[drivingpairs] starting the pair - long

Bob,

I started Rim when he was two, just packing a harness around and getting
used to a bit, we also led him behind the carriage about once every other
week.  Earlier this year I started ground driving him and long lining him
with side reins, then I had him pull a very light drag (noisy, but not hard
to pull) a half dozen times all in an open bridle, then in a blinker bridle.
When he seemed calm and accepting of everything I ground drove him with
Ruger.  Now the first time out was not very pretty, Rimfire thought this was
a great chance to mess around with Ruger.  I had a helper, but one that is
not a very horsy.  Rim trying to play, reared up and hung his body over
Ripcord.  We had quite a jumble of reins and harness and in the end with one
pony facing forward and one facing backward!  Then both ponies stood there,
looking at me, waiting for me to untangle them.  It was then that I thought
I might actually have a pair that would work.  :-)  We untangled the lot and
went on with the lesson.  It was then that a miracle happened - my husband
volunteered to help me start the pair.  Now he is not horsy (major
understatement), but he loves Rimfire and Rimfire loves him (actually
Rimfire loves everybody but, don't tell Jerry that).  With Jerry holding a
lead line on Rimfire, the boys started to get their act together.  Rimfire
was corrected with a tug on the lead (attached to the halter ring) every
time he started to mess with Ruger.  I only ground drove them four times
(Rimfire is a quick study).  Then my good horse helper, Chelsey, came home
from college for the weekend, so with a leader on each pony (and a few other
people standing around to help if necessary), we hitched them to the PJ.  I
took Hardy's advice and lengthened Rimfire's traces one hole so that he
would not have to pull any weight (Ruger pulls the PJ solo all the time) and
off we went, very quietly.  Rimfire was a little nervous about the pole
hitting his leg for the first turn, but after that didn't worry about it
anymore (like I said, he's a quick study).  Rimfire was really more focused
on Ruger and not what was going on behind him.  We took them out again
today - Jerry actually came home for lunch, so that he could help school
"his" pony.  Jerry is getting lots of exercise keeping the lead line on
Rimfire!  We went out along some dirt roads in a quiet area of the desert
today and the boys did great.  They had to stop and stand a couple of times
(so that Jerry could catch his breath - they walk faster then he would like)
and were very good and quiet.  Rimfire still wants to bite at Ruger at times
and would like to rub his head on something - anything, so Jerry is planning
to get some extra exercise in the next couple of days, keeping the lead line
on Rimfire.  I think we could just attach an extra line to Rim's bridle and
have Jerry ride and correct him from the carriage but, Jerry says HE will
tell me when Rim is ready for that - gheezzz, I may have created a monster!

I have not yet trained Rimfire to drive single, but plan to in the future.
Rim does not know about bending and though is accepting of the bit, is not
"on" it,  so, we have tons of work to do in the coming months and years.  My
ponies are only 12hh so are too small for me to ride and school in dressage,
I have to be able to drive them single for that.  I'm too lazy to do all the
schooling in long lines and am just not as good at long lining as I am at
driving.  My plan at this time is to drive Rimfire in the pair for the next
six weeks and then break him to drive single when my good horse helper is
home for Christmas break.  Don't want Jerry to help too much - he said
something about learning how to drive today... Oh, NO! ;-)

Merrie



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Ashworth" <bashworth@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2004 9:48 AM
Subject: [drivingpairs] Re: New pair started!


> Merrie,
>
> What good news. I hope this pair works out for you. I'm sure Ruger
> will appreciate the help on the hills.
>
> Tell us more about how you started Rimfire. Did you go from ground
> work to hitching as a pair without ever hitching as a single?
>
> Will you hitch and train as a single later, or just work him as a
> pair?
>
> I think I should try this, it seems logical to let the seasoned
> mares teach the youngsters. It should give them more confidence
> those first times out.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob Ashworth
>

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