| Wendy, there is someone who shows Appaloosas who might be of some
assistance in answering these questions, especially since many of
the QH and Appaloosa judges do judge both breeds. She is in western
Mass and if you'd like more info, please send me mail at MARX::FOX.
Good luck,
Linda
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| Wendy, there was an earlier note that somewhat discussed this
topic. You probably do not want to invest in any fancy equipment
(harness & cart) until you have hitched your horse and had a
chance to drive her - to see if this is something she will be
really good at, then at that point, consider the investment.
Does your horse know how to ground drive very well? You should
borrow a harness if possible, or buy a schooling harness and put
it on your mare and just ground drive her for a couple of weeks,
taking her out on roads or anywhere you expect her to pull the cart.
This will get her accustomed to the buckles and straps and everything
else, before you actually hitch her up. There was a couple of articles
in some old issues of Equus that took you through the various stages
of training a horse to drive. It was worth reading if you can get
a hold of the articles. The first few times you hitch her up to
a cart, you might want to work in an indoor ring, or an enclosed
level area that has plenty of room to turn. It's very different
for the horse to turn when the cart is hitched up because the shafts
poke them in the neck, and the horse must make a nice wide swing
so the cart doesn't get stuck. You should try borrowing a breaking
cart (like the kind they use with the standardbreds) because they
are very light and good for training. When you first hook her to
to the cart, you should have a helper lead her from the bridle,
and you should walk behind the cart before you try adding weight
to the cart (by sitting in it). When she is comfortable with this,
have the helper let go, and you try driving her from behind the
cart. When you want to try sitting in the cart, use the helper
again, until the horse is calm, and you feel she is ready to be
left on her own. You must make sure that at all times, the horse
is relaxed and not frightned by equipment or what you are asking.
If she seems nervous when you try something new, go back to what
she is comfortable with then slowly try the new task again.
I had been ground driving my horse off and on for about a year,
and I finally purchased a harness and breaking cart last fall.
It only took me about two weeks to completely break him to the cart
with someone in it, and he seemed to know exactly what to do once
I took him out on the roads, but most horses will require more time
than this. If he wasn't as good as he is to work around (nothing
really bothers him), I would not have done things as quickly. The
first time I actually took him out on the road, everyone happened
to be out doing yard work. We passed a lawn mower and tractor,
someone washing their car, kids riding bicycles, a dog that tried
to attack us, joggers and other distractions, but luckily he was
really good about it all.
Good luck to you, and let me know if you have any problems or
questions.
*Julie*
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| THE LAST NOTE JUST ABOUT SAYS IT ALL, THE ONLY OTHER THING I COULD
ADD WOULD BE THAT LUNGING A HORSE IN THE COMPLETE HARNESS HELPS
THEM TO GET USED OF ALL THE BOUNCING AND MOVING STRAPS.
I HAVE AN APPY MARE WHO WAS TRAINED WESTERN PLEASURE AND IS NOW
A VERY PLEASUREABLE DRIVING HORSE. I BELIEVE THAT THE QUIET WESTERN
TRAINING HELPS TOWARDS STARTING A HORSE IN DRIVING.
DRIVING IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE POPULAR IN NEW ENGLAND!!
THERE IS A DRIVING EVENT SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 7TH, LOCATED IN CONCORD
N.H. SPONSORED BY THE CONCORD COACH SOCIETY. ALL ASPECTS OF DRIVING
WILL BE REPRESENTED. MIGHT GIVE YOU SOME IDEAS. GOOD LUCK.
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