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| Moderated by: Brenda Im |
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| ICTB | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Tue May 12th, 2009 09:19 pm |
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1st Post |
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SunnysMum G.O.G Community Member 
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I haven't driven her in a while, but we did just hook her back up after a couple months off and she was still remembered and did it really well. Didn't fuss or act like she had forgot at all. I think more so than listening to anyone else about "going slow" or what have you, you should listen to your horse. And go at a speed he's comfortable in handling. And if you can find a good Amish man, they always have great advice. The way my pony's trainer did it, he spent the first "lesson" ground driving her on long reins (frist in the round pen, then the arena) for an hour to teach her to turn from behind instead of with someone on her back and get use to a whip from the "driving" perspective. He taught her to stand quietly while he snapped it all around her and only move when given the cue to "walk on" (she had never been in long reins before this). Second "lesson" the next day (he only did an hour a day), he got two PVC pipes and started by putting on the blinders for the first time that day too. But anyway he attached the one pvc pipe to the one side, and when she didn't react to that and willingly dragged it for him, he put the other one on the other side and had her drag those around for the whole of the lesson and get use to turning with the "shafts" attached to her. And more "sound" training. Third "lesson" the next day after that, he spent about 5 minutes just driving her with the "shafts" to make sure she was ready, she did fine, and he brought one of his "breaking" carts over and hooked her up, drove her with it from walking behind until she got it, and about 10 after she was hooked up and he was walking he took to the seat and drove her around the arena for the rest of the lesson teaching her to "push" the cart from the shafts. Spent the last half hour of the lesson driving her around the stables yard. He said when we first asked him, that he didn't think she would do it. Sunny has very much an "watch me" attitude towards things. And Bob (her trainer) did say for her to be "show ready" it would take probably a good couple months of training but she was only "broke" for pleasure driving and at the age 12! and likely atleast 4 months for road before we could do anything with her on the road. But that she throughly impressed him on how fast she picked things up and adjusted to the new disciplin. And it smoothed out her gaits like butter! Advice? Teach your horse that Whoa means Stop no matter what, and that he is not to move until you give him the cue "walk on" or what ever you chose. Make as many different noises and motions as you can around him while requiring him to stand still (this is for safety!) and go at a speed you and him are comfortable with regardless of what anyone else thinks you know your 'Son' better than any one else. If you want I can also provide Bob's number, he would I'm sure be more than happy to advise and also recomend some books or trainer in your area, if you wanted that. He's been at it for about 35 years, and is amazing with horses. Edit:: Also be sure to get him use to things moving and touching his legs and belly in the instance that something like a strap or shaft break you don't want a panic horse to cause further injury to himself or who ever is driving him. Last edited on Tue May 12th, 2009 09:22 pm by SunnysMum ____________________ Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino |
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| Posted: Mon May 11th, 2009 07:30 pm |
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2nd Post |
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Rush Creek Farms G.O.G Community Member
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Everyone tells me to go slow. Ground drive, ground drive, ground drive before hitching to a cart. My horse seems to understand everything, and we're actually going to hitch him to the cart soon. We just don't have alot of space on our property to drive him, so that means we'll be using our country roads for the majority of the driving. I'm a worrier (just ask my husband!), so I'm imagining all the terrible things that could happen. If it dries out, the farmers will be starting to plant, so my plan is to have him harnessed up (no cart) with me at his head, and have him watch all the big farm equipment go by our house. Sunnys Mum - do you take your pony out to drive alot? Any advice? I've been reading books and watching a DVD on driving...
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| Posted: Tue May 5th, 2009 01:35 am |
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3rd Post |
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SunnysMum G.O.G Community Member
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Next Year? My pony was trained for driving in three hours, or is this just not an normal thing for them to be trained that quick?
____________________ Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino |
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| Posted: Mon May 4th, 2009 07:23 pm |
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4th Post |
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Rush Creek Farms G.O.G Community Member
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An update... I finally got the harness and tried it on my horse last night, including the blinkered bridle with the Imus training bit. He didn't mind a thing, even with all the straps and fussing and adjusting. (we've been practicing with a hand me down harness, so I was pretty sure it wouldn't bother him). I wasn't sure how he'd react to the blinkers. He didn't fuss at all. We ended up ground driving him for 5 minutes and he was fine. (huge sigh of relief from me!) Having the blinkers on him really made him focus and listen to what we were asking him to do - none of his "lookey - loo" gawking around. And the bit works great - just a little rein pressure and he was turning. Maybe next year we'll be ready to put him to a cart... Jen
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| Posted: Thu Mar 26th, 2009 10:19 pm |
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5th Post |
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whattarack Pasture Boss 
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If I remember right, the curb strap does not even engage unless you have the reins on the end of the shank which you would not use the reins in that position for driving anyway. You'll want to use the snaffle position. Better check test it to be sure. If the curb strap remains loose when you pull the rein, don't worry about it. If it engages, remove it.
____________________ Being Offended is Optional. |
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| Posted: Thu Mar 26th, 2009 07:21 pm |
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6th Post |
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Rush Creek Farms G.O.G Community Member
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Excellent! My horse will be so happy! Oh yeah, do I use a curb strap with the ICTB for this purpose? Thanks, Jen
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25th, 2009 01:06 pm |
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7th Post |
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Brenda Im Pasture Boss 
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The man who trains my young horses to drive uses the Imus Training Bit, which has the same mouthpiece as the ICB. Actually I asked him to give it a try one time, and when I went to pick up my horses he wouldn't give it back! PB 
____________________ It's not always about trying to fix something that's broken. Maybe it's about starting over and creating something better. |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25th, 2009 12:46 am |
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8th Post |
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SunnysMum G.O.G Community Member
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My pony's trainer said if you're just doing the driving for pleasure you can use any bit you want to for driving as long as the horse/pony undestands what you are trying to get them to do. So I really think you could use it for driving and it would be fine..
____________________ Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24th, 2009 09:36 pm |
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9th Post |
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Rush Creek Farms G.O.G Community Member
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Just wanted your input... Do you think the ICTB could be used as a driving bit? My horse loves his ICB, and we've just started to ground drive him, and if all goes well, use him to pull a simple two-wheeled cart. Currently, I use clothesline attached to the snaffle part of the ICB and it seems to be working. Would I use a curb strap for this purpose (with the ICTB)? I hate to use a different style of bit since he is so happy with the ICB... Thanks, Jen
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