Hi Barry and Mel. I Love our videos and have been watching them for a year now. I have learned a lot about driving and horsemanship in general. I only wish there was a video documenting a green horse from start to finish. Even if the steps don't work the same for every horse, I'd like to know where to start. As a college student studying Equine Science, I aim to learn as much as I can from everyone. Thanks for making these videos!
@Lugimoo Thanks for your comment; you ask where to start a horse, however just as the steps may not work the same for every horse, so the starting point may be different. Some horses come to us wild and untouched, some have already had metal bits in their mouths, some have behavioural problems such as fear of clippers or not liking their ears being touched. In some cases the start may not have much to do with breaking them to harness, eg being clipped first, or letting us touch their ears!
@barryhook2 in our opinion there is too much focus on “an A-Z method” or “steps” to breaking a horse. We feel you should be flexible and adjust the training to suit the individual horse, rather than stick to a rigid structure and then end up confused or in trouble if your horse doesn’t seem to be following it - after all, the horse doesn’t read the manual!
The books we've read on breaking don’t tell you what to do when it goes wrong, meaning the horse suffers because of the ignorance of man. Lots of horses have been broken following methods written in books and are perfectly good driving animals, but many won’t do what young horses that we train do (work calmly in heavy traffic, go through ribbons and water). Bearing this in mind, ask yourself if the majority of driving horses, trained by the book, are as well-trained as people think they are?
This is where experience helps; we have a wide range of knowledge+different ways of solving an issue to find the best way for a particular horse e.g today we took a team on the road for some final education;1 horse had taken a slight step back. We went 200yds but how the horse reacted at that exact moment meant we had to change our plan. Instead we spent 2 hours in the school. Sticking to “the plan” would've set them back further but we did something different so the whole team went better.
If you want to learn as much as you can from everyone, don’t just read published books on the subject; don’t tie yourself down to the "right or wrong way” of doing something. It would be an advantage to horses if they were treated as individuals instead of subjected to the same procedures and labelled as bad horses if they don’t respond in the “expected” manner to the standard published procedures. We are here to help in any way we can so please feel free to email if you have further questions.
How wonderful that I found these vids.You have such patience and compassion and I enjoy watching and learning. I have a Tennessee Walker that would be gorgeous pulling a carriage. He did pull a small cart on ocassion with his previous owner but I have never tried this. Also, they do not allow horses on main roads here in Florida so I am limited. How lucky that people are more easy going in your country when it comes to sharing the road!
Good grief! You are an inspiration. Now that is trust from a horse. If I can get a fraction of that trust from my little filly, I'll be a happy gal. Brilliant.
@barbhorses We have ours made specially by the manufacturer so we know that the rubber is correct (sometimes bits advertised as being rubber are the hard vulcanised ones). Ours are flexible so you can tie them in a knot. We have to have a range of sizes made for everything from shetlands to shires, which aren't always sold in tack shops.
i have 3 mini shetlands and i wish to put them in to a cart and wish to ask you how do i start the progress, they are 1 1/2 and just walking them out to get them used to the roads and things like that,
@meganew20111 Thanks for your comment - we believe that every horse is an individual and any training must be tailored to his specific requirements. How we begin one horse's training might be entirely different to how we begin another, because what works best for one horse may be unsuitable for another. If you want to discuss your ponies in more detail you are welcome to give us a call and we will do our best to help.
Happy to see another great example of your training and philosophy. I need to get back to our schedule when summer nears. So wish I could hop across the pond and spend a month learning from you and Mel
I love watching Barry training horses's but how come this stallion's has such overgrown hooves? sorry if I am wrong but that is what it seems like to me. I also realize Barry can't do anything about the condition of some of the horses that come to him.
@larasa007 Thanks for your comment - some people believe it helps their action to let the hooves grow, then shoe them. Joe came to us already shod - when he required another set a few days before he went home, he was shod by Barry's farrier, Mr Joe Rowe, and was then shod in what Barry believes is the correct manner.
that is awsome getting him to move basically blindfolded it shows a lota trust in the driver/human guiding him. Excellent work with him. leading a blind folded is great training an exercise, after all you never know if you may have a stable fire or something where a horse refuses to go threw an you have to blind fold them.
Hi Barry and Mel. I Love our videos and have been watching them for a year now. I have learned a lot about driving and horsemanship in general. I only wish there was a video documenting a green horse from start to finish. Even if the steps don't work the same for every horse, I'd like to know where to start. As a college student studying Equine Science, I aim to learn as much as I can from everyone. Thanks for making these videos!
