I know this may seem to be a silly question to some, but it's a situation that I'm just not able to get my head wrapped around and I need help...I've been working our 2 Haflinger mares to our Pioneer forecart (single) to get them conditioned and ready to work double to our wagon and do odd jobs here on our farm. They are now 12 & 13 years old...bought them as 4 & 5 yr. olds and they were broke to work then, but up till the last 6 months haven't been worked on a regular basis...last 6 months, they've been hooked up single (to the cart) about once a week! Now, to my question...how do you go about keeping them going forward? Both mares will stop for no reason and start to back up or try to rear (very little on the rearing, mostly backing)...no amount of popping the reins, or urging with the buggy whip helps...to avoid the situation becoming dangerous, my husband usually gets out and leads them off a few feet and they'll each go again until they take the notion to stop and we repeat the steps. They're both in excellent physical condition, all feet are shod, the weight being pulled is definitely NOT too great, no hills involved, no evidence of being barn sour, both move at a nice, even trot or brisk walk and they both listen well while going WHEN they're going...JUST this small aggravating hurdle to surpass...that's where y'all's expertise is needed!! I'm hoping there's a simple solution and that I just haven't been "simple" enough to see it OR maybe I'm too simple to see it...whatever, the case, give me your answers, so I can keep these girls moving!!! I sure don't want to stop now!!!Thanks so VERY much!!

Sounds like they may be "buddy sour" and have learned they can throw a little tantrum and get their way. You did not mention what happens after they "balk". Do you turn around and head back to the barn where their mate is? Couple of things. When they throw this tantrum turn them back toward the barn but keep their feet moving "fast". don't let them stop. When you get back to the barn make circles moving fast then take off again away from the barn walking. Repeat the cycle but keep them moving. when they get tired let them walk away from the barn but if they balk make them move fast back to the barn. pretty soon they will learn that they get some rest (by walking) away from the barn but have to move fast back or near the barn. The other way is to tie the loose horse (buddy) to the one in harness and let them go together. one in harness pulling the cart and one walking beside. this will help them learn to walk together and you can rotate the one in harness.

That is a good question and one I have wondered. I use a team that has a mare that will do that every time I drive them off for the first time in the day. She has torn up two harness britchens and bent my wagon pole during these fits. Once I get her through that first fit, she will never do it again that day. She drives like a dream other than that. It is a bad learned behavior from sometime in her past.

Rather than correcting it (because beating her hasn't worked), I just deal with it by not hooking her to the wagon at first. I hook her to a stone boat instead before the wagon. I get it out of her on that and then she is good to go! Good luck!

If it was my team, I would start working them on a load. About half there body weight and give plenty of rest breaks. I would prefer they pulled it forward ,but if they decided that they would rather push it backwards, I would make them back until they decided that wasn't a very good way to move the load . I take it as a bad habit that I would like to stop very quickly.
Shanen

They were used as a team once. So I'd hook them to the wagon, get a big stick and get set for a ride. I'd start early in the morning so I would have time to change their minds about all this foolishness. Be the boss and make them do what you want them to do.

I am not quite clear on that behavior, do they do this when hitched as a team or when single? At points away a certain distance from the barn or at random?
Could it be harness related?
On the way out or on the way home? For breaking habits one has to understand what may have caused these habits.

First...thank you all for your responses!! Klaus...I haven't hooked them as a team, yet...they were broke as a team years ago, but will work single. I bought my Pioneer forecart (Haflinger size) to use in order to get them conditioned and back into shape (and for fun)...but, at this point, I've only hooked them single. They don't seem to be a bit buddy sour...the mare left in the pasture does call out, but the one hooked doesn't try to turn and go back or even call back to the other...and this behavior is interchangeable with both mares. The stopping, then backing and SOMETIMES minor rearing (def: barely leaving the ground), happens after we've gone down the road a little ways. I've used a buggy whip and the reins for "reinforcement", to no avail. When my husband gets out and leads her (either one), each one will go again, but then repeat the action at another point. I've checked and re-checked my harness, collars, bridles, the fit of all pieces, looked for any pinching, rubbing, etc...but can't find the cause for any viable discomfort. These mares are very stout (each one built like a tank) and pulls without any strain at all. I'm working up to hitching them as a team again and will be within the next 2 weeks (husband's putting REALLY GOOD brakes on my wagon!!)...so we'll see how they do then...hope they don't decide to conspire and try these shenanigans as a team effort!! Thanks again folks...for those of you that are experienced and so knowledgeable...you'll never know how much your suggestions and know how, are appreciated by us that are not!!

The way you describe, Sharon, makes me think they are just uncomfortable to be away from each other and/or the barn. Horses do not necessarily always call out for each other all the time even when they miss each other. I believe this behavior (stopping, not wanting to go on, even rearing a bit) can be overcome with numerous excursions , each one a bit longer than the previous one. It's an anxiety that needs to be overcome, not ill will on the side of the horses.