brasstackminis
Well-Known Member
Ok, so I started awhile back ground driving my sheltand (I know it is not a mini, but there is no traffic there). I ground drove him for 6 months. Once I have a whoa, walk and steering, I go out onto less traveled country roads. So this guy has been driving for more than a year...closer to 18 months. So I have had lessons with him and driven him all over the place. He has never spooked at traffic, dogs, plastic bags, plywood, anything! I am guessing it is partly from his former days as a halter horse and in-hand trail horse. So a few days ago, I had some shoes put on him, since I have been driving him at LEAST 20 miles a week. I was afraid his hooves would just wear too fast and cause problems. Anyways, I had some small borium bits welded to his heels so he would not slip out on the road.
SO now for the confusing part. I took off driving and was about 4 miles from home. He was being completely normal and quiet as usual. Then on the way back, something happened. There were animals trotting around but they had already passed us and were far off. All of the sudden he just took off as fast as his little legs could go at a dead run! After a few seconds (seemed forever) of pulling and telling him "easy" and "whoa" I realized that he was terrified and my reins were scaring him more. I let off the reins for a second, attempted to relax and more confidently and less startled, I told him "whoa" again. He came back to me slowly, but he was shaking all over and freaked out of his mind. I checked out all of his tack, looked for rubs and anything else I could think of. Nothing. I walked him for awhile and then tried to drive him again. We got a little ways down the road, walking and he was okay...I would not say fine. So I thought that I would ask him to trot again. He shot off again, but not as far. Now I am 4 miles away and thinking about what could possibly be going on. The only thing I had changed this time (besides shoes) was I had lowered the shaves one hole. I raised them back, just in case, sense everything else was the same. I checked his feet, shoes, legs, girth, crupper. All was fine? I am driving him in a Comfy Fit harness and it is what I have always driven him in.
Some other information...earlier when I was trying to get him to move over so I could line the shaves up with him, he was pushing into my hand and about to sit down...sideways. I wrote it off, because he is kind of weird/nervous at times when I touch him sometimes. He has a lot of Hackney in him and I have been told that it is common with them to be nervous about stuff. Muffy Seaton even commented during a lesson, "It must be very exhausting to be this tense all the time." So as I was leading him home, he would be walking along and then all of the sudden he would just freeze, get really tense, lean his rear to the right and then shoot forward. I really think he is scaring himself. I THINK what is going on is he gets nervous about something...then he gets tense. The tension in his haunches puts pressure on his breeching holders and the more he tenses, the more the pressure. Then he bends his rear into his own tension and bumps himself with the shaft and it startles him and he shoots forward. Not sure why it would be all of the sudden. I have been going over it repeatedly and I can't believe that he would react like this after driving for so long!
On a positive note, I have a new respect for these driving equines. I realize that I have been way to lax with my safety measures from driving such laid back minis. I am glad I was wearing my boot, jeans, and a sweatshirt with a cell phone. I will be using my helmet from now on. I understand why the mounting the carriage/cart procedures are suggested as they are! I am glad my harness and cart are in good working order! I ended up walking 98% of the four miles home. It ended up being after dark as I had planned on a lot less stopping and walking. My gloves were helpful for sure! I am just really glad that he was running slower than my angels were flying that evening. I did end up back in the cart, walking, trotting and whoaing at the very end before I got home.
Tomorrow I will drive him again, but will give him a few mins in the round pen to get his sillies out. I will also be sticking closer to home and carry a charged cell phone and be wearing all the appropriate protective gear. I might even break out my Tipperary vest!
Any suggestions? Oh and I have no one here to help and never had anyone. If I had to, I would have dropped the cart and called for someone to pick us up. It won't be as bad next time, because I am sticking way close to home. I can not drive at home except on my 1/4 mile driveway. It is like driving on the beach that has not been wet for a LONG time...darn drought!
Thanks!
Karen
SO now for the confusing part. I took off driving and was about 4 miles from home. He was being completely normal and quiet as usual. Then on the way back, something happened. There were animals trotting around but they had already passed us and were far off. All of the sudden he just took off as fast as his little legs could go at a dead run! After a few seconds (seemed forever) of pulling and telling him "easy" and "whoa" I realized that he was terrified and my reins were scaring him more. I let off the reins for a second, attempted to relax and more confidently and less startled, I told him "whoa" again. He came back to me slowly, but he was shaking all over and freaked out of his mind. I checked out all of his tack, looked for rubs and anything else I could think of. Nothing. I walked him for awhile and then tried to drive him again. We got a little ways down the road, walking and he was okay...I would not say fine. So I thought that I would ask him to trot again. He shot off again, but not as far. Now I am 4 miles away and thinking about what could possibly be going on. The only thing I had changed this time (besides shoes) was I had lowered the shaves one hole. I raised them back, just in case, sense everything else was the same. I checked his feet, shoes, legs, girth, crupper. All was fine? I am driving him in a Comfy Fit harness and it is what I have always driven him in.
Some other information...earlier when I was trying to get him to move over so I could line the shaves up with him, he was pushing into my hand and about to sit down...sideways. I wrote it off, because he is kind of weird/nervous at times when I touch him sometimes. He has a lot of Hackney in him and I have been told that it is common with them to be nervous about stuff. Muffy Seaton even commented during a lesson, "It must be very exhausting to be this tense all the time." So as I was leading him home, he would be walking along and then all of the sudden he would just freeze, get really tense, lean his rear to the right and then shoot forward. I really think he is scaring himself. I THINK what is going on is he gets nervous about something...then he gets tense. The tension in his haunches puts pressure on his breeching holders and the more he tenses, the more the pressure. Then he bends his rear into his own tension and bumps himself with the shaft and it startles him and he shoots forward. Not sure why it would be all of the sudden. I have been going over it repeatedly and I can't believe that he would react like this after driving for so long!
On a positive note, I have a new respect for these driving equines. I realize that I have been way to lax with my safety measures from driving such laid back minis. I am glad I was wearing my boot, jeans, and a sweatshirt with a cell phone. I will be using my helmet from now on. I understand why the mounting the carriage/cart procedures are suggested as they are! I am glad my harness and cart are in good working order! I ended up walking 98% of the four miles home. It ended up being after dark as I had planned on a lot less stopping and walking. My gloves were helpful for sure! I am just really glad that he was running slower than my angels were flying that evening. I did end up back in the cart, walking, trotting and whoaing at the very end before I got home.
Tomorrow I will drive him again, but will give him a few mins in the round pen to get his sillies out. I will also be sticking closer to home and carry a charged cell phone and be wearing all the appropriate protective gear. I might even break out my Tipperary vest!
Any suggestions? Oh and I have no one here to help and never had anyone. If I had to, I would have dropped the cart and called for someone to pick us up. It won't be as bad next time, because I am sticking way close to home. I can not drive at home except on my 1/4 mile driveway. It is like driving on the beach that has not been wet for a LONG time...darn drought!
Thanks!
Karen