How to Hook Up a Pony to a Cart

Ponies, horses and donkeys are strong, intelligent animals, often invaluable to their owners. For 6 millennia, they've been domesticated for use in farming and production, and they were still essential for societal functioning until less than a century ago. Rarely used for production or even agriculture anymore, except in the Third World, ponies still provide plenty of service harnessed to carts and similar vehicles for such use as hauling, transportation, entertainment, novelty and other circumstances. Proper harnessing -- in this case, the process of securing a pony or horse to a wheeled utility such as a cart or other form of trailer for the purpose of pulling -- is vital to securing the safety of the animal, riders and standers by.

Things You'll Need

  • Harness
  • Whip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Move your pony to a safe and spacious location before attaching any equipment. The pony may become uneasy as you attach the harness, particularly if he is inexperienced, so choose a location where sudden or startling stimuli are unlikely to occur. Loop a rope or a collar around your pony's neck to secure the animal in position. Doing so will make the harnessing process easier and safer.

    • 2

      Attach your pony's harness in the same sequence you would when harnessing him for riding. By placing and removing the harness in the same way each time, you'll help your pony become more comfortable with the procedure and less easily frightened. In order to pull a cart, your animal's harness must include reins, traces, a bridle and a collar or collars. You may use a halter instead of a bit and bridle in well-trained animals, but bridles are often a safer choice. Traces are special components of a harness that attach to the towed vehicle's shafts.

    • 3

      Take your pony to the cart once both the rider and animal are outfitted in the appropriate gear. The vehicle's driver must wear required riding safety gear, including a helmet and whip. Tie the reins to a post, or hand them to a helper, and move the cart shafts into position. Don't back the pony up to the cart; this can cause it to panic, according to Oregon State University Extension.

    • 4

      Pull the cart by the shafts until the shafts are in position alongside your pony. Slide them into the shaft loops on either side of the harness. Unfasten the traces, which should be attached to the harness so they don't drag on the ground, and pass them under the shaft loops. Run the traces through the corresponding slots on the shafts and reattach them to the harness with snaps or buckles. Double-check all of the connections on the harness and shafts, making sure they are all firmly in place.