Understanding Tandem Turnouts: Driving Two Horses in Perfect Harmony
Driving horses in tandem is not just a means of propulsion; it’s a mark of skill, a test of clear communication and a witness to an age-old form of discipline and training. In tandem horse turnout, two horses are linked one in front of the other, demonstrating agility and grace in their synchronized movements.
The Vital Roles: Wheeler and Leader
At first glance, you might think the arrangement of the tandem turnout is simply defined by front and back, but in essence, each position serves a unique purpose and plays a crucial part in the successful execution of the turnout.
Steering a tandem turnout involves a distinct coupling of two horses guided one after the other. The horse positioned closer to the vehicle, garners the title ‘wheeler’ or ‘shaft horse.’ Conversely, the horse taking up the forward position is designated as the ‘leader.’
Unraveling the Intricacies of The Wheeler’s Harness in Tandem Horse Driving
We dive into the fascinating world of horse driving with a particular focus on the tandem wheeler, the powerhouse of a tandem turnout. Like a conventional single horse, the wheeler uses a similar harness, but with certain minor yet crucial differences. Understanding these components enhances the seamless operation of the tandem turnout.
Anatomy of The Wheeler’s Harness
Using a wheeler’s harness involves understanding the integral parts and their functionality. Two key components cannot be overlooked: the rings and rollers on the terrets of the saddle or pad, and the roger ring on the bridle.
Divided Rings: An Innovation for Ease of Control
One notable distinction of the wheeler’s harness is how it accommodates the reins of both the leader and the wheeler. The rings on the terrets of the saddle or pad are divided uniquely by rollers. These rollers ingeniously let the leader’s reins pass through the upper half of the ring, with the wheeler’s reins threading through underneath.
This wouldn’t just be a casual arrangement; it allows for more independent handling of the reins, crucial for coordinated navigation and control during tandem driving.
The Roger Ring: Bridging the Connection
More unique to the wheeler harness is the inclusion of a ring, known as a roger ring. This particular ring is fitted to the rosettes on either side of the bridle. Its primary function? To carry the leader’s reins.
Also, an eye is located at the lower front corner of the tug buckle. This acts as a connection point for attaching the leader’s traces using cock-eye spring hooks, thereby strengthening the bond between the leader and the wheeler.
The tandem turnout presents a beautiful show of synchronized skill, power, and coordination. Knowing each detail about the wheeler’s harness sets horse drivers firmly on the path to a successful and pleasing turnout.
Exploring The Leader’s Harness Setup in Tandem Turnouts
Stepping into the spotlight is the leader, the horse entrusted with navigation in tandem horse driving. The leader’s harness setup, like the wheeler’s, is intricate, featuring certain unique components designed to enhance maneuverability and comfort.
Understanding the Leader’s Harness: The Neck Collar and Lighter Saddle
The leader’s accoutrements differ slightly from the wheeler’s, adapting to the unique needs of its position. These variations include choices for collars and the type of saddle or pad.
Collar Choices: Versatility and Comfort
The leader can sport either a breast collar or a full neck collar. This can either contrast or match that worn by the wheeler. The choice depends on the preference of the handler or the comfort of the horse, showcasing the versatility of tandem turnouts.
Lighter Saddle/Pads: Mobility and Convenience
Unlike the wheeler, the leader carries a lighter saddle or pad. Interestingly, instead of tugs, this saddle or pad features two leather slots sewn on each side. These slots provide a passage for threading the tandem traces. Their length is adjusted to ensure that the traces remain level, a detail critical for maintaining balance and coordination.
Essential Components: Bearing Strap and Belly Strap
A couple more crucial components in the leader’s harness are the bearing strap and the belly strap, each designed with a specific purpose in line with the horse’s role.
Bearing Strap: Support for Traces
The leader wears a bearing strap, also known as the trace carrier. This item weaves through the crupper back strap and hangs over the horse’s loins. Its purpose is to offer a supportive lift for the tandem traces, ensuring they retain the ideal position during movement.
Belly Strap: Preventing Slippage
Lastly, the belly strap is an essential fixture. This strap stretches from the girth to dees affixed on the traces near the level of the horse’s hips. This setup is designed to prevent the traces from sliding over the horse’s back if it turns around, thus aiding in maintaining stability and control.
Understanding the subtle, yet essential, elements of the leader’s harness sheds light on the intricacies required for successful tandem horse driving. It’s another fascinating layer to the rich tapestry of equestrian endeavors.
Attachment Methods in Tandem Driving: Long Traces Versus Swingletrees
Central to the efficient operation of a tandem turnout are the techniques used for linking the leader to the wheeler. Two popular methods prevail: utilizing long traces or resorting to swingletrees. Each has its peculiar characteristics and associated real-world applications.
Long Traces Technique: Simplicity in Attachment
Delve into an exploration of the two notable methods, beginning with what many favor due to its simplicity: the long traces technique.
Harnessing the Power of Cock-eye Spring Hooks
The long traces technique involves the utilization of cock-eye spring hooks, an important accessory in tandem driving. These hooks clip directly into the eyes of the wheeler’s tug buckles, creating a direct and uncomplicated link between the leader and the wheeler.
