Harrow

Our training background for pulling comes from having trained sled dogs/carting dogs and numerous ski-joring dogs. That experience has been quite helpful with Archer, although if we ever get the opportunity to hang out with other carriage people they might find some of our cues a little unconventional for the horse world.

Keeley and Archer have been working on driving in preparation for someday being able to hitch to a cart. Parts of their driving lessons include keeping a straight track, as well as, staying in the middle of the track. Archer initially picked up the voice cues “Haw” and “Gee” very quickly in addition to other voice cues we use such as “There” to indicate a precise path and “Come around”.

Most of the time Archer pulls an old truck tire but today Keeley hitched Archer to a makeshift harrow and groomed the arena. By the 3rd pass around Archer recognized that Keeley was trying to keep her on the groove created from the previous pass with the harrow, after that there was nothing more for Keeley to do but just follow along. Archer really enjoys pulling; she listens extremely well and has a lighter response to cues than she does when she is being ridden. Keeley will continue to work on improving the ridden cues but driving is fast becoming a favorite for Keeley as well.