Is anyone aware of any pony trainers in the Michigan area (we are in SW Michigan) who could RE-start a pony's driving training?
We have a 10hh grade pony that we purchased about a year ago. She was supposed to be Amish trained to drive, but of course I wasn't willing to trust that as I only ever trust what I see and what I was seeing just didn't support that.
When this pony came to us she was extremely head shy and more than a little reluctant to being caught. We've spent this last year making her life wonderful and bringing her around to the point that she will approach us, will allow herself to be caught quite easily and we can actually reach for her head now without her running over herself in an attempt to get away.
She's really quite a nice girl and willing to please. She really isn't stupid about things (her only big issue was the head shyness.....nothing else really seems to phase her) and isn't at all a kicker. I just don't have the facilities to get her going again (or restart her......that's kind of what we're expecting to do at this point) and would like for this to be done right. Tho' I've ground driven a lot of horses over the years this will be our first cart horse and we would like for it to be a good experience for all involved. It would be even better if there were lessons for myself to go along with this training. Again, I want to do this right.
Suggestions? Referrals?
We have a 10hh grade pony that we purchased about a year ago. She was supposed to be Amish trained to drive, but of course I wasn't willing to trust that as I only ever trust what I see and what I was seeing just didn't support that.
When this pony came to us she was extremely head shy and more than a little reluctant to being caught. We've spent this last year making her life wonderful and bringing her around to the point that she will approach us, will allow herself to be caught quite easily and we can actually reach for her head now without her running over herself in an attempt to get away.
She's really quite a nice girl and willing to please. She really isn't stupid about things (her only big issue was the head shyness.....nothing else really seems to phase her) and isn't at all a kicker. I just don't have the facilities to get her going again (or restart her......that's kind of what we're expecting to do at this point) and would like for this to be done right. Tho' I've ground driven a lot of horses over the years this will be our first cart horse and we would like for it to be a good experience for all involved. It would be even better if there were lessons for myself to go along with this training. Again, I want to do this right.
Suggestions? Referrals?