Carting is quite often the activity that people most closely associate with Pony Play and the one the almost all participants in the kink like to explore and participate in. Needing just a single Trainer and one pony, the activity allows both sides to express and experience some of the core aspects of BDSM and has many different twists and variations that can be taught and learnt.
All stables in SecondLife offer some sort of carting experience, but at Tall Tails we have tailored our sim to accommodate smaller carts such as the Dogcart, Sulky and PFS Carriage. And while it is just about possible to navigate around with carts that have a larger frame, we heavily discourage doing so.
This document is designed to show you the ins and outs of carting at Tall Tails, ranging from how it is done to doing much more complex variations with experienced ponies.
To start carting is a very simple process, you need a ponygirl, a Trainer and a cart. No matter what side of the whip you stand on, you will be able to find these at any stable and usually a quick IM or introduction can help you lead to an excursion. Most stables also have their own rezzable carts on their sim which can be used by guests, or you can bring your own if you so wish.
It is customary for the pony who is taking part in the ride to be dressed as a ponygirl. There are however, a very large spectrum of looks that can fit this description and it is very much down to how the pony in question wishes to express themselves. Despite this, it is always a good idea to consider the context for your carting journey, will you be doing it at a private region sim/s or will you be taking a ride around the Mainland? As a Mainland journey will incorporate many sim crossings it is highly recommended to use a low script track to help prevent and sim change crashes, while a inter-sim ride you are able to have a high script count on your tack.
A Trainer may wish to have reigns attached to their ponies bit, this is normally achieved by wearing an RLV enabled bridle but can be done using other means as well. It is best to speak to the Trainer before hand to let them know what gear you have worn or any you have available. While a RLV relay can be very useful in order to be hitched securely to a cart, you are also able to safely sit on the cart yourself if you do not wish to use them.
Now, to contradict an earlier statement, it is perfectly acceptable to see a rubberdoll or maid maid pulling a cart in many circumstances, so if you do not feel like getting your hooves dirty and still have that subby itch, perhaps your Trainer will be able to accommodate! Remember that many carts can be configured to handle a hobbled sub as well, so you don't always need to unlock those pesky chains!
The Trainer or Groom who will be in charge of the carting will have a slightly longer list of things they will need to prepare.
First, how many ponies and passengers will be taking part? The are many different kinds of carts that have various configurations which affect how many ponies and passengers can be brought along with you, it is also very possible to modify carts to change these numbers. Be smart and be sensible, try to pick a cart that work in the environment you are in and can handle your load. Most stables will have a rezzer for their own carts so that you can rez in an appropriate vehicle, but there may be times where you will need to rez one you own from your own inventory, I will provide a section further into this guide for places you can purchase your own carts.
The Trainer will also need some kind of HUD to help issue directional and speed commands. These HUDs are usually used in conjunction with a whip. We will go over these commands and purchasable whips and HUDs later in the guide. It is also customary to grab the reigns of the ponies taking part in the ride, so a leash holder of some kind is a useful took to have.
Throughout this guide you may need to access features of the cart such as Hitching and the Handbrake. In these circumstances you must click the cart (not the seats) to open up its options menu. This menu appears in the top corner of your viewer.
This following segment will go over the rules and expectations when a carting ride is done. These rule have been built up over many years of ponyplay in SecondLife but there will be minor variations and changes depending upon the sim you have learnt and trained in. If you feel anything vital is missing please contact us on our Discord and let us know.
Once the Trainer and pony are both prepared to start their journey and their cart is rezzed the hitching process begins.
It is customary, once the cart is ready, for the Trainer to tell the pony to 'get in position'. This is a verbal indicator that the pony should position themselves next to the cart in a way which would help to assist the Trainer physically strap themselves into the cart. On a single pony cart, the pony would taking position adjacent to the straps on either side (unless the Trainer has specified a preference) and wait patiently to be strapped in. On a multi-pony cart however, the Trainer should specify which strap the pony should stand next to within their command. All directional commands are given as if Trainer is sat upon the cart.
[INSERT PICTURE OF 1P & 2P HITCHING POSITIONS]
With the ponies in place, the Trainer will give a short RP scene of the ponies being strapped into the cart. In order to achieve this though they have two choice, they can use the Hitch command within the Carts option menu (to see this click the cart) or the pony can sit on the straps themselves. A pony that has been hitched and is wearing an active RLV relay will be unable to unsit from the cart, and a pony who has sat on the cart themselves will be able to jump off freely. Keep this in mind as in certain circumstances, such as Mainland carting, it can be more prudent to allow the pony to be able to unsit themselves. Also not that hitching a pony who is already sat on a start will lock them into place.
The Hitch command within the options menu will give the Trainer the option of selecting which place on the cart the pony will be placed if there are multiple options.
With the pony now hitched to the cart the Trainer and it's passengers are free to get themselves ready as well. The leading Trainer will generally take one of the front seats while the passengers are free to get positioned on any spare seats.
It is worth nothing that some carts allow you to change your sitting position on the cart by using a key command, for example a RR Dogcart using the ← and → keys pressed simultaneously on the keyboard. You can also use an AO HUD to override the sitting position if you so desire.
In order to have a successful carting outing the Trainer will need to be able to guide their pony using whip commands. These commands dictate the speed and movement that the pony will need to move at, and is the primary way for the Trainer to communicate. It is however acceptable for the Trainer to give directional commands