies are always going to want to be "Yee-HAH, let's GO!" kinda ponies in my experience, but don't forget that an ex-show pony is probably going to have a pretty nice line in "whoop, trot!" :D This is a voice command used to bring the pony back down to a trot when it breaks to canter - it's not a command people know about unless they've driven one in the breed show ring, so I pass the info on! :D That would have been useful to you in the zig-zag. Sometimes a voice command is quicker than a rein command.

You might want to work on your use of the outside rein around corners as well. The objective is to try to balance your horse by half-halting w/ the outside rein. I struggled with this forever and a day as a newbie but when the penny FINALLY dropped our turns got a lot smoother.

BTW I totally LOFF your pony and have watched this vid several times just for the pure fun of it!! :yes:

[Thomas_1]

My interpretation of Thomas's suggestions was to use the forward energy and just get better at balancing and making it smooth, I can't go into a zigzag cantering really, or maybe I should? He does do lead changes quite handily. His canter is clearly under control and he's agile and nimble and quick to respond and as such I personally would absolutely want to suggest you ought to be aiming to canter him through. Whether you do that now or not though is another matter.

This all I understand, but making something smooth doesn't mean letting him control the speed?! Right? It looked to me from the video that you were in control of the pace and all the way through. He was for sure a most eagre and willing partner and just needs a little guidance and direction from you to let him know what's coming and what's expected.

So am I training for smooth bending lines - like a dressage test through cones or am I training for smooth but fast ( I don't mean fast as in going like a bat outa hell - just the fasted way through the course while being safe!) - I don't know if this makes sense.
Am I training the cones course like a hazard or more like a dressage test through the cones?To me its neither a dressage test nor a cross country. You're looking for accuracy at optimum time. So of course obedience (dressage) is important but its to be controlled speed. Remember that Horse Driving Trials is just the harness horse version of Ridden Trials and this element is the substitute for the show jumping. And so cones must be considered as a different discipline from both dressage and hazards.

I don't want people to think by going fast I mean unsafe or racing around. I know that it really isn't about fastest time, just optimal time and no balls down.....
ah but.... it is about speed AND accuracy. You've done a cracking good job so far and it seems to me that you're expressing interest in the competitive element and in that case for sure its vital that you're quick and accurate. Accurate and slow just won't cut it as you compete more and come up against more experienced competition. Now IMO its best to concentrate on getting accuracy first and then building up the momentum but your pony looks like its just going to be much more willing to go forward and its obviously under control as he responds VERY quickly when you are a little late by kindly coming back to a trot and doing what you want him to.

So I'd say to practice with a course without tight turns until you're confident you have your accuracy and momentum smooth and then look to making the course more challenging.

Maybe train smooth and dressage like at home, and go more for it at the shows? Personally speaking I'd say train at home as you expect to do at a show. So practice your schooling and driven dressage and set up cones courses which will enable you to put what you've learnt into practical use. Remember the original purpose of dressage is to provide an opportunity to demonstrate how fantastic and well schooled the horse is. The word "dressage" means Training. To perform at the higher levels the horse HAS to be well conformed and well balanced and physically in peak condition. Dressage in its purist form provides to show that.

It should be appreciated though that in dressage the movements performed are all intended to demonstrate just how useful the horse will be. Indeed it was originally used WAYYYY back to demonstrate how good a horse would be in battle. And again "true" baroque classical dressage is not only about showing how well schooled the horse is but its also about showing the physical conditioning of the rider. The origins are about demonstrating that the rider carries himself in a Royal Fashion or "Dressed" - Hence "Dressage"

So baroque classical dressage riding is about the rider looking like he's doing nothing because the horse is soooo fantastically well schooled that it requires only the slightest movement or inflection and merely the lightest of aids in order to elicit the required response. Indeed a "tip" and one which high level dressage riders adopt is to have boots too large and to move the foot inside the boot to give the aid and so you can't see the movement.

So the better schooled the horse is, the less the rider or driver does and to me this points out the total lack of understanding of a lot of modern dressage riders and drivers at the lower levels who seem to think its a lot of work and effort and intelligence by the rider.

A top level dressage horse requires only a moderately competent rider or driver to present it and show what it can do. However to train, school and "dressage" it requires an extraordinarily talented trainer and horseman/woman.

So the origins of dressage are with noblemen and royalty because they could afford to pay the very best riders and drivers and trainers to prepare their horses for them. And all dressage had its origins in Royal Courts.

Hence the epitomy of excellence The Spanish Riding School, is at the Winter Palace of the Austrian Monarchy in Vienna. Likewise the Royal Mews in the UK is reknowned for excellence in horsemanship.

