Deaf pony training

[KC33]

Hello all!
I am brand new here and have a bunch of questions for you all.

I have a 3 year old overo paint pony mare that is deaf. Totally. This discovery took some time, as I at first thought she was just “difficult” (poor girl). Now a deaf riding horse, with leg and weight cues, is something I can wrap my mind around. A deaf driving horse, well…

I have her ground driving well, at times. We started by using a rope halter with lines to learn basic directions, pressure and release, wearing a full harness, she lunges well with body language cues. Obviously she drives with an open bridle, as she needs to see me to keep her confidence, as she cannot hear me.

Currently our cues are this: I pick up the lines to ready her, then give a gentle “slap” with my right line on butt to cue forward. She will also go up into a trot with this cue. She turns well with bit pressure, bends nicely. Stops with a half halt cue on the bit, followed by steady gentle pressure. I can get her to swing her hind end using line pressure on either flank/hip area.

Our issue, now that we are actually starting to “work” pulling small logs and a sled, is that I ask for a stop, release pressure, but as I move the lines inevitably in the course of doing whatever I am doing behind her, she is interpreting this as a cue to move. Any suggestions for developing a cue for “stand”? I use an open palm cue much like a dog for “stay” when I am in front of her, but this is not practical when I am behind her hooking up something etc.

Anyone ever come across a deaf draft/work horse or pony? Any other thoughts anyone can come up with? I’d like her to have a productive working life, and she’s built like a tank and likes to be challenged. Thanks in advance for any ideas!
KC

[Jean]

Good for you to work her. I think most people would give up. Have you worked her at all with a driving whip. The man that I am training with is big on using the whip to give direction. Touch on one side or the other to get them to turn, touch on the butt to get them to go forward. I think if you teach her to stop by placing the whip someone where, maybe on her neck and then ask her to stop she would figure it out soon enough. It is harder to drive with a whip in your hand, but you may find that she likes the commands given that way rather than slapping the lines, which goes right to the bit in her mouth.

I have not trained a deaf horse, barely trained a fully hearing horse, so please take this advice for what it is worth!

[KC33]

Jean,
She has been trained with a whip originally. Shes really sensitive though and I found that the whip was distracting her and making my hands too busy for her. When I say I “slap” her with the line…..I do not really mean slap. It is a gentle touch but enough that she understands to move out. Perhaps I need to totally rethink that….but it might be so ingrained now. Anyway..I’m sure she feels it in the bit but it really is quite subtle. I am most definitely not tee hawing on the lines!! Maybe carrying a longer whip that could touch her neck would work. I would have to start slow. Good thoughts keep em coming!

[KC33]

Here’s a picture, just ’cause I like looking at everyone else’s!

[fogish]

I don’t know how to train a horse to ground tie, maybe you can figure out something similar to that? When you are working on the ground you hold up a rope for her to see and then drop it where she can keep an eye on it, then she knows she stands until you pick it up and give her the cue to move. You would have to find a place to attach the rope though and decide if you need to be in front of her or can be behind to give the cue, either that or some other visual symbol for her to know not to move until you take it away. I don’t think that would be too complex but it would give you one more thing to do though.

[Author]

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