-- Have you sapling trees you can cut in your neighbourhood? I have seen in several books a technique where you cut two green (so as to be flexible and pretty unbreakable) saplings and attach a stout board or wider sapling or something pretty rigid between the two so that the saplings ride in the harness like shafts would and the tails drag on the ground out of kicking range with the board as a stiffener and separater.
: I wouldn't use kiln-dried lumber from a building centre for this as it is too brittle-the idea is to use something that can be stepped on and bent and bashed about if the horse gets a bit excited. This travois-thing gives some of the feel of turning a vehicle with shafts while being very light.
: I haven't done this myself so this is all theory from books. I have messed about with one sapling but it wouldn't turn well without the stiffener and the other 'shaft' I was playing around with one because I was just accustoming a young riding horse to having something against him; I think it's good for despooking any horse and training for trailhorses who may have to drag stuff or pull firewood into camp.
: So here is one cheap idea to try. Let us know how it works.
: Ann H --
An alternative is PVC pipe if you do not have access to green wood. I use poplar poles myself. First, take one pole and put it through one shaft loop, having someone hold it while you ground drive. Then, stick it throught the other side and do the same. Then, you can move to the poles. Depending on the harness, we have either eye bolts (for tug slot type), or heel chain hooks on the board to hook tugs to. This gets your horse used to the feel of shafts. I ground drive a long time (usually two or three weeks) in shafts. I don't move on to a cart until he is standing quietly when asked, crosses over nicely on turns, and accepts the shafts with no nervousness.
Here is a pic of me ground driving Danny in poles last winter.
Good luck, and have fun,
Al
PS a horse can be driven for years in a hitch, but still needs to be trained single.
