Teaching my miniature horse to drive, step by step

[quarterhorses123]

How long did it take you to teach him? I am in the process of training my 18 year old quarter horse how to drive. What commands do you use?

[GladRags]

THIS IS ANIMAL CRUELTY SET THE HORSES FREE

[IUseThisSite]

@GladRags Noob.

[Skylarkien]

Gunner is such an amazing name for a miniature stallion.

[rockyhill2]

Thanks for the encouragement. Glad you enjoyed to video. Yes, I agree with you on the overcheck. Once Gunner got used to the bridle and quit trying to get his tongue over the bit I removed it completely. Don't need it, especially for pleasure driving. I believe if you have quiet hands the horse will develop a quiet mouth. Have a wonderful adventure with your little guy.

[Spyderwind]

I took a peek at this video because I have a 33.5" silver buckskin miniature gelding and was pleasantly surprised at what I saw. Sane, quiet training, with the proper equipment, well-adjusted, and the horse happy and allowed to stretch forward and down. Yay! He'd make an excellent combined driving prospect with that sport horse conformation and nice length of stride. Just toss the overcheck! You aren't using it anyway, thankfully.

[rockyhill2]

I was able to acquire Gunner because he grew to big to show AMHA but, he is a wonderful size for driving. He is 37 inches tall. I acquired him from a breeder in Sebastopol CA, "Willowist Miniature Horses." He comes from great stock. His brother took reserve world champion at the AMHA World Champion Show in Texas this past summer. But, Gunner is a winner too. He has won my heart with his incredible charm and lovable personality.

[pickupcorn]

P.S.S. Nice length of rein!!! (long neck).

[pickupcorn]

P.S.S. Who bred him? What state are they in?

[pickupcorn]

BTW, How many inches tall is Gunner? I'm just curious. I like the little horse category as much if not more then miniature! He looks like a great size for driving. :o)

[XxMagicMezziexX]

thank you! So much help! x

[Paintedspheres]

Munchkin still has his harness so I am going to do as you did and just start with parts of it until he is comfortable before moving on to the next piece. Can you recomend any good driving books for beginning driving? I have had horse for years so I know horses but nothing really about driving. Thanks again!

[rockyhill2]

@Paintedspheres A good book to start with is "Breaking and Training the Driving Horse" by Doris Ganton. It's been around a while and a lot of people have found it very useful. Hope this helps.

[Midnightmoon85]

@rockyhill2 were can I buy that book?

[rockyhill2]

@Midnightmoon85  I think you can find it on Amazon or Ebay.

[Midnightmoon85]

@rockyhill2 Thank you I Have a look there:D

[Paintedspheres]

Thanks you so much for this. I have had a small welsh cross for about a year. We have become close and I think he trusts me now. He use to pull a cart before I got him but someone hooked up the cart wrong and drove down a hill, it was not good! Munchkin was not hurt but is scared now so he will take time. I was not sure how to even start to try to help him over his fear but this really helps. He may be ruinned but I think we can get him back and then he can have a job! He needs a job :)

[rockyhill2]

@Paintedspheres So glad you found my video helpful. Sorry to hear Munchkin had a rough start. My little guy was nervous and skittish when I first got him as well. If I were you I would start at the very beginning, go step by step, and take as much time as he needs. With time and patience I'm sure the two of you will make a great team. Keep me posted. Thanks.

[WhiteStallionProduc]

This is very very useful! Thank you so much for putting this up. I'm getting a sulky next month and the harness but I wasn't quite sure how to start training my Shetland pony to get used it. I haven't lunged him very much due to an annoying farmer (who owns the place) but I will start this right away. He's a smart bum and I have no doubt he'll be good. Thanks again for this video, it's of great use to me! Also, what a gorgeous pony you have! He's a stunner gunner. (see what I did there?) Haha

[rockyhill2]

@WhiteStallionProduc I'm so pleased you found my video helpful. That was my intent. Have fun with your Shetland. Be safe and have a great adventure together.

[maacrapu]

you're good! And your miniature horse too! (;

[minibling2071]

Love your silver buckskin. I have a silver bucky dun colt, and love him to bits, Great video. Good to see steps being made unlike some who wack them in to a cart.

[ilovecub1]

can this be used if you train 2 minis separately and then make them a team? or do you have to do additional training to be a team?