Despite this connection’s simplicity, it is effective, suitable for most tandem turnouts. However, there’s a flip side; there’s a risk of the wheeler getting his front legs over the traces, which can cause mishaps during the journey.
The Swingletrees Method: Structured Connectivity
The swingletrees method is a more complex alternative, primarily characterized by the use of two distinct bars and offering a different way to connect the horses.
Rear and Front Bars: Building the Connection
The latter of the two bars found in swingletrees has a central hook, an attaching chain, and ends fitted with short traces with spring hooks that fasten to the eyes of the wheeler’s tug buckles. In contrast, the front bar houses a metal eye that latches onto the rear bar’s hook and two coiled hooks at the ends for the leader’s traces.
Despite the more elaborate setup, care must be taken, especially to close the hook on the rear bar. This step prevents undesirable outcomes such as the wheeler’s bit getting entangled or the lead bar slipping out. A tiny leather strap can efficiently fulfil this purpose, ensuring the secure and smooth operation of the tandem turnout.
Though this method reduces the risk of the wheeler’s legs getting over the traces, it has its drawbacks. If it did occur, it’d be more challenging to free the wheeler’s legs. Additionally, a high-stepping wheeler could injure his knees by knocking into the bars.
Understanding these two methods, their applications, and the associated precautions helps optimize the tandem turnout’s performance and ensures safety during its journey.
Untangling the Randem Turnout: Harnessing Skill and Sophistication
When it comes to intricate equestrian practices, the randem turnout stands out, as it involves driving three horses, one after the other. While this harnessing technique is primarily a display of the coachman’s skill, its uniqueness and complexity are worth examining.
Randem vs Trandem: Clarifying Terminology
Two driving setups involving three horses can be easily confused, owing to the terminology’s deceptive similarity: randem and trandem.
Randem: Demonstrating the Coachman’s Expertise
Randem harnessing is purely an exhibition of the coachman’s prowess, as it doesn’t serve any practical purpose. In this arrangement, the turnout consists of three horses driven one in front of the other, showcasing precise coordination and horsemanship.
Trandem: A Three-Horse Array
The trandem turnout, often referred to as a troika, is an entirely different arrangement. It features three horses driven abreast, typically harnessed to a type of lightweight carriage known as a curricle. Both the trandem and randem turnouts involve three horses, but their configurations differ significantly.
Setting up a Trandem Turnout: Adjusting the Harness
The trandem turnout requires unique adjustments to the harness setup to accommodate the horses being driven abreast. These alterations include:
Extra Swingletree and Pole Socket
Implementing an additional swingletree and pole socket allows for the proper positioning of the three horses, aiding in balance and coordination.
Extra Pole on the Vehicle
Adding an extra pole to the vehicle ensures the turnout remains stable and connected during the drive, facilitating a smooth and comfortable journey.
Through a clear understanding of the differences between randem and trandem turnouts, you can appreciate the nuances and finesse of the world of equestrian driving and its various displays of skill alongside practical configurations.
The Unicorn Turnout: Functionality and Versatility
Among the many harness setups in equestrian contexts, the unicorn turnout occupies a unique place in the spectrum. Also known as a spike or pickaxe team, this arrangement consists of one leader in front of two wheelers. By understanding the unicorn’s distinct attributes and its practical applications, you can appreciate its significance in both historical and contemporary settings.
Harnessing the Unicorn: Building a Versatile Team
Customizing the harness system is essential when creating a unicorn turnout. Despite its resemblance to the four-in-hand harness, some key differences distinguish the unicorn arrangement.
Roget Rings and Lead Reins: Maintaining Control
One of the primary modifications in the unicorn harness is the placement of the roget rings for the reins. These are located on the inside of the wheelers’ bridles rather than the outside, allowing for a more direct connection to the single leader. Additionally, an extra ring is present on the wheelers’ terrets to carry the lead reins, ensuring the leader’s attachment to the pole head is precise and controlled.
The Lead Bar and Crab Hook: Connecting the Team
A special lead bar connects the leader to the pole head, featuring a wide eye that can pass over the crab hook. The lead bar’s construction is designed to accommodate the unicorn team setup, with a single leader in front of two wheelers for a three-horse total. This arrangement is versatile and resourceful, as seen in its historical and modern-day applications.
Practical Applications of the Unicorn Team
The unicorn turnout was employed to ensure the continuity of a four-horse coach if one of the horses went lame or encountered an accident. To this end, coaches often carried extra equipment such as an S-hook, spare main bars, and lead bars to facilitate this conversion. As a result, versatility and adaptability became hallmarks of the unicorn team.
The unicorn team enjoys widespread use beyond equestrian sports in a variety of fields such as agriculture, commerce, and even as a budget-friendly alternative for privately-driven pairs of horses in heavy or hilly terrain. Companies like furniture removers and breweries also frequently harness the convenience and cost-effectiveness offered by the unicorn turnout.
