The above was written in answer to the question below that was sent to the Web Site, If anyone has any other comments or advice E Mail and I will post them

Hello,
My name is Brian from Indiana U.S.A. and with the help of my wife and 11 year old daughter we are attempting to hitch our two haflinger geldings tamdem. I love the look of the tandem and the challenges it presents. Though this is only our 3rd year of driving single we have been very successful and are ready for the next step, which for us is tandem.
I really love your website and am glad there's finally one available to help. My question is the driving lines I see in your pictures. They look like they have a loop for the hand? I haven't seen anything like that here, but the only tandem driving I've seen in person has been at draft horse shows. I have a thin, about 13mm wide, lines for the lead horse and thicker, about 19mm wide, lines for the wheeler. I run the wheeler horse lines into my hands from the outside (of my fist) to the inside above my thumb and forefinger. The leader horse with the thin lines I bring into my hand between my "pinkie" finger and ring finger then out above my thumb and forefinger. This is how the draft drivers in the states do it. Example: If they want to to turn left ("haw") they use their right hand to tighten the left line then as the horse begins to turn they release the line and the leader straightens out.
I'm beginning to get the feel for this but if there are some better lines available I'd sure like to see them. Can you help out with better pictures and understanding of the lines and how you drive the leader? I really want to do this and will continue until I'm comfortable. Thank you.

"brian vannarsdall"

Exercising
- If you have no groom and are unable to drive out to exercise it is quite easy to ride the wheeler (under conventional saddle) and using wheeler or single reins on the leader drive that one in front. ie: ride in tandem. Walk and trot are no problem, canter is not so easy as the gait of the two horses unless absolutely matching their strides results in a very erratic contact on the leader, it is however possible. Obviously if you get into difficulty somewhere you still have two horses to cope with but at least no carriage! It is no less safe than riding and leading a horse David Taylor

- when exercising at home it is generally wisest to aim to ‘chill’ the horses and not treat exercising as a marathon. They will hot up at events anyway. It goes without saying that you should always ride or drive as correctly as possible. Treat every hack or drive as a dressage test. It gets driver and horses into good habits. David Taylor

Subject: Rein Clamps Date: Sat, 03 Jun 2006 21:20:46 +0100
Hello there,
I have just had a look at your website, it is a really good idea having something like that where people can look and chat about experiences driving tandem. It is a shame the other classes don't have the same type of thing.
We are just starting up with our tandem horses, have been having some training so hopefully will be ready to start club events soon. I was just looking on the internet for some rein clamps, do you know where I may be able to find them as up to now I have been learning without them so I get my rein handling right from the start?
Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Nicola Pimbblet Isle of Man
Answer Subject: Re: Rein Clamps
Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2006 08:24:03 +0100
>From: David Taylor >To: Nicola Pimbblet
>Subject: Re: Rein Clamps >Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2006 18:18:36 +0100 (BST)
>Hi Nicola
> Not sure really but will put question on web site later and see what comes back I don't like them personally as they are quite big - made for team drivers I have used a buckle for many years now You have a buckle big enough to take two reins through ( three if you fancy randem) and a short length of strap - about 4 inches on mine and one leather keeper. set them up at equal length on the wheeler reins (punch a series of equally spaced holes - measured from the billets. Then when you put-to, just thread the leader reins through and set these to suit - you can hold the reins with the buckle just at the base of the hand . You can use a buckle and no strap but it is more fiddly and easy to put back to front when it all slips at a critical moment Don't forget to get coachman style under your belt first - too many people learn with two hands and after that never master coachman.

Hi there
This buckle sounds better, can you recommend where I may be able to get them from as we don't have anything in the way of harness makers/sadlers over here?? I want to make sure I get the right type as I am just starting out.
Am I right in thinking that you are the same David Taylor that owned Leo?? I have bought him now and am using him in the lead of my tamdem.
Kind Regards Nicola