Pony power to level arena?

[wildandwoolly]

Due to the on-going and seemingly never-ending flooding around our arena gateway it is impossible to get the 4wd in to drag the sheep-hurdle around to level the school without completely trashing the gateway (was grass but is now liquid mud!).

While I was raking the edges in this morning, I wondered whether anyone had used their ned in this way to level the surface as it could be months before I can do it properly.

I have a pony who is good to long-rein, but who hasn't been driven as in pulling something behind him, and wondered whether it might be an option to use him and kill two birds with one stone - levelling the surface and burning a few more calories for ponio and myself!! I can long-rein but have never tried driving.

Any comments/advice as to how to go about teaching him to do it (safely!), what sort of tack/equipment I would need etc would be very welcome. Or is it just a daft idea?

W&W

 

[be positive]

I used to do this with a Dartmoor pony, he had previously been driven so it was easy to just get on with it but no reason why you could not try with one that has no experience, you will need some form of breast harness but not a full driving harness as the hurdle is pretty light, start by using a tyre attached with quick release knot, in case he worries, but taken quietly it should not take long to get him going, I just led mine rather than driving him.

 

[Amateuristic]

A few yards ago, the yard owner used her much loved donkey to level the arena. It was broken to harness and enjoyed the odd spot of work and the YO knew what she was doing. Win all round