Ground Driving Resources

[Roanchar]

I would like to be able to teach Charlie to ground drive and would like to know if anyone has any resources. Any help would be appreciated.

[WashingtonBay]

Hi - Welcome! :)

Don't have any resource to recommend, but I've done a fair bit of this, is this a broke horse or a new one you're starting? Saddled yet?

[Roanchar]

Charlie has not been started under saddle yet, but I have done a lot of ground work with him. He still needs some work with giving to pressure.

[WashingtonBay]

OK - I ask because it's sometimes easier if they have been cinched, to use a saddle or a surcingle to run the long lines through to help keep them on the right side of the horse. But it's not absolutely necessary. I assume the horse lunges? That might be the best place to start, if not... not a lot for a young horse, but enough to understand at least 'go forward' and 'woah' and giving to pressure enough to maintain contact around a circle and turn in when asked.

[Roanchar]

I have used a surcingle with Charlie and he does know how to lunge. He does give to pressure, but still needs work on it. He responds when I say "walk" and "woah". What do I need to do to get started?

[WashingtonBay]

What do I need to do to get started? I've been uploading some pictures :D

I would probably start with a long line or two and a halter. The first thing is to get them familiar and comfortable with the rope touching them all over, around the butt, on their body, and touching and even wrapped around their legs. Because I guarantee you it will happen! In teaching green horses to drive, they get flustered and turned around, they get tangled, and you want to help them learn to stop, keep their cool, just stand there, you'll fix it.

My hubby demonstrating this part of the training: :)

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=106&pictureid=698

This is an important skill for them to learn for their whole career... how to handle things that are new, frustrating, scary, or confusing without losing their cool and losing their temper. Always go to them and settle them, teach them it is never wrong to react to things safely.

But back to where you should start. Familiarity with you standing behind them and giving them directions... flexing and giving to each side...

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=106&pictureid=682

Even this position (below) is good if it's not a big horse... This was in an early session with my pony and much of the goal was familiarizing her to all those coils of line touching her, and to me and my pressures being in a new place for her.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=106&pictureid=697

Moving behind her...

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=106&pictureid=696

Same thing different day, working quite close to her. There is some risk of being this close, of course, read your horse, and don't be here with a kicker. In my experience, kicking is not all that common, it's much more common for them to want to turn around to face you, but it can of course happen.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=106&pictureid=687

Walking her over some ground poles to add a little complexity and a challenge...

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=106&pictureid=688

So that's where I'd start. Simple tools, simple goals. When mastered, you can take longlining as far as you want to, later using a bit and surcingle...

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=106&pictureid=683

And working them from the center very much like you would lunge, but with more precision, and with rein aids that will more closely mimic your aids from the saddle.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=106&pictureid=686

[Roanchar]

WB:

Thank you so much. You gave me a great place to start. Charlie is a big boy and I hope one day to be able to have him pull a carriage or a plow. I'll let you know how things go.

[WashingtonBay]

Do check beck and let us know how it goes... even with pics if you can swing them! :)

[WP~Paint]

I am thinking of doing this with my gelding also. How long of lines do you use. I do not want to have a lot to hold on to.

[WashingtonBay]

I use my long soft lunge lines, but you could use shorter. Sometimes the long lines do get in the way.

[WP~Paint]

Ok, Thanks...I was looking at getting some stuff for Christmas maybe...maybe earlier if i really want it!