Renolizzie
Well-Known Member
It took me over 18 months but I found a trainer that lives really near by. Steve is a nice guy and he loves driving. He is the president of our small local endurance driving club.
I found out about Steve when my neighbor hit our mail box. She left a note to say she was sorry. We called her and got to talking, she is teaching one of her horses to drive. That's when I found out about our local club.
Steve and I worked out my equipment and evaluating where my two horses were at the first week. The second and third weeks, Wiseguy pulled Steve and I around my neighborhood. He told me he didn't think he had that much to teach me about driving Wiseguy. He thinks we are doing great and we just need to keep getting out on the road. It was a pleasure to find out that Wiseguy and I are doing well together as I felt insecure. I have felt we are doing okay but it was nice to get that checked out by someone who has been driving for many years.
Nevada started out as a handful. He was gelded fairly recently but his hormones are settling down considerably. He seem to think he could drag Hubby and I around the yard. He liked my husband right away but he didn't think I was worthy of his respect.
My first demand was that he back up if he wanted to get his hay. Then, he had to hold still and not grab for the food bowl when he is getting his pellet food. He also has to back away from the gate when I am coming in. It hasn't taken him long to figure out the rules.
I started using a stud chain for walking him to the round pen. Wow, what a difference. A little tiny bump with the lead and he was like "Okay, I'm coming. Okay, I'm stopping." Of course, we are still working on being a great horse to lead but that has come a long ways.
Nevada has been getting into the round pen with me. Again, at first, "I don't have to listen to you." "Oh yes you do little buddy." Looks like the round penning has paid off. He is starting to be really responsive to what he is being asked to do.
A few days ago, Nevada decided I was okay, he might even like me. That is a great feeling, to know you are making that connection with your horse. So, I asked Steve to watch Nevada in the round pen and see where we should go from here. I keep thinking what a great cart horse Nevada could be. Steve says he thinks Nevada could be a great cart horse, as well.
Since Wiseguy and I are going to just keep doing what we have been doing, getting out on the roads together, we can turn to working with Nevada. That means that Nevada is going to start his training for cart. First, he needs to settle down a bit in the round pen. Also, Nevada runs counter clockwise in the round pen when left on his own so Steve says he wants to get him going the other way more to make sure he is balanced.
I am ordering a surcingle with an open bridle. Then we are going to get a surcingle on him. Then the open bridle and later on a bit. Then a harness and the closed bridle. Plenty of ground driving will be in our future. One step at a time, we are going to work towards getting him in the cart.
I have high hopes for Nevada since this horse is so confident, he learns fast and he is starting to develop my trust and I am starting to develop his trust. He not afraid of things [quite unlike my little Wiseguy]. Let's see how this goes.
I'm going to start this thread with the hope of posting some photos along the way. No rushing the horse but I am eager to get started
I found out about Steve when my neighbor hit our mail box. She left a note to say she was sorry. We called her and got to talking, she is teaching one of her horses to drive. That's when I found out about our local club.
Steve and I worked out my equipment and evaluating where my two horses were at the first week. The second and third weeks, Wiseguy pulled Steve and I around my neighborhood. He told me he didn't think he had that much to teach me about driving Wiseguy. He thinks we are doing great and we just need to keep getting out on the road. It was a pleasure to find out that Wiseguy and I are doing well together as I felt insecure. I have felt we are doing okay but it was nice to get that checked out by someone who has been driving for many years.
Nevada started out as a handful. He was gelded fairly recently but his hormones are settling down considerably. He seem to think he could drag Hubby and I around the yard. He liked my husband right away but he didn't think I was worthy of his respect.
My first demand was that he back up if he wanted to get his hay. Then, he had to hold still and not grab for the food bowl when he is getting his pellet food. He also has to back away from the gate when I am coming in. It hasn't taken him long to figure out the rules.
I started using a stud chain for walking him to the round pen. Wow, what a difference. A little tiny bump with the lead and he was like "Okay, I'm coming. Okay, I'm stopping." Of course, we are still working on being a great horse to lead but that has come a long ways.
Nevada has been getting into the round pen with me. Again, at first, "I don't have to listen to you." "Oh yes you do little buddy." Looks like the round penning has paid off. He is starting to be really responsive to what he is being asked to do.
A few days ago, Nevada decided I was okay, he might even like me. That is a great feeling, to know you are making that connection with your horse. So, I asked Steve to watch Nevada in the round pen and see where we should go from here. I keep thinking what a great cart horse Nevada could be. Steve says he thinks Nevada could be a great cart horse, as well.
Since Wiseguy and I are going to just keep doing what we have been doing, getting out on the roads together, we can turn to working with Nevada. That means that Nevada is going to start his training for cart. First, he needs to settle down a bit in the round pen. Also, Nevada runs counter clockwise in the round pen when left on his own so Steve says he wants to get him going the other way more to make sure he is balanced.
I am ordering a surcingle with an open bridle. Then we are going to get a surcingle on him. Then the open bridle and later on a bit. Then a harness and the closed bridle. Plenty of ground driving will be in our future. One step at a time, we are going to work towards getting him in the cart.
I have high hopes for Nevada since this horse is so confident, he learns fast and he is starting to develop my trust and I am starting to develop his trust. He not afraid of things [quite unlike my little Wiseguy]. Let's see how this goes.
I'm going to start this thread with the hope of posting some photos along the way. No rushing the horse but I am eager to get started