Zetahra Progress- Driving
Zetahra is my three-and-a-half year-old filly ( you know, the one with all the hair) and has been my main focus and project this year. I got her greenbroke to ride this Spring and have shifted my focus to her driving. On the riding side I've taken her out on trails twice, to the local horse park/public arena, and done a bit in my own little arena. I'm waiting until this Spring again before putting more ridden work on her and hope to show her in some schooling shows either pleasure or Dressage, perhaps both.
So with the nicer weather coming in I'm focusing on the driving part of her training. I'd ultimately love to take her up the levels in Dressage and also to do some CDEs (it's like eventing, but driving) and see how far we can go with that. There are big plans for this filly and I'm doing my best to get everything right on her.
Yesterday I introduced the false shafts in the form of a pair of pvc pipes tied to the shaft loops so they didn't slip out. She cared more about my neighbor starting his lawnmower than the shafts. Today I had my younger brother over and dragged him into assistance. After I warmed her up double-lungeing in the harness (she felt a little good/opinionated in the canter and humped up slightly, but worked out of it quickly) I put the false shafts on again and had Lance help by kicking the poles around both into and away from Z as I ground drove her. The response we got out of her primarily consisted of slowing down, not bad in the least.
Since I had another pair of hands about I decided to do a few minutes with the tire as well. To start I had Lance walk at her head since it is only the fifth time she has been hitched to it and it has been a month since the last time besides. She walked right off for me and after a lap I had Lance unhook and step back. We ventured a few brief trots, which she did beautifully. The first time I asked her up she went to jump into it and found the weight of the tire a bit more than expected, but the two times after she leaned into the collar and held it for several strides until I asked her to walk.
We called it a day and I have to say I'm really pleased with her progress.
And since I can't seem to resist asking questions: do any of you drive? Have you trained a horse to harness? What are the things you require of the horse before you put it to the cart the first time?
When we get there I plan on her first drive being a walk around the arena and calling it good. I also plan on asking my driving instructor what her list of requisites is before putting to the first time.
So with the nicer weather coming in I'm focusing on the driving part of her training. I'd ultimately love to take her up the levels in Dressage and also to do some CDEs (it's like eventing, but driving) and see how far we can go with that. There are big plans for this filly and I'm doing my best to get everything right on her.
Yesterday I introduced the false shafts in the form of a pair of pvc pipes tied to the shaft loops so they didn't slip out. She cared more about my neighbor starting his lawnmower than the shafts. Today I had my younger brother over and dragged him into assistance. After I warmed her up double-lungeing in the harness (she felt a little good/opinionated in the canter and humped up slightly, but worked out of it quickly) I put the false shafts on again and had Lance help by kicking the poles around both into and away from Z as I ground drove her. The response we got out of her primarily consisted of slowing down, not bad in the least.
Since I had another pair of hands about I decided to do a few minutes with the tire as well. To start I had Lance walk at her head since it is only the fifth time she has been hitched to it and it has been a month since the last time besides. She walked right off for me and after a lap I had Lance unhook and step back. We ventured a few brief trots, which she did beautifully. The first time I asked her up she went to jump into it and found the weight of the tire a bit more than expected, but the two times after she leaned into the collar and held it for several strides until I asked her to walk.
We called it a day and I have to say I'm really pleased with her progress.
And since I can't seem to resist asking questions: do any of you drive? Have you trained a horse to harness? What are the things you require of the horse before you put it to the cart the first time?
When we get there I plan on her first drive being a walk around the arena and calling it good. I also plan on asking my driving instructor what her list of requisites is before putting to the first time.