Lugimoo 1 week ago
@Lugimoo Thanks for your comment; you ask where to start a horse, however just as the steps may not work the same for every horse, so the starting point may be different. Some horses come to us wild and untouched, some have already had metal bits in their mouths, some have behavioural problems such as fear of clippers or not liking their ears being touched. In some cases the start may not have much to do with breaking them to harness, eg being clipped first, or letting us touch their ears!
barryhook2 1 week ago
@barryhook2 in our opinion there is too much focus on “an A-Z method” or “steps” to breaking a horse. We feel you should be flexible and adjust the training to suit the individual horse, rather than stick to a rigid structure and then end up confused or in trouble if your horse doesn’t seem to be following it - after all, the horse doesn’t read the manual!
barryhook2 1 week ago
The books we've read on breaking don’t tell you what to do when it goes wrong, meaning the horse suffers because of the ignorance of man. Lots of horses have been broken following methods written in books and are perfectly good driving animals, but many won’t do what young horses that we train do (work calmly in heavy traffic, go through ribbons and water). Bearing this in mind, ask yourself if the majority of driving horses, trained by the book, are as well-trained as people think they are?
barryhook2 1 week ago
This is where experience helps; we have a wide range of knowledge+different ways of solving an issue to find the best way for a particular horse e.g today we took a team on the road for some final education;1 horse had taken a slight step back. We went 200yds but how the horse reacted at that exact moment meant we had to change our plan. Instead we spent 2 hours in the school. Sticking to “the plan” would've set them back further but we did something different so the whole team went better.
barryhook2 1 week ago
If you want to learn as much as you can from everyone, don’t just read published books on the subject; don’t tie yourself down to the "right or wrong way” of doing something. It would be an advantage to horses if they were treated as individuals instead of subjected to the same procedures and labelled as bad horses if they don’t respond in the “expected” manner to the standard published procedures. We are here to help in any way we can so please feel free to email if you have further questions.
barryhook2 1 week ago
How wonderful that I found these vids.You have such patience and compassion and I enjoy watching and learning. I have a Tennessee Walker that would be gorgeous pulling a carriage. He did pull a small cart on ocassion with his previous owner but I have never tried this. Also, they do not allow horses on main roads here in Florida so I am limited. How lucky that people are more easy going in your country when it comes to sharing the road!
starvox67 2 months ago
Good grief! You are an inspiration. Now that is trust from a horse. If I can get a fraction of that trust from my little filly, I'll be a happy gal. Brilliant.
bshwebb 3 months ago in playlist More videos from barryhook2
Where do you get your rubber bits?
barbhorses 4 months ago
@barbhorses We have ours made specially by the manufacturer so we know that the rubber is correct (sometimes bits advertised as being rubber are the hard vulcanised ones). Ours are flexible so you can tie them in a knot. We have to have a range of sizes made for everything from shetlands to shires, which aren't always sold in tack shops.
barryhook2 4 months ago
i have 3 mini shetlands and i wish to put them in to a cart and wish to ask you how do i start the progress, they are 1 1/2 and just walking them out to get them used to the roads and things like that,
meganew20111 7 months ago
@meganew20111 Thanks for your comment - we believe that every horse is an individual and any training must be tailored to his specific requirements. How we begin one horse's training might be entirely different to how we begin another, because what works best for one horse may be unsuitable for another. If you want to discuss your ponies in more detail you are welcome to give us a call and we will do our best to help.
barryhook2 7 months ago
Happy to see another great example of your training and philosophy. I need to get back to our schedule when summer nears. So wish I could hop across the pond and spend a month learning from you and Mel
operaluvr 10 months ago
I love watching Barry training horses's but how come this stallion's has such overgrown hooves? sorry if I am wrong but that is what it seems like to me. I also realize Barry can't do anything about the condition of some of the horses that come to him.
larasa007 11 months ago 2
@larasa007 Thanks for your comment - some people believe it helps their action to let the hooves grow, then shoe them. Joe came to us already shod - when he required another set a few days before he went home, he was shod by Barry's farrier, Mr Joe Rowe, and was then shod in what Barry believes is the correct manner.
barryhook2 11 months ago
You people are such an inspiration. Keep on doing your great job!
SirWillgott 11 months ago
that is awsome getting him to move basically blindfolded it shows a lota trust in the driver/human guiding him. Excellent work with him. leading a blind folded is great training an exercise, after all you never know if you may have a stable fire or something where a horse refuses to go threw an you have to blind fold them.
ladybloodrose 11 months ago 2
Great video again.
And I would hand you over my horse or pony for training without a moments doubt.
hackneysaregreat 11 months ago