I am one who would disagree on the overcheck; I have and do occasionally use a sidecheck; mostly if needed to help prevent grabbing for grass. After extensive study into some of the techniques of successful 'big horse' trainers, training for a 'complete' driving horse(as opposed to a breed show ring horse, which in my view is often a very different situation),I have learned that the horse should be taught to fully accept,and ultimately to seek, contact with the bit. This takes TIME. I begin by letting the horse carry the bit in a simple, blinder-free headstall, no noseband. Let the horse eat with it on eventually, under your eye, of course, in order to become fully accustomed to it. I don't try to ground drive until there is a solid foundation of round pen or longe line work. Once I do, I have a flat halter,well fit, on under the basic bridle, and I attach the driving lines to the lower side rings of the halter, NOT to the bit. I let the horse become used to wearing the harness saddle w/ backstrap and crupper, then pass the lines through the tug loops, not the terrets, for ground driving until the horse is quite well along, as using the terrets can too often result in the horse turning to face you...and, doesn't accustom the horse to the feel of the lines passing around its haunch, which is an aid to acceptance of Breeching.(I FIRNLY believe all driving horses should be trained to breeching; it can easily be removed for the show ring...How I wish I could get more people to realize the benefits of a horse 'broke' to the use of breeching, esp. mini horse people; it enables the horse to both 'push' and back its load properly. I also have utilized the sliding side rein as an aid to the horse in learning to carry itself, and in learning to seek bit contact. I like to do some ground driving over cavalletti to aid in this; the horse tends to 'reach down' as it pays attention to where it is putting its feet. I don't like to use fixed side reins, even those w/ 'elastic'...certainly not on a green horse, and mostly, never. I use stretching and bending exercises to make the horse more supple and responsive, but not excessively. Just my experience and beliefs, after training my own since I began doing so at age 14.
