Driving horse ground training youngster

Glendale (almost-2 yr. old arabian/percheron) in his 8th ground driving session. Practices trotting, whoa and walk to my voice, whip cues and body language. Glen wears cavesson & surcingle; 14-foot driving reins are attached to side rings of his cavesson (no bit.) Here I use a dressage whip because it is a bit longer than the short crop; as I move further from the horse I will use a longer whip, to be able to touch him with it if necessary.

Step-by-step driving training of this young horse from start to hitch at http://portraitswithhorses.com/blog/?p=706

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Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• horse driving
• driving horses
• arabian
• percheron
• horses
• coaching
• New Hampshire
• horse cart
• pair driving
• pleasure driving
• carriage pair
• Gilford
• Glendale

[syrynus876]

I like too that there's no bit. I started my little VSE mare by teaching her to lunge first, so she'd know what Walk, Trot and Whoa meant, then ground drove her in a halter, and then added bridle and bit, so she never got banged by the bit just because she was totally clueless as to what I wanted. I never wanted her to think of the bit as an "Ouch!" device.

[horsepaintings]

@syrynus876 Terrific thinking! It always amazes me how tractable youngsters can be with only halters-- treat them kindly and with patience, then they trust you and don't get afraid!

[syrynus876]

A whip is an aid, not a punishment. WhipCutHard. You sound like you favor giving a horse a hard cut with whip just to make it go faster....and that is abuse.

[horsepaintings]

@syrynus876 If you reply directly to "WhipCutHard"'s comment, your reply will be directed to them. I agree with you!

[ilovepuffin]

Very nicely done. You are doing things slowly and thoughtfully which makes for a happy educated horse. Well done, you and happy driving.

[horsepaintings]

Thanx-- this horse is now in his second season of driving, and he goes together with his brother as a pair! They have been wonderful together.

[kaisenji]

I wish ppl wouldn't assume all whip use is bad. Any tool used on a horse can be abused from the saddle to the very bit in their mouth or type of shoes. Good folks know how to use those tools w/o overuseage. Settle down.

[mestena27]

Also, if people have never driven horses they shouldn't be making comments about driving whips at all, IMO. I'll be using a lunge whip while behind my draft so if he doesn't move sideways(jigging) when I ask him to, I can press the length of the whip against his hind quarters (much like using the palm of my hand to ask him to move over) to encourage lateral movement...now, how would that be considered abusive? Hmmm?If I'm back behind him, I can't just lay my palm on his side, now can I?

[mestena27]

It's nice to see your videos up on here. I'm attempting to ground drive my 2 yr. old Percheron. I'm learning and so is he, so it's great to see training vids. from others. I'll be such a happy camper when we can ground drive everywhere expertly-not to mention it's good exercise for myself, as well :-) No cart. No experience in driving, either, so I'll defer to professionals whenever we get around to hooking onto something...but the gound driving is my personal mission for now.

[horsepaintings]

You don't see me doing anything more than wave the whip in the air or touch him a little on his rump. I am in a totally vulnerable position doing this work, if the horse objected to the whip he could let me have it with a good swift kick anytime he wanted. The whip is a tool and training aid, so are the reins, so is a bit, which he is not even wearing-- so is my voice. All can be used effectively or misused.