[drivingpairs] Re: to pair or not to pair
- From: "Helen Roeder" <helen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 12:15:15 -0500
>I have a pony mule that I've been *trying* to drive single<
Cindy,=20
by "drive single" I hope you mean "ground drive". Have you tried =
getting someone to lead him in a straight line while you are behind him =
with the lines and ground driving him? This helps give him the idea =
that he's NOT supposed to be turning around to look at you. BTW, this =
is normal in the beginning. It really helps you both if you have a =
helper....even a non-horse person is better than none at all. =20
As for hitching him with an experienced animal in a pair, I tend to =
agree with you. He needs to figure out the single part =
first....especially the voice commands. Your walk-along helper can =
help with that too. When you say "whoa", the helper stops the mule. =
When you say "walk" or "walk on", the helper will start leading him. =
After a couple of times the helper can let go, but still walk along =
beside him while you practice the voice commands. If you little guy =
doesn't respond, the helper can reach over and "help" remind him. =
Before long you'll be driving him all over the place by yourself. Be =
patient.
I have found the most difficult for an animal to learn in the beginning, =
is that they are being given a lesson. Once they figure out you are =
"teaching" them something, it seems to go faster and easier. But once =
he learns it, don't make him go over it and over it again. I have found =
that if they can do it two or three times on their own, then that lesson =
is over. Go on to something else, or end the session. Next "school =
day", go back over what you did the time before, just to reinforce that =
particular lesson. I have also found that they don't need to go to =
school every single day. A few days between lessons works very well. =
It gives them time to think about it. =20
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. =20
Helen
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