Miniature horse driving

Question
Could you explain what ground driving involves and how to do it? I'm also wondering if you'd know anything about training a miniature horse to drive. I'v worked with teams of horses before, but I don't know anything about working with single cart horses.

Answer
hi Diane,
ground driving requires a bridle, two lounge lines, and a sircingle. you basically teach the horse rein iads such as going left,right,whoa,back, and forward. have someone guid the horse at its head while you give cues from behind the horse. make sure your a safe distance though so theres no chance of getting kicked. once the horse is good in the arena take him out and make sure hes safe with things around him in the yard.
training a single horse is the same as a team. start out with one person ground driving the horse and another fallowing off to the side pulling the cart. when he is good with that put the cart over him as if he was to pull it but do not attach it.drive him and have another person pull the cart. make sure he does this with the harness and blinkers on as well. the noise may scare him so be patient. when he is safe with this attach the cart and let him walk with it. hold him at the head so you have total control. then ground drive him with the cart attached. when he does this safely at a walk and trot you can get in the cart and have another person lead him while you drive him. soon he will be safe enough to drive around in the arena without being lead. your next step would be driving him around in the yard. all of this takes time and you need to be patient. make sure the harness fits him properly and always keep you and you mini safe. good luck and let me know how his training is going. if you have any problems just come back and i can help. good luck.
Amanda Groff