[LoveMyPazaaz123]

Will this technique work for a bigger horse too? (Arabian)

[rockyhill2]

@LoveMyPazaaz123

Yes, but as always it depends on the horse. Some are too reactive or skittish. When introducing the cart you should use an assistant. Have fun and most of all be safe.

[ObsidianDeathStone]

Thank you so much! This video was simple and informative. I have a Friesian/Percheron cross that I've really wanted to start driving, because he would be wonderful, of course, he's made for it! :D Anyway, thanks again.

[rockyhill2]

Thank you. Gunner is a miniature horse, class B. He grew one inch too tall at 35". His daddy is a class A champion, but I love Gunner just for who he is -- a sweet, beautiful boy. He has a full brother for sale in Sebastopol CA. The owner has the most beautiful minis. Plus, you can't beat their dispositions.

[pickupcorn]

P.S.S. Gunner is a beautiful horse type... nothing pony about him at all! :o)

[pickupcorn]

Can you get this onto a DVD for me? I'd pay for a copy of the complete series of videos. Also, is Gunner a mini or small horse (how many inches is he)? I love both miniature and small horse and I also love Buckskins so I think Gunner is beautiful! I am just curious that's all as he looks like me might be small horse to me in the video.

[rssgnl27]

Great video!

[rockyhill2]

You are very welcome. How long it takes to get through these steps depends on the horse. I spent time doing groundwork with Gunner and gaining his confidence beforehand. Once I gained his trust the rest went fairly quickly and he would pretty much do anything I asked, and I didn't rush him. So what you see in the video took Gunner about two weeks with days off. We have a bond and Gunner likes to please so he really seemed to enjoy it. I never pushed to where he was frightened. Thanks.

[kerrieo2001]

thanks so much for posting this video. how long did it take to get from the beginning to the horse pulling the cart with passengers?

[horsesLcool]

Awesome! Thank you very very very much for posting this! Right now I'm teaching my Walker how to drive. And I will gladly use these to help me through, actually hes doing very well. :)

[rockyhill2]

@horsesLcool So glad to be of help. Have a wonderful journey with your Walker.

[rodeoqueen77]

ok 

[pickupcorn]

Just watched this again. Honestly this is *THE BEST* VIDEO I've seen so far on training a mini horse to harness and that includes some of the so called "Professional" ones I've seen! :o)

[rockyhill2]

@pickupcorn I am SO glad you found my video helpful. That was my intent.

[rodeoqueen77]

how long did it take to do all that?

[rockyhill2]

@rodeoqueen77 Gunner's training in this video took about two weeks But, each horse is different depending on their temperament. The main thing is to first gain their trust before you begin. That can take some time. Then work with them at their pace and know when they've had enough for one day.

[Equestrian08]

I'd also like to add that I think what you did with him is awsome. Calm and patient training, no force at all. I really enjoyed this and it inspired my in my ambitions to become the best horse trainer I can be someday. I hope to be able to train horses for riding basics, jumping, and dressage and help "problem" horses naturally when I someday have my own stable. Your video is one of many that has inspired me in my goals!! Keep up the great work with this guy and all others you work with.

[rockyhill2]

@Equestrian08 Thank you for your kind words. I made this video hoping it might be a help to others. Gunner is actually not a pony but a miniature horse. They tend to have a very sweet disposition. He is just a joy to work with. Check out some of my other videos to see his latest adventures. Thanks again for your encouragement.

[Equestrian08]

This is so neat! I hope to learn to drive someday and I want to have a pony to drive around just for pleasure and maybe do some driving classes at small shows. Your pony is very handsome!

[TheFlyingArabianPony]

A good calm, respectful horse is always the best pupil!

[MsBarnBum]

Great video!

[hixies5]

i want your pony!

[rockyhill2]

Yes, I feel very blessed to have such a handsome and willing little guy. Every day he makes me smile.

[pickupcorn]

I love his colour and he is a beautiful horse type. He looks very quiet as well. You've really lucked out there!

[Airmony]

Really like your video, we are training our welsh ponies to ride and drive, although they aren't quite past the first step yet. You must be a proud mommy. Gunner is a good boy!

[tinytinytiny]

Good job! Gunner is a good little horse and seems to have taken to it real easy.