So if I read this correctly you are saying that I should not lead my horse when it is hooked to the cart? Is that what "Put to" means? If so, I would much rather be leading a cart out of a barn than sitting in the seat. I can respond much quicker and safer if I can walking beside rather than riding.
No, you should not lead your horse while it is put to (or hooked, or hitched to) a cart. When you are leading a horse in a halter and it acts up, it can swing it's butt sideways while you still have it's head. It can't do that in a cart, so it will force itself forward or swing it's front end. When that happens, no, you can't respond much quicker and safer, because you can't always stay with the cart like you can if you are in the seat. Once the horse frees itself from you, it is dragging a "weapon" that will endanger anyone that happens to be in the way. ADS has a "strong recommendation" that if your horse is put to the cart, a knowledgable driver needs to be in the seat with the reins in hand. It is not a rule, because it would be hard to "police", i.e. during the putting to process. However, if you show up at an ADS show and lead your horse that is put to, you will have the Technical Delegate there in a heartbeat. (I know, I was told myself a number of years ago when I got out of my cart to watch my sister's Cones go while my husband held the horse.
The TD kindly told us that we needed a driver on the box, and that was even before ADS made that a "strong recommendation"!)
I just put a collection of stories on my website of driving accidents, and one was of a driver who decided to lead her horse over a creek. The horse jumped over the creek, but jumped to the left where the driver was, knocking her over, stepping on her leg, and she found out two days later that the shaft broke her rib. Granted, this was with a big horse, so a mini shaft would probably jab into the handler's leg, but carriage drivers don't care if you have a mini or not. Safety is safety regardless of what size your horse is.
That is why it is a big deal that mini drivers (as well as all drivers) learn the proper methods of driving, because it reflects on all of us. Here is the link to the Driving Safety page on my website where you can read the whole story as well as others, including an accident with a mini (where incidentally, the driver was out of the cart). I hope to add to it more later.
http://rhinestone-ridge.wikispaces.com/Driving+Safety
We put our horses to the vehicles in the indoor arena and drive through the barn aisle. Granted our aisle is 12' wide and 11' tall. And yes, I understand the old "rule" about "don't ride your horse through the barn" because they will become barn sour and "drag" you in there someday, but when we are done working our horses, we don't go directly into the barn. We have them drive around the yard until WE say it is time to go back into the barn/arena. And our horses don't get drove outside the indoor arena until they are farther along in their training. Sometimes, I will have a header lead the horse while I drive in the cart the first time we drive through. We have also put them to the cart in the outdoor arena or the farm yard/driveway. I have had unfortunate times that I have put to and then realized that I didn't open the outdoor arena gate, and have had to get out of my cart to open it while holding the horse. It is a very uncomfortable feeling for me. If he jerks away for whatever reason, I am SOL. I have visions of pieces of cart and harness everywhere.
" The "picture " perceived by many people of a very large person in a cart being pulled by a very tiny horse may be the only representation they have to form an opinion. We should be asking,"What message am I sending?"
I guess my response to this is, so what? If my horse is comfortable and not under stress or strain, I really don't care what other folks are saying.
I understand what you are saying, but there are some folks that drive minis that really
don't pay attention or
don't understand that their horse is under stress or strain. I know of a VERY prominent person in the carriage industry that doesn't think that minis should be drove at all because she witnessed a mini that was overfaced one day and died the next. Granted, that was ONE incident, but it was enough for that person to make up her mind regarding minis. Needless to say, I didn't show well under her as a judge. She told me flat out to my face that minis are great pasture pets, but shouldn't be drove. Now obviously I do not agree with her, but it only takes one instance and the reputation has been established. Thank goodness that is not what all carriage drivers think!
Myrna