Driving Education

[Deefa]

Well, i havea welsh section A who when he is older will hopefully make a little driving pony. He will be 2yrs old on the 22nd April

I wondered when you normally start there education, its it about the same age as riding would be? Also the stages?

This is him!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/deefa/Monty/IMAG1365.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/deefa/Monty/IMAG1099.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/deefa/Monty/IMAG1301.jpg

[Wally]

Dear little fellow!

His education will start from now on. But nothing more than 10 minutes at a time.

Little things like standing quietly in hand, and tied up. Obedience to your commands on the ground.

Just being happy with you handling every part of his body. Being taken for walks wearing harness. Teaching him to lunge when he's 3. I don't like lungeing and long reining for 2 year olds. They havn't the brain or the physical developement for working hard on a circle and concentrating. Just my ways. Others have different ways.

I find that just by handling our babies, and getting them used to being around us is 99% of the job done. Generally when we start serious harness work the job is finished in a matter of very few weeks to get them in the cart pulling with confidence. If they trust you in every other area, they will trust you when it come s ot doing scary stuff.

Good luck with him.

[Denbenj]

what a lovely chap!!

Agreed to start his education now.. just the basics of handling etc etc... offer him lots to experience.

I used take my 2yo old for a walk to get her used to traffic! just up the grass verge round her paddock when she was younger to get her used to traffic passing her...She ended up a very bombproof mare.. not even flinching at a tractor passing her

She was bitted and used to wearing tack from a young age..ie blinkers aswell and also just to have the feel of it on.. not ' using it' as such

Basically started long reining her at 3..I prefer it to lunging with a younger horse,( but *personally* wouldnt really under 3) I feel you can introduce steering and control alot better anyway then progressing to introducing pulling a small log round to allow them to feel a weight pulling.

For now I would be Making noises!!...set up desensitising courses to lead/long rein round later.. plastic bags flapping.. the works!

Like wally says the jobs as good as done when the trap is introduced.. Dont rush things... take it slowly.. and you will have a cracking driving pony!

Good luck and dont forget the piccie updates!!

I hope ( when I find one!) to introduce the trap to Kai this summer!! watch this space!!

[Deefa]

Thanks for your help you two :D
Will def keep you updated. Where will i be able to find a cheapish harness to fit him from?

[Wally]

Cheapish isn't necesarily worth the money. Start saving now, and get a set of decent Zilco, or Plas Equestrian or similar. This will last for ages.

I borrowed Esther.D's Plas Equestrian pairs harness. Even after her little miscalculation with a rock the size of a house on Hadrian's wall. it only needed the traces repairing. I think she said it was a good 10 years old and been used a great deal in trials, so it's had a hard life. But its still going strong, looks reasonably smart and is safe.

The trouble with a lot of cheap Indian and foreign harness is the buckles are sharp and badly made and the proportions are all wrong. You have a collar the horse could jump through and a set of breeching that is too tight. being able to get the correct balance between cart and harness is crucial to the comfort of the horse and making his job as easy as possible.

[Denbenj]

If you wanted something to play with him with you can pick up a bargin on ebay.. even maybe a 2nd hand zilco. I personally like the empathy brollars which have a dip round the windpipe ensuring a really nice and comfortable fit.

[Deefa]

Just had a look at ebay, there are two types, ones with a collar and one which goes acros the chest, which are better?

[Wally]

Don't touch a cheap full collar with a barge pole!

You'd be better off with breast collar harness to start with and for exercise.