[drivingpairs] Re: Beat the Heat




Just an added comment to going back to ground work- it is possible to see
which of the pair needs more work on what!  

Because I started my driving career with a pair, I enjoy and need the
practice driving singles (whip handling, reins etc) but because of the need
to exercise both horses I often put to as a pair.  BUT again, lately I have
been doing more work separate and have found areas that need to be improved
on in the individual horse.  

And, I think if you take 15 to 30 minutes to harness and stand or walk them
around or just groom the horse(s) it is time well spent. I once believed
that if I didn't spend a few hours with my horse(s) every day I wasn't doing
things right.  Well that was a long time ago!  Now I have to squeeze my
horse time in between work and family but somehow it gets done.  


My pair is not in the best shape but they do ok.  Good feed helps their not
so groomed coats and they have learned to look for treats from
sometimes-willing-to-visit-barn children. 

I too can suffer from poor discipline and lack of organization. So I hired a
stable hand so that my free time can be spent "training" instead of always
doing chores.  Of course there is always grass to mow and pastures to
"manage" and hay to put in.  Luckily for me I found a person to work that is
old enough to supervise herself, modified and loves her job!  She also has
become my groom for shows (on her own time for fun).  

I do not own a working stable.  At present we have 3 horses and 1 aged pony.
My farm is for me only so justification on hired help took some doing!  But
I realized that if I did not find the time for working the horses, what was
the point of investing in the barn, harnesses, trailer etc?? Now I figure if
I want to keep my help I need to keep the horses working well!!  

 
-----Original Message-----
From: drivingpairs-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:drivingpairs-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Beverly Means
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 4:54 PM
To: drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [drivingpairs] Re: Beat the Heat




In too have a pair that doesn't want to stand or walk for that matter.

I'm wondering (duh, light bulb moment) if Stand isn't something to begin
teaching from the Ground ?

Also, with the heat, it might be a good opportunity to harness and hitch,
sit in the cart for 10 minutes, 15 if you can stand it <grin> and then
unhitch and unharness, put them away.

I know I have so little time to drive (no excuses I promise, just poor
discipline and organizational skills) that taking the time to do this rather
than actual drive just doesn't compute but the duration of it being just too
darn hot to drive, may-be this would be the time for this exercise in
teaching patience.

Both for the ponies and myself I guess.

Helps to have a shade tree to sit under I would guess.

Beverly



-----Original Message-----
From: drivingpairs-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:drivingpairs-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of SLittle
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 7:21 PM
To: drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [drivingpairs] Beat the Heat




Just as I was starting to get my pair (and me) in shape and "improving" this
darn weather hits & makes it difficult to get good drives in.  Whoever said
that owning your own business lets you set your own schedule never owned his
or her own business!  Be that as it may, I try to have a 2-3 hour block of
time several times each week to drive my horses on our 20 acres.  Between
thunder storms, heat waves, vacations and other excuses, I haven't been
working the horses as much as I would like. 
 

 

BUT I realized that the heat wave is actually going to help me improve my
driving skills and my team!!  Why?  Because it is forcing me to go back to
the basics!  The last issue of the WHIP talked about teaching our horses to
STAND.  It discussed how all of our driving horses should behave like cart
horses and I agree.  But being all American, I tend to walk more than stand.
So I have started to drive the boys single (and do some ground work) to get
them back to really listening and standing.  

 

In only a few sessions, I can see the improvement and have said to myself
"self you should have been doing this a long time ago"  But lets face it, if
a cool breeze is blowing and the sun is shining, most of us want to be out
driving the country side not watching our watch while horses practice
"whoa".  And, leave our driving team harnessed and tied???  Why only draft
people do that!! 

 



_________________________________________________________
To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: 
http://www.drivingpairs.com/index.php?pg=2
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````



_________________________________________________________
To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: 
http://www.drivingpairs.com/index.php?pg=2
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````



_________________________________________________________
To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: 
http://www.drivingpairs.com/index.php?pg=2
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Other related posts: