Training.

Site under construction, and probably always will be as I keep learning every time I try to persuade that little creep Henry to do something, but if you have any problems, ring me on 01768 351380.

Training ponies is like educating children. If I say "This sytem works" I can guarantee the next ten ponies I try will work perfectly with every other system under the sun, just not this one.

"How to train ponies in a Saddlechariot"

WARNING This system only applies to Saddlechariots and to no other vehicle.

This instruction manual is written by an amateur with no formal experience of horse training, but it is worth remembering, Northern Rock, and British and American Foreign Policy in Iraq and Afghanistan, are run by highly trained, highly qualified professionals.

Basic Principles: Number One.
If you are worried, step off, removing the vehicle!

I have just stepped off the moving vehicle with the reins in my right hand, ripcord in my left, and the vehicle is coming off Henry. The dangerous place to be is on a horse drawn vehicle, or anywhere near a loose horse attached to a horse drawn vehicle. I am safe. Henry is safe, The spectators are safe. And the WORST case scenario is that HENRY GETS LOOSE. I have watched loads of horses and ponies in fields and the vast majority don't attack passing strangers. If your horses or ponies are prone to attacking people..........retrain them.
Here is a video of the process showing Henry getting loose.
Pretty much what happens when a rider falls off in terms of risks to innocent spectators, and the driver and the animal are SAFE.
Learn to use the instant release and keep practicing. If you use the emergency release very time you stop,in an emergency, you are doing what is normal.

Basic Principle: Number Two.
The Saddlechariot is there to do a job, not impress the neighbours.

This is a training scheme for the Saddlechariot, a practical working vehicle, and the most important pace is "stand". The pony should stand relaxed, and resting, like a working cow pony, or a milkman's horse. Teaching them to stand while you harness up is absolutely vital.
Here is a video of Henry standing while I attach a petrol driven mower on a trailer, start the mower and do a bit of mowing, but throughout the process, which could be very dangerous indeed, I am clutching the ripcord. Any problems and I do not have a pony attached to a 4 wheel articulated rotary mower, I just have a loose pony.
Introducing a new concept to any animal is stressful. 20 minutes of concentration is quite enough for most children. If you think your pony is more intelligent than your children........I think I will stop there. After, at most, 20 minutes give them a break, and any time you think they are getting tense, give them a break, and if you are getting tense, give them a break.
You want them to be relaxed about the vehicle; if something worries them, do it until it becomes boring. If it continues to upset them, try and work out why. Driving an animal with a fear of any part of the process of harnessing is a recipe for disaster, so don't do it.

Boredom is the buzzword. You want your animal saying "Not again, can't we get on with the ********* thing"

Actually putting them in the vehicle

First get the pony between the shafts. Neil Blythman taught me the easy way to do this. Walk them in forward with the shafts resting on the ground. Do this on your own, without pressure. Teach the animal to feel relaxed between the shafts. This is not achieved by pressure and coercion. I use "pressure release" with a simple rope halter, there is no reason why any other gentle sytem shouldn't work.
When they will stand between the shafts with the tips resting on the ground, bring the shafts gently up to the level. If the pony wants to back out...LET IT. The whole point about Saddlechariot training is that the animal ISN'T trapped. When the pony will stand while the shafts touch it on either side, (and you can deliberately touch the pony with the shaft tips) it is time for the next stage.
Persuade the pony to stand while you bring the saddlechariot up from the side and rest the shafts on its back. Again this should be done solo. It is the pony's choice to let you do this and he can step away at any time.
When the pony is relaxed about this get someone to stand at the pony's head to persuade, not force, the pony to stand still. If he wants to move forward he isn't happy, so go back a stage till he is.
When he will stand, gently bring the saddlechariot up from behind till it is held in the correct driving position with the shaft tips level with the saddle. Take it back off and give the pony a break. I normally expect to reach this stage in under an hour, but it takes as long as it takes.
If you enjoy training ponies, why rush it, and if you don't enjoy training ponies, DON'T BUY A SADDLECHARIOT.
If you do enjoy training ponies, I suggest looking at The Art of Natural Dressage which is a pretty unusual thing for me to say. Basically dressage combines just about everything I dislike in modern horsemanship, but then most traditionalists hate the way I slob around the country, loose reins, bitless bridle, barefoot, blinkerless, crupperless, reflective roadmenders jacket, scruffy pony, driving city centres, golf courses, beaches, local parks, pubs........ you get the picture. My number two daughter and I were having a race up the road, Henry going like a daft thing and Hils on Molly a 14hh Connemara X, bareback, bitless cantering fast and you could lipread the passing motorists perfectly.."bloody gypsies!"
Well, fair's fair. Gypsies don't have to like dressage. But The Art of Natural Dressage is something else again, it is an open discussion of modern, low pressure, approaches to training based on modern behavioural science, contributors experience and quite possibly alcohol induced delusion, but it is a forum for discussion. The goal is to achieve a working partnership without any artificial aids. If you have any questions outside the pure technicalities of how the saddlechariot works, try the forum on this link but always feel free to contact me for advice on 01768 351380.

I am also setting up a blog for the nitty gritty of harnessing, vehicle set up etc. Although this website is brilliantly easy to update, thanks again Lancaster University InfoLab a blog allows feedback from my customers and sets up a more interactive FAQ environment. But for training issues AND as the Art of natural Dressage tend to refer to themselves, will be more likely to produce a working solution.

BUT BUT BUT the whole point of the saddlechariot is the quick release system. If you aren't practicsing the quick release on a regular basis you are putting yourself and your pony and anyone around at unnecessary risk. You have bought a safety feature, please learn to use it. AND KEEP PRACTICING!!!
Simon