Ground drove yesterday!!

[Thecowboysgirl]

Hey guys. Just wanted to report that my surcingle, long lines and snaffle finally arrived so I ground drove both ponies.

They did great! I drove them around my driveway loop (dirt driveway, loop is about the size of half a standard riding arena) with the other in the end stall of the barn so they were near. I didn’t want to drive them in my actual arena which has grass in it because I didn’t want to have to fight over the grass.

Daisy went around like an absolute champ, walk and a little jog as much as I could keep up. She turned perfectly, good whoa, mediocore backing up. (Mediocore because she didn’t back with much enthusiasm or very straight, although she did do it when I asked)

Duke started off looking for a booger & refusing to go up the driveway all by himself up there. We wound up going down the driveway backwards on the first try because he wanted to go back to the barn and I wouldn’t let him turn so instead we went backwards for awhile. I just tried to keep him straight and give him his head and encourage him to go on and do it and after a few minutes of nonsense he went on up there and walked by whatever he was oogling. From that point on he drove great walk & jog, whoa & back (he’s really good at that lol, at least this time it was because I asked him to)

Have had ropes and lines all over their hindquarters, under the tail etc. and they do not mind. Have also done some desensitizing with lead ropes around their legs, teaching them to stand still & I will take it off. They have done great

[Andy Carson]

Congrats! I hope you had fun and remember to keep us all updated. It’s fun to hear of others progress over time. 🙂

[Thecowboysgirl]

And my farrier came today. He was like “why in the world did you want haflingers” lol, everyone around here likes QHs. So I told him what I am trying to do and he says, you must know how to drive. Nope. Says I (really TIRED!!! can you tell)

He says, hey I have a client who drives competetively, I bet she’d help you. So he called her up while he was working on my horses and she said sure she would help. She’s only the next town over. So I think this is great news.

Plus my dairy goat gave birth today (why I am so tired) we have healthy twins and soon lots of our own organic milk again. Was my first goat birth. Very exciting. We started this last year, got her in milk. Then dried her off after I bred her to my buck.

[Marshall]

Where are the pictures?

[drafthorsey]

Good going! Duke sounds like when you’re trying to get the top off a pickle jar that has a mind of its own, when all of sudden POP, it does what its supposed to. drafthorsey

[Thecowboysgirl]

@drafthorsey 32080 wrote:

Good going! Duke sounds like when you’re trying to get the top off a pickle jar that has a mind of its own, when all of sudden POP, it does what its supposed to. drafthorsey

Duke can be kind of foolish, he likes to blow at stuff (but I also think he may have less than full vision in one eye) but he is also very energetic. Daisy is a bit lazy but also unlikely to spook. My hope is that she’ll settle him and he’ll energize her. I have a suspicion that he might be a great worker if I can get him to be halfway reliable. He seems to never run out of go-juice.

Both of them have these old school horse habits where they play the game of “nope, I’m going back to the barn (or wherever my buddy is tied) and thanks I’m done working now”. They don’t bolt, just attempt to turn and walk stubbornly back. If that’s their nastiest trick, I’m not complaining.

Re: pictures lol my hands were full but next time maybe I can get the hubby to take some. They have this week off because I have to build a fence and I just don’t have time to do it all.

[Rod44]

Thecowboysgirl – you will like the Haflingers. Did you see mine on the recent nice snow for bobsledding post?

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Juliana, Here are some suggestions. First I think there are some important reasons to split these horses up. Horses need to be able to pay attention to us, the human leader, and they will struggle to learn that while they are together. I personally would see each of them driving and pulling logs, or just a log repeated, before I ever start working them together.

Assuming you want to make them work single here is what you need to do. Tye one in the barn, in a safe secure place. Rope not too high so he won’t break his neck if he hits the floor, not too low so he won’t step all over it. Strong enough so he won’t break it or the halter. Hopefully this is a place he has been tied up before and he is familiar with the concept. Then take the other horse out, go where you will and do what you intended to. If you need to move further away to get out of ear shot, do that. Pay no attention to the horse in the barn. When you come back, leave him tied while you finish untacking or whatever for the horse you were working. When that horse is loose, let the one that was tied go.

As far as spooking, it sounds to me like you have been handling it well. One thing I would try, not always easy, is anticipate these spooks. The only way to do this is to heighten your awareness of his behavior (reading his head) as you move through out the day. Early recognition will allow for a wider array of choices in how you contribute to his ability to deal with these things. No freaking out. A slow steady investigation, get through, and about your business, more investigation at another time. All calm and relaxed, building his trust that you know how to deal with these things.

That is a lot of one person’s opinions, I hope it might help.

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