[drivingpairs] Re: drivingpairs Digest V1 #23

> Subject: [drivingpairs] Re: Matching Horses In Pairs
> From: atascill@xxxxxxxx

I don't remember ever seeing your name, but since you
said you were from Michigan, perhaps you would like to
come over.  We are also in Michigan, near Lansing. 
You would be welcome to come over, bring your harness,
and see our horses harnessed as a pair.  We could sort
your harness out so you know how it goes on.  Doing it
on an animal is usually the easiest way to learn it.

I do not think your young horse is ready for driving
in any form, Hardy is correct.  Horse is way too busy
being a baby. Taking him for rides as the leadline
pony horse, is a great way to muscle him up, give him
things to look at.  Has a friend along.  He has to
develop himself before he can be asked to work.  Just
walking and trotting together down the road, is fairly
painless for both you and him.  However with his busy
mouth, I WOULD put a muzzle on him to prevent
accidents and arguing about chewing on stuff as you go
along.  Turns into a game, bite, chew, dodge
correction.  You the rider have enough to do riding
and holding onto him.  I used to pony all my young
horses.  They learned a lot just being out and seeing
things.  I do use vocal cues so both horses know what
we are going to do, at the same time.
  I know the Warmblood horses are traditionally tested
at three.  However on other lists of Sporthorses, some
stallion owners are waiting until four or five.  I am
not sure if they take a penalty in points/scoring or
pay extra.  Anyway reading the ongoing reports of the
testing, during the 100 days, older animals do not
seem to have the problems of the younger ones.  Not a
Warmblood critism, just an observation of their way of
doing things.
  I would not consider sending my immature babies out
for such hard work at three.  If they were kids, we
would say they can't walk and chew gum together!! 
However at four or five, they would be much more
developed, to accept the training and work requested, 
which makes a better horse.  We are lucky not to have
to work with the market, just ourselves.  There is a
reason old-timers had a colt/filly classification,
that is animals under six, in horse terms.  They just
are not grown up yet!
 
 It takes us MUCH longer to get a young horse fit,
than an older animal who has been fit before.  No
muscles on young animal. We just start our young
horses as three year olds then turn them back out.  We
have one ready to begin lessons again after sitting
all summer.  They just can't pay attention long
enough.  Five minutes is a good LONG piece of their
attention!

  Let us know if you would like to come and we can
work something out.

Kathy Robertson

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