[drivingpairs] next steps for baby

Hi, everyone!  Time for me to add my stories so far :). After having a
wonderful time driving Corvall at the wedding (drive-away bride :)), I?ve
moved on to giving Quissy the Holsteiner yearling something to do, now
that he?s between 15.1 and 15.2 hands, and trying to dismantle everything
in the barn on a daily basis ;).

So far 1 year old Quissy has been a joy to long line these dozen or so
sessions (even through the spruce tree slalom), and responds very well to
voice and rein commands in general (even transitioning down from a trot
nicely, even with little Casi running loose by him :0)), and has been
fairly good paired up with 24 year old Corvall (with velcro trailer ties
between them), but I?m going to have to come up with a pacifier, or some
kind of check rein, to keep him from constantly wanting to interact with
the person leading him, his lead line, poor Corvall, etc ... Currently
they are in halter/bridle conbinations, and he?s been in a couple
different bits, trying to find an adequate pacifier, but I do have blinker
bridles on hand (overchecks removed, but I?m sure I can dig them back up).
 Can anyone suggest a good ?side check? option (like where to attach, and
with what), to help keep young Quissy focused on the task, and not on
everything else, for two minutes?

Secondly, if I?m just long lining him, he sometimes decides that a left
turn signal means rotate 180 degrees and turn to face your driver, versus
simply walk on and turn.  Attached to a buggy, I?m sure this is much less
of a problem, but in the meantime, attached with velcro trailer ties to
Corvall, it can mean a rearing moment or two.  Poor old girl is such a
trooper!   Any suggestions on how to discourage his non-forward moments? 
He has a really, really, high pain threshold, due to having been turned
out with 7 mares, so my whip on his butt is merely a suggestion ;). We?ve
been fairly successful ground driving them in a full pair set of reins, if
it weren?t for the one minor rearing episode ? why we have velcro and
scissor snaps ;) !  He'll do anything you want with a human or horse to
follow.  His biggest concern seems to be walking forward alone, with no
guidance, sometimes even if someone is alongside of him with a lead line.

He?s such a good guy to harness up:
http://www.haremhills.com/site/contentimage/Quissy_main.jpg

Heading up the septic tank hill (this time in a leverage bit, a little
loose, but great pacifier):
http://www.haremhills.com/site/contentimage/corvall/pair18.jpg

Here in a half cheek snaffle (left side is easier for him than right side
of pair):
http://www.haremhills.com/site/contentimage/quissy/pair22.jpg

Finally, after pulling a tire around a dozen times, when is the magic
moment when you decide to hook him up to the buggy, with people attached
everywhere, of course?  I plan on having him pull as a pair alongside
Corvall, as she can lend sanity, load relief, and panic ballast ;).

Thanks for any suggestions you can offer!
Anya




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