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Julie Masner
Member
Username: Juliem
Post Number: 113
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, Oct 8, 2006 - 11:56 pm: |   |
I recently acquired (don't ask!) a Shetland mare. I want to break her to harness as I really have no other use for a pony--except she sure is fun to work with! I'm hoping someone can point me to some good resources for training her to pull a cart and for educating me about driving. I haven't been able to find anyone locally except people who train miniature horses and they just sort of muscle them into it. She's had lots of that kind of "training" in her life and hopefully that's over now. Despite that she seems cooperative and smart, but definitely wary and a bit defensive. She's obviously been "eared" and has had her mouth injured so I'm taking things slow and hoping you all will come through with some ideas and resources for me! Thanks, Julie |
Erika L
Member
Username: Erika
Post Number: 482
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 8:49 am: | |
Hi Julie, If the pony is broke to ride, then driving will be a breeze.
I have broken a couple of horses to drive--including a twenty-five year old TWH!
I won't go into detail here, because there are some really good books you can get. Just one warning: if the pony had a bad experience with driving that you didn't know about, watch out! I have a horse that will just about die when the harness is even laid on her because of a scary time while she was learning.
Spend a lot of time long reining in harness, and dragging stuff around, before you hook up to a cart. When the pony is bored, then go on to hook up.
good luck. |
Holly Wood
Member
Username: Hwood
Post Number: 1491
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 9:53 am: | |
Congratulations, Julie . . . and to the Shetland, too. She will be thankful that you understand the difference between "muscling" and "teaching."
There are some definited differences between riding and driving, and Erika has brought up some good areas in which to be cautious.
Marilyn Childs if Chelsea, Vermont, did a lot of training of Morgans for driving. She wrote at least one book on the subject, (can't remember the title, but I'm pretty sure it has the words "train" and "drive" in the title) and I think you will find a lot of helpful, basic information and cautions in the book. |
KATHLEEN WHEAT
Member
Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 358
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 11:09 am: | |
Julie,
Like Erika and Holly said, there are many books out there with step by step training advice. When I started my now 20 yr old Arab mare (17 years ago), I used 'Breaking & Training the Driving Horse" by Doris Ganton. I know it a very old book, but I knew absolutely nothing about driving and had no problem with Mona, just went very slowly at each step (the crouper can be loads of fun) Also don't skip any step and do heed the warning to have more than one person there for certain stages. I think it will also depends on how the pony takes to driving. Mona would rather be driven than ridden. And she was the one that at age 3-4, people were telling me to get rid of her because she was dangerous!!!
Good Luck
Kathleen |
Erika L
Member
Username: Erika
Post Number: 486
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 11:19 am: | |
Kathleen, thanks for jogging my memory. That is the book I found most helpfull, too. Just couldn't remember the name of it.
Yes, it looks a little old-fashioned, but good solid advice, and enough pictures to clarify things.
Kathleen is also correct that a second person is invaluable at certain points. |
Julie Masner
Member
Username: Juliem
Post Number: 114
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 4:10 pm: | |
Thanks ladies! I'll go online and find the book right now. I have driven her in long reins and she's overcome the idea that she should turn back to me and is actually going along quite well. I grab things (like my hay cart) and pull them along behind me, but haven't hitched her to anything yet for fear of the inevitable wreck! I can't imagine how much damage could occur to a bolting horse with something scary attached and chasing them! So far I haven't used the blinkers. Is that necessary always? She's pretty quiet by nature, but she will be hauling my nieces, nephews and grandaughter so she must be SAFE! Unfortunately, I think she has had a bad experience with the cart already, and that along with no real training is why I want to start with the basics. Thanks again and keep any tips coming! Julie |
