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Discussion on Driving: Technique/ Purpose/ Age | |
Author | Message |
Member: Penner |
Posted on Friday, Nov 22, 2002 - 5:35 pm: Thinking about getting a 2.5 year old 16 hand 1200# Qtr horse gelding with 9" of bone (circumference) at the front cannons. (Its been too hard to lose my older guys, I have always bought older finished horses - youngest was 9yo) so I'm thinking of getting a youngster...Anyway, he has been sacked out, has had a Western saddle on him, rode 5-8 times for 20" ea time, but is green (altho extremely calm - just a nice big baby!) I am thinking of teaching him driving but have several questions: 1. How do you really do this? How long (ie: how many minutes ea time, how many weeks/months necessary), what equipment? Do you use a longe whip & tap them to go or to get their attention (in addition to maybe gently shaking the reins & saying "Walk On" or "Whoa"). 2. What is really the purpose of doing it - ie: WHY would I need/want to do this? 3. Is it really necessary anymore as he has been sacked out & saddled a few times? He also already clips, stands politely for shoeing, leads. I do have a round pen & have just about passed Level II in Natural Horsemanship, so I can do that type of thing, instead, or in addition to. I'm not planning on riding him until he turns 3. Thanks in advance for your help. |
Member: Willie |
Posted on Saturday, Nov 23, 2002 - 8:22 am: Find one of the good driving books and study it. I'd suggest Heike Bean's "Carriage Driving: A Dressage Approach to Training" if you can find it -- don't let the dressage title put you off. Excellent section on groundbreaking and starting very green horses. However it's out of print so it might be hard to find.Even better would be having a professional start your youngster. Getting those first few good experiences with a cart is essential -- if it's done wrong, you've got a scared, unsafe horse. Sarah |
Member: Penner |
Posted on Saturday, Nov 23, 2002 - 1:46 pm: Hi Sarah,Thanks for you answer. I actually, didn't mean for him to pull a cart, but I have read that walking behind them with drving "reins" (are maybe just 2 lunge lines) is a good thing, but I'm not sure why this is considered a good thing. But, yes, I am sending him to a trainer for 30 days to put the basics of a "handle" on him & so he learns to turn, stop. The trainer is a woman who is a race horse trainer, but also takes racehorses & "De-trains" them for pleasure, jumping etc. I'm not 15 years old anymore (sigh), & not made of rubber anymore, LOL ! |
Member: Equus |
Posted on Saturday, Nov 23, 2002 - 7:24 pm: I think the "driving" that you are talking about is more often referred to as "long lines". It is used to teach a horse a new movement or to train without the added stress and balance issues of a rider. It's often done in the beginning of a horse's training to put the basics on the horse too young to deal with a rider. Also useful for an older horse (most often with Dressage)to teach a more complicated movement w/o rider. In addition to making it easier for the horse, the trainer can see that the feet are doing the proper movement.......not easily done mounted! LOL |
Member: Penner |
Posted on Sunday, Nov 24, 2002 - 4:15 pm: Yes, Heather, thats what I was referring to.Anyone know of any good books/videos on this topic? I now see that this is something that will always be important. Even tho I ride Western, I still believe even basic (1st level) dressage will teach a horse to be oh so much more balanced & use his body. I also have (the real) cavelleti that can change height so I'm going to be doing that too, eventually on a longe line. |