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TchYrMrgnHseToDrive 10/25/10 11:20 AM Page 3 organTEACHING YOUR M Horse TO DRIVE TchYrMrgnHseToDrive 10/25/10 11:20 AM Page 4 or modify the equipment you already have. TABLE OF CONTENTS: Equipment failure can put you in harm’s way 2 . Introduction without warning and in an instant can ruin 3 . Your Horse your horse for driving. 4 . Your Equipment Training your horse to safely pull a vehi- cle rarely can be done single-handedly. 8 . Ground Work Professional trainers have qualified assis- 10 . Lungeing tants to help them.This does not mean the 11 . Ground Driving amateur horseman cannot start his or her 14 . Pulling a Drag own driving horse, but safety for your horse, yourself, and your assistants always 15 . Hooking Your Horse must be the prime consideration.There will 17 . Driving be steps along the way that will require you 18 . Finishing to have assistance from at least one other person, sometimes two. These people Yes, you can start your driving horse at should be familiar with handling horses, and home. It makes little difference whether preferably, with the process. your horse will ultimately be a park horse, You should seriously consider paying for carriage horse, pleasure show horse, or a professional help at some of these critical horse for you to simply enjoy driving at junctures if you have the slightest hesitation home. The basic approach is the same or concern about how to proceed. It does regardless of the discipline.There are a few take a certain temperament to train horses caveats for starting your own horse, how- well. People who are calm, deliberate, and ever. attentive usually are more successful than One careless mistake can forever affect those who are excited, unfocused, etc. your horse’s attitude about learning and his Some people lack the patience and confi- ability to learn well. While training your dence necessary to train horses well. Some horse should be a fun and rewarding are simply scared. Carefully assess whether process, you must be willing to take the you have the qualities necessary to increase educational process seriously to be fair to the chances of a good outcome. your horse. He did not ask you to train Preparing horses for driving must be him. Heike Bean, in her valuable book, done in a safe environment. If your quarters Carriage Driving, put it this way: are cramped, cluttered, full of noise and “What does it feel like to be this animal other distractions, your outcome will prob- of flight, who must submit to being ably suffer. strapped to a carriage and controlled Perhaps the best method of starting your through a piece of metal in his mouth, doing driving horse at home is to work with a things and going places he would never professional trainer. This may sound odd dream of doing on his own?” considering the topic at hand, but a profes- Obviously, the handling a young horse sional can be invaluable at guiding you receives from birth can play a significant through the steps involved. It is not advis- role in how well the learning process is able to start your driving horse by yourself accepted in the future. if you have never driven.Take some lessons Professional trainers have facilities and to gain an understanding of what is involved. equipment specifically designed for the pur- There is a lot of involved preparation pose of training horses which minimizes required to produce a result which, when the risks involved.That does not mean you finished, looks fairly simple and straightfor- will need specialized equipment to train ward. Locate a trainer who will bring you your horse at home. Training equipment along through the training process before need not be expensive, but it must be well you try it on your own.Attending appropri- made, of proper fit and design, and in good ate clinics given by professional trainers is condition. There may even be ways to use another excellent way to learn how to edu- ~ 2 ~ TchYrMrgnHseToDrive 10/25/10 11:20 AM Page 5 cate your horse. The American Morgan assessment of the level of training and his Horse Association maintains a Professional anxiety level. Committee that provides a list of clinicians Size will not be much of a factor until the across the country.Books and articles, while time comes to more precisely determine quite helpful, pale in comparison to real life your horse’s job. There are some jobs experiences.This article is only meant to be where size does matter. Pulling larger vehi- a guide. It is by no means a definitive manu- cles, for instance, is easier for large horses al on the subject. or pairs. One of the best-kept secrets in the driving world is the use of smaller Morgans YOUR HORSE (14.2 hands and under) in the pony divi- Age will be a factor. Most Morgans are not sions of carriage driving competitions, both trained to drive before they are at least two Combined Driving Events and Pleasure years old. Some preparatory work is usual- Competitions. The driving heritage of the ly done before they reach two and some Morgan breed serves them quite well in are even hooked earlier, but serious driving competition against the pony breeds. Size mileage should not be asked of a Morgan also may matter if your equipment does not under two or even three years old.You can match your horse well. Some vehicles sim- accomplish many elementary lessons with ply may be too heavy for younger, unfit, or your horse when he is very young. smaller horses. Weanlings can be taught to lead. Many six month olds can start to learn basic verbal commands on a leadline. During the early grooming lessons, your horse can have his tail handled in preparation for a crupper. On the other hand, much damage can be done by doing strenuous exercises too early or too often. Great care is necessary with these young horses because not only are you introducing physical stresses on young, developing bodies, you also are The harness is set up to accustom the horse introducing them to issues of trust for the to wearing a harness. Note the connection very first time. from the breastplate to the breeching, using a Making the transition from turning a straight side rein. This set up would be used schooled riding horse into a driving horse while leading, lungeing, or ground driving your is generally easier and quicker than starting horse. from scratch with a youngster. A trained riding horse has some understanding of the Mentality, maturity, and mental aptitude training process; that is, he knows the dif- play a part in how you proceed with your ference between the classroom and recess. horse. Horses, like people, learn at different One caveat: Be extremely mindful of the rates and sometimes in different ways. If fact that you may not fully know what your horse’s mind is immature, the lessons mishaps might have occurred in the early may have to be quite brief. This enables years of older horses.They may be perfect- your horse to stay focused. Longer lessons ly wonderful riding horses, but could have may be counterproductive. If your horse is had poor experiences with driving. These high strung, the process may take great tact horses can be dangerous for even a profes- to accomplish and may in fact be better left sional trainer and they always are danger- for someone with more experience. ous for the unprepared. Sometimes high-strung horses are not so Never hook any horse to a vehicle unless much the product of genetics as environ- you are certain he has a good history as a ment. A change in your horse’s feed or driving horse. If you are unsure, start with a turnout time may make a huge difference in review of the basics in order to make an his energy and anxiety levels and thus his ~ 3 ~ TchYrMrgnHseToDrive 10/25/10 11:20 AM Page 6 trainability.There is plenty of time to con- the varied terrain found on longer cross- centrate and focus your horse’s physical country drives. For use outside the show energy after he is trained. For starting your ring, the harness saddle should be a mini- horse in harness, however, you need as mum of three inches wide. It is imperative much mental cooperation as your horse that there be no pressure from the saddle can give you. Anything that takes away from directly on the top of the horse’s spine. that should be examined and changed if Most saddles have a tree and care should possible.Are there Morgans who just don’t be taken to make sure the tree does not have the aptitude to be driving horses? interfere with the spine or cause undue Probably, but in our breed it has been my pressure on the muscle groups behind the experience these horses are few and far withers.This pressure is a common fault of between and almost always poor previous many Amish-made harnesses coming right handling has been the real cause for this from the manufacturer and usually can be shortcoming. remedied by taking the saddle apart and reforming the tree.The stuffing or padding YOUR EQUIPMENT of the saddle should be wide.Too often this The harness used to start your driving padding is narrow and hard, causing dis- horse does not need to be a special train- comfort or pain. Supplemental padding can ing harness, although there are some fea- be useful as long as it is well fitted and well tures with specialized equipment that can constructed.

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