Re: [IceHorses] Driving questions
Kathleen Douglas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: That said, I don't think NH is about the equipment we use, to me it's a way of thinking about the horse - human relationship. This summer I will start ground driving our 2 year old Iceys, and if all goes well will start them in harness at 3. Dancer, in particular, needs a job to do. (Pray for us all!) p.s. best single bit of safety advice I have gotten -- strap a good sharp knife, in a sheath -- of course, to your cart and leave it there. If something happens and you need to free the horse from the lines you will need a knife NOW. Hi Kat, If you ever need a cart we sell easy entry carts and a jog. We also sell harness too. Anne
Re: [IceHorses] Driving questions
On Apr 4, 2008, at 11:48 AM, Karen Thomas wrote: I'm thinking about driving again - so far that's as far as we've ever gotten, but maybe SOMEDAY... Karen Thomas, NC LOl -- great minds! I am learning to drive, starting with my 14 year old SSH, Ruby. We have been ground driving this winter using a surcingle and have now moved up to driving in full harness. Next week we start will attempt dragging a tire! It is so different from riding, you loose the body-to-body contact that communicates so much between horse and rider. Though I have been told by an excellent horsewoman that we will develop an improved line of communication thru the bit/reins/hands which will transfer back to riding. Still waiting on that . . . . I took the side check off my harness and don't use any other tie downs, martingales, etc. So far we have just been using a regular headstall, though my trainer had Ruby in blinders, and she accepted them with no fuss. The headstall that came with my harness has removable blinders and just a simple noseband. I, too, am apprehensive about the use of blinders, but am trying to keep an open mind and see what suits Ruby best. That said, I don't think NH is about the equipment we use, to me it's a way of thinking about the horse - human relationship. This summer I will start ground driving our 2 year old Iceys, and if all goes well will start them in harness at 3. Dancer, in particular, needs a job to do. (Pray for us all!) Kat p.s. best single bit of safety advice I have gotten -- strap a good sharp knife, in a sheath -- of course, to your cart and leave it there. If something happens and you need to free the horse from the lines you will need a knife NOW.
Re: [IceHorses] Driving questions
> Sure, I'll send pictures...but it might be more humiliating for us than > educational for the list! When I wanted to learn to harness and drive a horse, I bought several books, but one of the best and most descriptive came from the 4-H program. I think someone already wrote this, but not every horse takes to driving. I have two friends, very experienced older horsewome, who were badly hurt when their Fjord mare bolted during a clinic. The horse was well trained to both saddle and harness, but she was frightened by something. Nancy
Re: [IceHorses] Driving questions
>> Maybe the Bowers: http://www.bowersfarm.com/ Do you know them? Maybe I should get one of their videos...? >> Will you get videos and pictures? I think watching the progress on this >> project will be very educational! Sure, I'll send pictures...but it might be more humiliating for us than educational for the list! Karen Thomas, NC
Fw: [IceHorses] Driving questions
I've never used blinkers when driving the Icelandics, and have always driven them in their normal riding bridle set-up, whatever that happened to be. > > Thanks, Mic, and that confirms what my instincts tell me. > > > Karen Thomas, NC > >
Re: [IceHorses] Driving questions
>>> Does anyone have any good sources for driving in more > "natural" ways? Maybe the Bowers: http://www.bowersfarm.com/ > We'll start this very slowly, in the ring first. I'll start with a mature > horse (Saga, Trausti, Skjoni, Melnir or Sina most likely) who's quite used > to the trails, know how to ground drive, and who knows how to steer from > the > saddle and from the ground. Will you get videos and pictures? I think watching the progress on this project will be very educational! Judy http://iceryder.net http://clickryder.com
Re: [IceHorses] Driving questions
I very seldom used blinkers That's reassuring! >>> Just remember that even some of your most trustworthy horses under >>> saddle, don't take to driving. If the horse isn't comfortable with >>> t - don't press it That's ok. I have spares. ;) >>> probably don't want to use a martingale, I don't know that I've ever >>> seen one used in driving I just saw one while I was browsing. Again, thanks for the reassurances. :) Karen Thomas, NC
Re: [IceHorses] Driving questions
Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I'm thinking about driving again - so far that's as far as we've ever gotten, but maybe SOMEDAY... Anyway, I've been doing a little reading and I'm ready to start thinking about some details. Does anyone have any good sources for driving in more "natural" ways? Hi Karen, When I start any horse I start them without blinders. Anne
Re: [IceHorses] Driving questions
