Gaps in Education

[knight]

You know those difficulties I'd had with Knight and trying to get him going for driving? Well I think they may have been due to a gap in his education judging from the reaction I go while trying to lunge him for the first time this weekend. I know, you'd think I would lunged him before but it's never been a big part of my training program. But I do think all should know it, sometimes it's useful. Well he just didn't think he really needed to pay attention to me when I got that far away and the first try was an interesting bronc and general carrying on session. Second time I used side reins, such a difference. He was respectful, a bit put out but reasonabyy obedient.

This is my fault though, as when I got him at 4 I guess I just assumed he had been lunged. I know, not good to assume things. Not to mention how anxious I was to ride after nursing unsound laminitics for the previous 2 years. Learned my lesson, back to basics. Sigh, I think lunging will be a larger part of our work for awhile since their educational gaps always seem to haunt you until corrected and tend to appear at the worst times.

Any longline and lunging tips?

Oh and Debbie, remember when you asked about the stallion tack, if it gave more control. Well from the difference in Knight's behavior with the addition of the side reins I would say yes, even though it may be more psychological than physical.

[Debbie]

Well if its any consolation to you, I haven't done any lunging with Blossom....although last year she offered it because I was lunging Lady Bear. I was and still am a little concerned about doing the lunging too young with her because of the joints. I'm all for the long lining, and doing the inhand groundwork, but not overly keen to be lunging her. LOL...although Blossom sometimes offers to whiz in circles about me if she's throwing a tantrum over the direction of our walks

With CJ I did all sorts of lunging with her young, but now that she's older, I'm not sure if its made a difference or not, as I sold her on as a two year old.

Its very interesting to hear about Knight in the side reins. I wonder if he was more attentive because he had the bit it? (workman's clothes and all that) Don't worry, with your patience, I'm positive you and Knight will get there in the end

[clara]

I've been driving young horses and am in the middle of breaking ayoungster to drive myself under the watchful eye of a LHHI. If I can be of any help, just shout?

[knight]

Thanks clara, I pretty much need all the help I can get for though I've ridden for years I'm fairly new to driving and have only started 2 to drive before Knight. Both of them were so easy perhaps I got false confidence. Topaz my little shetland x was especially easy to start, despite being extremely mischevious, and was such a fun driving pony before her laminitis. Knight has taken to all the harness fine, except he's very nosey and worrys about the blind bridle, often turning his head so he can see me. He's dragged poles and a log but gets uneasy unless I am very close to him. I feel I've missed something along the way and I don't want to rush him or do things part way. But I do want to get there one day.

Modified for my usual spelling corrections.

[Debbie]

I'm sure Clara will be much more knowledgeable, but do you think Knight might feel better for a bit without the blinders??

I think under the driving section, Lucydales posted about starting her pony that way, just the regular bridle.

Of course the biggest obstacle is that you're on your own.....exactly the same I face with Blossom.

[greydales]

I'm sure that Knight will pick up lunging no problem Nancy, so long as you are consistent. Just treat him like you would a youngster and I can't see why he wouldn't respond well. Lunging is all about body language and I've always enjoyed it, there is much more to it than the horse or pony just going aimlessly round and round - you don't have to go in circles, you can lunge around a field if you want - so long as the pony is doing as you ask and not it's own thing lol.

I always aim to have them altering speed within a pace, so I can ask them to do a steady trot then trot on and even extend if they are able! I do lots of different transitions as I would if I was riding, aiming to have them respond to all the vocal commands faster and faster (which takes time of course).

With long reining you have more precise control and you have the additional aids of the bit to reinforce your vocal commands. However mastering the long lines can take a bit of practise (I still haven't got the knack of having them perfectly looped at all times LOL!).

Let us know how you get on

[clara]

Sounds like you have done more of this than me. Are you long reining him when he is pulling the poles etc or are you leading him?
You don't have to use a closed bridle, you could try doing it all without that. Some horses don't like blinkers and I have heard of ponies and horses who feel happier without them. Needless to say they are safer to drive than those who rely on blinkers. Lucydales has done this with her pony and I am going to try with my new one.
Also I have found that some young/green horses like to work into a contact as it makes them feel safer. Infact it all goes a bit pear shaped when I don't!!
Probably not much help, will ask my instructor for some tips as she has been breaking ponies to drive for forty years so will have come across this before I'm sure.
Greydales hit the nail on the head really. Although I some time sswitch to a pair of synthetic driving reins when longreigning as I find end up with less knitting!!

[knight]

Thanks for the reply clara, sorry I'm so slow getting back to this. I started out leading him pulling the poles and then went to getting further away on long reins. But he has a point about 10-15'away on the longlines that he inevitable becomes worried about where I am, to the point he becomes a bundle of nerves & just cannot concentrate on the work at hand. I did enjoy seeing Lucydales start her pony without blinkers and now that I have alittle encouragement that this is a reasonable way I'll give him a try that way. There are fewer prople interested in driving I find than in the UK and so help is hard to come by. Much of this is my fault I fear, for he does not know his vocal commands as well as others of mine which is why I though I'd go back to lunging to work on that. Still no excuses though for he certainly knows walk & whoa prefectly when lead.

Having seen your pictures of long lining Dan, you definitely are light years ahead of me Gill. "a bit of practice" is rather an understatement when you turn me loose with the long lines. Poor Knight just seems to get confused and rather shut down after a while. But he isn't the bravest pony in the world and likes to just go on with what he knows well. Maybe I'm pushing for too much but I don't see why he can't eventually get the hang of this. Better plan on going terribly slowly at it for awhile I think.

[clara]

I think your intuition is right - go back a step. Do some lunging and long reigning with out pulling anything and no blinkers. Get him to respect your voice as much as he does your leg. Then stick the blinkers back on and then add pulling a load.
You probably have this figured out as you sound like a very sensible and experienced horse woman. Best of luck!