Document: 2025 Farm Trails Carting Lesson v1.0
Author: Zobo Shepherd
Date: 2010-10-27

Introduction

Farm Carting consists of a few different things, all of which you should get to know and be ready to be tested on all of them.

Knowledge

1. Cart Handling:
   Cart Handling is about pulling the cart at the correct speed for the road conditions. Slow around curves, and faster on straightaways. It is also about your ability to keep the cart on the road. The pony has control over the speed of the cart.
2. Whip Commands:
   Whip commands are how the driver communicates with the pony pulling the cart.
   These are your whip commands. You should get to know them.
   1 whip….Forward
   2 whips….Stop
   3 whips….turn left
   4 whips…turn right
   5 whips…back up
3. Rules of the Road:
   The Rules of the Road are simple;
   a. If you are approaching an intersection and no whip command is given, you should stop BEFORE the intersection and wait for a command. DO NOT enter the intersection before a command is given.
   b. If you are approaching a natural bend in the road, go around the bend. There is no need to give a command for this.
   c. If you experience lag or the cart starts flying, wait until the lag subsides and then continue pulling the cart.
4. Knowledge of the farm:
   Ponies are expected to know where everything is on the farm and the fastest route to get from place to place. You should familiarize yourself with everything and everyplace on the farm, and make a mental note of the fastest way to get from place to place. A good way to do this is to walk the roads of the farm and look at everything and plan your routes.

Testing

The test will consist of two phases;

1. Knowledge of whip commands, cart handling, and rules of the road. The pony will demonstrate that they can pull a cart smoothly around the farm while being given whip commands. They should be able to effectively control the speed of the cart and display knowledge of the rules of the road.
2. The pony needs to know their way around the farm. When a visitor is taking a tour of the farm and is given a cart tour, a driver will act as tour guide and will give a pony chat commands as to where they want the pony to take them. In this part of the test, chat commands will be given to the pony. A location on the ground level of the farm will be given and the pony is to take the fastest and shortest route to that location. Several locations should be given to the pony to test their knowledge of the farm.