On Fri, 4 Apr 2008 14:48:30 -0400, you wrote: >My gut tells me that I don't want to use blinkers - I >believe that Christine and Robyn have said they've started driving horses >without them, and I won't be driving any horse that I don't trust fully. I've never used blinkers when driving the Icelandics, and have always driven them in their normal riding bridle set-up, whatever that happened to be. Mic Mic (Michelle) Rushen --- Solva Icelandic Horses and DeMeulenkamp Sweet Itch Rugs: www.solva-icelandics.co.uk --- "Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes"
Re: [IceHorses] Driving questions
Does anyone have any good sources for driving in more > "natural" ways? This looks like a good book http://www.amazon.com/Carriage-Driving-Updated-Classic-Approach/dp/0764572997/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207336637&sr=1-2 This is one of the old standbys used by many: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Training-Driving-Horse-Comprehensive/dp/0879802723/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b and another: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Horse-Harness-Step-Step/dp/0851318231/ref=pd_sim_b_img_2 -- Laree in NC Doppa & Mura Simon, Sadie and Sam (the "S" gang) "Yet when all the books have been read and reread, it boils down to the horse, his human companion, and what goes on between them." - William Farley
Re: [IceHorses] Driving questions
My gut tells me that I don't want to use blinkers - I > believe that Christine and Robyn have said they've started driving horses > without them, I very seldom used blinkers >and I won't be driving any horse that I don't trust fully. Just remember that even some of your most trustworthy horses under saddle, don't take to driving. If the horse isn't comfortable with it - don't press it > I'm also wary about using overchecks, definitely don't want to use an overcheck for any reason - they are usually against the rules at pleasure driving shows. probably don't want to use a > martingale, I don't know that I've ever seen one used in driving and I definitely don't want to use a dropped noseband. So, any > good sources? I would say you can take any good pleasure driving source and just adjust it a little to suit what you want. What you don't want to get into is famcy show driving like at the Morgan or Saddlebred shows. I haven't found pleasure driving to be a hard on the horse sport until you get into the upper levels of cross country and that only gets out of hand when people's competitve juices get flowing and they get too fast in the obstacles. I think where people get a negative idea of driving is in some of the driving classes at Morgan or Saddlebred shows where they want them all high headed and fancy. -- Laree in NC Doppa & Mura Simon, Sadie and Sam (the "S" gang) "Yet when all the books have been read and reread, it boils down to the horse, his human companion, and what goes on between them." - William Farley
[IceHorses] Driving questions
I'm thinking about driving again - so far that's as far as we've ever gotten, but maybe SOMEDAY... Anyway, I've been doing a little reading and I'm ready to start thinking about some details. Does anyone have any good sources for driving in more "natural" ways? My gut tells me that I don't want to use blinkers - I believe that Christine and Robyn have said they've started driving horses without them, and I won't be driving any horse that I don't trust fully. I'm also wary about using overchecks, probably don't want to use a martingale, and I definitely don't want to use a dropped noseband. So, any good sources? I know that Pat Parelli is starting to show some NH ground driving and ponying, but I don't think they have any materials on driving a cart. I don't want to abandon the tack that's TRULY necessary to be safe, but I sure don't want to use overly restrictive tack if there's no valid reason I have two harnesses, but I suspect I'll have to buy a few new parts to get the fit right. I don't give a fig about "tradition" - just the safety and comfort of the horse and humans. We'll start this very slowly, in the ring first. I'll start with a mature horse (Saga, Trausti, Skjoni, Melnir or Sina most likely) who's quite used to the trails, know how to ground drive, and who knows how to steer from the saddle and from the ground. Karen Thomas, NC
[IceHorses] Driving questions
I know I've read that horses are probably more innately suited for driving than for riding...so, my next question would be, how many of the same muscles are used for driving that are used for riding. My gut tells me the back is used pretty differently for driving, but maybe it still helps some? We normally ground drive our horses before we ride, but in the case of a horse who might be an alternate riding horse for Cary, would the horse get a lot of muscle benefit from an extended driving period, before we put her under saddle? Would it even be of benefit to drive her with a cart first? I normally think of ground driving being a building block to teach steering when the human isn't right beside the horse, and that's valuable... I just wonder how much strength building would also be of cumulative benefit. (Even if we do a lot of driving, Cary won't be the first to sit on her - I think he's too big for that. I'll get my small friend up first, then me, then Cary after she's used to me...) Karen Thomas, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/776 - Release Date: 4/25/2007 12:19 PM
