"Cart before the horse" is an idiom used to suggest something is done contrary to the natural or normally effective sequence of events. A cart is a vehicle that is ordinarily pulled by a horse, so to put the cart before the horse is an analogy for doing things in the wrong order. The figure of speech means doing things the wrong way round or with the wrong emphasis or confusing cause and effect.
The earliest recorded use of the proverb was in the early 16th century. A variant of the proverb is used by Shakespeare in King Lear Act I, scene iv, line 230: "May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse?"
- From Wiki, with minor editing
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Bet you all have had such experience in work or/and life before, either watched others doing it or done it by self, felt Frustrated or/and lost. To be honest, I have.
But I also had positive experience: a couple times in Ottawa winter: my car was stuck in icy snow with tires spinning but wouldn't move. A few neighbours/co-workers came to my aid and pushed my car out. They are all caring nice people, and I appreciated their kind help with the feeling of "car before the manpower"!!! 
Most of us on the west coast escaped the snow this year (so far). Wish those in the East are warm and safe on those white slippery roads. 
