[drivingpairs] Re: "Teaching"

I question the process of hitching with a BIG STOUT horse.  This is not 
teaching the horse anything EXCEPT to follow the big stout horse.  In the end 
they depend on each other to get a job done without understanding what you are 
asking them to do.
  I start mine as yearlings.  They first learn to move the hindquarters when I 
snap my fingers, move the front when I touch their shoulder, to walk beside me 
(not behind or ahead and certainly not jerking me around), to walk trot halt 
and reverse on the longline.  Having accomplished this (within the scope of a 
youngster who wants to play more than work) we graduate to ground driving.  The 
same lessons with a different twist your now being asked from behind.  Usually 
I will do it with an open bridle first and then close the bridle when they 
completely understand.  Lastly is to put them in a lite jogging cart as a 
single.  I don't drive to tire them I drive to teach them the same lessons we 
did in longlines.  When I have their undivided attention and confidence I then 
will pair them with an experienced horse if possible - but definately with a 
very quiet willing and trusting horse.  But then I want a partner to help me do 
my job.
  Is this the best way to do it?  I have no idea.  I can say I have never in 
forty years started a horse that has run a way on me, kicked shafts or other 
undesirable behavior.  But I have had this problem with Amish green broke 
horses.
.............................  Al
FreeLists Mailing List Manager <ecartis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: "The Stewarts" 
Subject: [drivingpairs] "Teaching"
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 06:37:07 -0500

<snip>

So many people think there are neutral areas when they will just go out and 
drive/ride and not bother training that day. EVERY time you work with your 
horse you are teaching it something--good or bad. If 90% of the time you let 
the horse do behavior X and the 10% of the time you are "teaching" you enforce 
behavior Y, guess which one they learn. Children too.

I strongly support hitching a green animal with a BIG, STOUT, DEPENDABLE school 
horse. Greenie goes along because they can't go anywhere else, and they learn 
that it is okay. School horse gives them confidence. Anyone who has one of 
these dependable teachers is lucky.

Deryn




Aspice Morgans
Albert Seminatore
Roswell, NM
E-Mail:    alsemus@xxxxxxxxx
WebSite:   <http://www.homestead.com/_horses4sale/horse.html>
                
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