In purist form, its about the BEST trainers schooling the BEST horses at the HIGHEST level possible and so the horse can be ridden in Royal Fashion by the nobility.

Modern dressage competition whether its ridden or driven seeks to replicate that - I think often badly but that's another thread!

So .... when you practice cones at home, you need to get some pace into it otherwise you'll be doing your pony and you a disservice.

(And I'm terribly old fashioned about NEVER expecting a horse to do something in competition that you've not practiced and achieved to perfection at home.)

[Happy Feet]

Thanks Thomas! Okay. I am digesting all of this! Boy do I have my work cut out for me! It so much fun though!

Boy there are days which I'd sell everyone (well except for Malso) of my dressage horses and fill my barn up with driving ones!

[Drive NJ]

One quick suggestions...

look at your tape for HOW you are getting through the cones. The clearance is currently very wide for you and in quite a few instances you are crossing the cones line on a diagonal. Works at 50 cm... not so much at tighter clearances. In my experience, the drivers who figure this out early and drive as if they are going through tight cones (aka straight through the cones line) do not have to re-learn how to drive cones as they move up and cones move in. Those that drive through the whole opening at the wide setting do.

The other thing I'd check is what happens when the cones are set in a tighter less flowing pattern? do you canter slower or transition between canter and trot? If you are transitioning a lot, you might want to try a small experiment. Hackneys can have a serious ground covering trot and sometimes it is easier for them to make the turns in balance at a trot (see the last singles championships where the only clear round was driven by a Hackney from England that made it look slow and easy). Transitions can cost time, so whatever makes you smoothest is best.

Lastly, are you also planning on showing at pleasure shows? Typically at ADS (and I believe the USEF is retaining this ADS rule) Obstacles are driven at the trot only with penalties for breaks of pace (other than re-balancing). If cones = ZOOM at canter to your horse, you may find yourself fighting the horse to keep it at a trot at speed. If you don't plan on entering this type of show then no problem.

[Gestalt]

Woo-hoo!!!! Wow, I'd have happy feet too if I had that pony.:D Great job!

I saw a woman driving an Arab at the CDE near Portland that did flying lead changes through the zigzag. I spoke with her after her class and she said he is so good at changing leads that she wanted to show him off. I gathered from her comments that cantering through the zigzag wasn't any faster than him trotting, it just looked quicker. He did have a that awesome trot many Arabs exhibit.

Thanks for sharing your vid, loved the music too! :cool:

[Happy Feet]

THanks Gestalt!

DriveNJ,
I think that his canter is actually faster. He doesn't have that huge trot that some hackneys have. Inspirtation our other Hackney, trotting can beat Magic trotting easily, but if I can canter, than I have a chance of beating him... LOL.
The transitions are time consuming and I tried to do them only when I felt I needed to. There was one point where I really made him come back (it was the kinda ugly trans) that I realized as soon as I trotted that I hadn't needed to. That was the most canter I have done through a course so I wasn't always 100% sure what we could easily get through and couldn't. I guess this next month or so I will be figuring out about cantering through the zig zag. Getting to watch the video of the cones course was great because he really looks balanced and has gotten his changes really nicely! He couldn't canter in harness until recently!
I don't really have any plans to do Pleasure, though there are a couple of oppurtunities coming up to do so. I have to say at the last Cypress Keep schooling show, I was worried because cantering on that cones course was not permitted with a 2 wheel cart, and I really thought Magic would be hard to keep at a trot. He only broke once momentarily going out the out gate. So I think if I have to, I could do it. But point well taken.

[War Admiral]

I think that his canter is actually faster. He doesn't have that huge trot that some hackneys have.

Agree; I watched the vid several times and noticed this too.

[Thomas_1]

Originally Posted by Happy Feet
I think that his canter is actually faster. He doesn't have that huge trot that some hackneys have IMO, he looks a lot more purposeful and useful than what (sadly) a lot of hackneys NOW have. ;) IMO Too many now are developed and bred to have all extravagant high action and nothing or not much going forward.

[War Admiral]

IMO, he looks a lot more purposeful and useful than what (sadly) a lot of hackneys NOW have. ;) IMO Too many now are developed and bred to have all extravagant high action and nothing or not much going forward.

Really?? Sorry to derail your thread temporarily, HappyFeet, but as I'm just now getting back "into" Hackney ponies I'm curious to learn as much as I can... So - just for curiosity/education's sake, Thomas, how do the ones being bred/trained in the U.K. compare, speed-wise, to this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHqGDyrvX38), for example (who it should be noted is not really even working all out)? Over here, we seem to breed for both high action AND speed at the trot.

For the benefit of others here, it should be noted that this one is a "roadster pony" trainee - for the Speed Racer stuff in the breed show ring - as opposed to Happy Feet's pony who was a breed show ring "pleasure pony" - the (slightly! :D) slower and more refined stuff.

Hopefully Renae will check in on this thread as well b/c she's wayyyyyy more knowledgeable about Hackney ponies in the breed show ring than I am. ;) I've been watching them for decades but never in detail or with much specificity TBH - just kind of covering my eyes and praying when they go too fast! :D

[Happy Feet]

I will try to post a clip of our other Hackney. Boy are they different. Now the other one was shown in pleasure but in his ad it was stated that he would make a great roadster pony.
Now looking at the two of them side to side they couldn't be more different. Magic who has long legs, shorter more compact body, much shorter gaskin and forearm. Magic has less angle in his hip.

Inspiration has a beautiful HUGE trot, but this forward action can be hard to 1 control and 2 turn. I don't mean turn and in going around the arena steering I mean, CDE turn RIGHT... NOW! :>
His legs flail and it make for a scary show because his legs just go everywhere!

I don't know enough about Hackneys to know whether or not which one is typical, but I think Magic is a show ring reject (to be honest) and Inspiration actually did very well in the show ring. So my guess is Inspiration is what the breeders are breeding for????
I'll work on some video of him - then you guys could see the difference.

[hobbyhorse23]

NICE flying lead changes and what an agile pony!

Leia

[Cartfall]

Happyfeet, your moniker realy fits your pony!! Where was this video taken? I take it it was here in Florida?

I really enjoyed watching you. You seemed to have no problem with your two wheeled cart. I actually prefer to drive my cones in my wooden road cart than the marathon carriage.

Once your pony has done this enough times and you are more experienced, your pony will learn to set himself up in the center. I know it sounds nuts, but they figure it out. My youngster, Zanzer , just figured it out at the Fall Fling in Sumter. It is rather a cool thing to experience when they do.

One thing that was passed on to me from very successful drivers and my own experience as an autocrosser years ago is that you always should be looking ahread to the next set of cones (gate) as you drive through the one you are in. Kinda like the hunter jumper rider who is always looking ahead to the next jump. Once you set up yourself for gate, stay the course, do not try and correct--if you look down, you probably will hit the cone!!!


If I know my rock and roll, that was the Rolling Stones? And I don;t always know my rock and roll!!:eek:

Thanks for sharing.

[Happy Feet]

Sue, it is Rolling Stones!

[Rayman421]

OMG! You CANTER cones courses?


Well, I appreciate this video (what fun to watch) and all the constructive criticism too!

Pony looks awesome and I think you guys did great for only a year of driving - from my strictly novice viewpoint!

[Thomas_1]

OMG! You CANTER cones courses?
If you can manage to hold it/them back :winkgrin:

[Happy Feet]

LOL!!! Magic is Much happier cantering the cones than troting.

I wonder - is it easier for a pony/horse to canter rather than trot in a 2 wheel cart?
I notice while going through cones when I am making sharper turns in the trot, if I have some room, he'll pick up the canter through the turn, instead of that little extra push to get through the turn at the trot. I was actually going to ask my vet maybe to flex his hindlegs to make sure he wasn't sore behind. I know in dressage instead of pushing through in the trot many horses will canter and sometimes it's when thier hocks are bothering them - most of the time they don't know how to push through. Maybe I am overly anyalitical... Would it be easier to trot with a 4 wheel vehicle?

[Ashemont]

Interesting.... Now that I think of it, Maggie tries to canter with her cart but holds her trot (and it's a FAST trot!) much better with her marathon carriage. I just know that I prefer doing them with the 4 wheeled vehicle as I can make sharper turns and it just seems so much easier for both of us.

[MySparrow]

I LOVED watching that! Made me go "wheeeee!"

[Thomas_1]

I wonder - is it easier for a pony/horse to canter rather than trot in a 2 wheel cart? Yes indeed it is.

I notice while going through cones when I am making sharper turns in the trot, if I have some room, he'll pick up the canter through the turn, instead of that little extra push to get through the turn at the trot. Given free choice a ridden horse will also find it easier at canter than at trot. Watch them in the field and even just turned out they more frequently go to canter to go up hills and to run round corners etc.

I was actually going to ask my vet maybe to flex his hindlegs to make sure he wasn't sore behind. Having seen him, I wouldn't worry at all and I wouldn't subject him to a flexion test.

Would it be easier to trot with a 4 wheel vehicle? No. Indeed its harder.

[Happy Feet]

Thanks Thomas!