Nature vs Nurture…

I am currently working with a mismatched team, one 17 hand leggy percheron and one shorter, squat suffolk. I have had Pete about 2 and half years and just got Bob last May. They have significant differences, both in terms of physical and mental makeup.

Pete, the 8 yo percheron, is tall and long-legged, while Bob the 11 yo suffolk, is shorter and squat at the rear end. The size and gait variance has not been much of an issue, as I have been able to adjust the rigging effectively. However, Bob is just a much stronger, more capable horse with more experience in the field and woods. When hitched, his larger, lower rear end makes him a better puller.

It is their personality make-up that is providing the greatest challenge. Pete tends to lack in confidence and willingness, especially on heavy loads with the sled and arch in the woods. On lighter loads he is perfect, and he stands and listens well with the lines in my hands or not. He works well single and teamed, but tends towards being baulky when asked to really work hard. Bob, on the other hand, is all business. He will pull anything I hook him to, regardless of whether or not Pete is willing when they are on the evener. Their is no quit in this horse, and, sometimes, little patience either. Bob is right on the bit most times out, and it takes all of eight hours of heavy work to lessen his enthusiasm. He also stands well and listens, but when we back up to a load, especially in the woods, he is right on the bit and gets quite anxious. When I first hooked him with Pete on the arch, he would rear up when I refused to let them go ahead before I was ready. We have gotten over that now, but he still does not stand patiently for me to hook and grows very restless if I hook and then make them stand a minute (which I do as a rule).

I worked with a Belgian mare single in Maine that has a similar mental makeup to Bob – all work and all business in harness. I used a snaffled Liverpool bit with her, as I do with Bob, and in time (2-3 years) she calmed down a great deal. What I am wrestling with now is how long to give Bob to make similar progress. He certainly can do a lot of work and is an excellent commercial horse, but I want more from him in terms of patience and calm when I hook them to a big load. I could use more pressure on the bit and mouth with the curb settings of the bit, but I don’t want physical pain to be the only thing Bob will respond to. The loads I ask them to pull are not beyond their capabilities – the issue is mental rather than physical I think. Also, when Bob is rearing to go Pete seems to be more intimidated which only exacerbates his baulky behavior.

So, I am wondering what others folks’ experiences are with horses similar to Bob. Is this an issue that I can solve with time and patience? Certainly, he has made progress already. Or, is Bob’s behavior just reflective of his personality – is he just being the horse he is? I have used Bob single a bunch and he has the same behavior. I have never started a team with a pair of young, green horses, but the thought of being able to mold them as I wish is more and more tempting. Then, the shortcomings they have would be all my own! On the other hand, these two are able to do 90% of what I ask them to do, and starting with a younger team would mean some serious time and training to get them ready for work here at our farm and for commercial work elsewhere. In the long run I want a better matched, more manageable team. I do teach other aspiring teamsters with my horses from time to time, and I want to have a safe and reliable team that can be used by folks who are learning to drive and work.

I would appreciate any thoughts anyone has about where to head from here. My inclination is to give them more time together and see what happens…