I'm Training My Miniature! But How? (pics of pony)

Miniature_Pleasure · 11-27-2006, 06:49 PM

Where do I start??? Ah, I know. Well about 2-3 years ago I bought a black and white Miniature gelding approximately 7.2hh. He is definately a cute little thing!

Well the people we bought him from said that he would make an excellent driving mini, but the thing is I'm not sure how to teach him. I have the bridle ( I just need a bit), and I have a harness, I don't have a cart but hopefully will be getting one this Christmas. So to make a long story short, I need to know how to train him, I've used the "ol' use the lunge line attached to both sides of the halter try to train thing" and that worked out very good, but he's been a little stuborn about driving. I think that he is still a little sad that his best friend, my 9 year old American Paint Pony(black and white) aproprietly named Oreo, just left our house on Saturday to go to a friend of mine's house for training.

So What should I do???

Signed,

Ashlyn

**Range** · 11-27-2006, 08:01 PM

Having just been through this with my miniature mare and giving up since I just don't think she's cut out for driving (she LOVES to jump), I suggest getting some books. There are some good ones out there, can't remember them right now. Also, do a search on "driving" on this forum and check out the threads. I know I posted a lot over the summer about my trials and tribulations!

I wish I could help more...

ron · 11-28-2006, 11:21 AM

In your position, the first thing I would do when teaching a horse how to drive.....would be find a trainer that trains driving.

some of the worst wrecks you can imagine happen when driving.

and just because he is a mini...don't think that he can't overpower you while in the cart.

get a trainer, get driving lessons for you.

country-mare · 11-28-2006, 11:33 AM

I agree with ron, find someone who can help teach you to drive and work with your pony. This is what I have planed for Jack in a couple of years. I have a friend that shows and raises shetland and so for she has been a big help with any questions I've had with working with Jack.
The web site www.minitack.com has books on teaching your pony or mini to drive, I'v already bought one and there is another I also want.
Good luch with your mini and let us know how it goes.

BarrelGirl · 11-28-2006, 01:51 PM

Let me begin by telling you that I didn't go about training my first driving mini the right way...

My parents told me if I wanted her to drive, it was up to me to teach her. I was maybe 9 at the time. I thought I had all the basics down, before I hooked her up to the cart, but I forgot one important thing... they can't bend around when they turn because of the shafts! My first mini took off of me and I pulled one rein to stop (full-size horse riding was engrained in my head) and I caused quite a wreck. She tried to turn, but bent her body too much and flipped. No one was hurt, and I did end up taking that mare to AMHR nationals in 1998 and placed 8th in my driving class!!

Ever since then, I have taught every mini we have to drive. I have a good system and normally get them in the cart and down the road in two or three days. I haven't come across a mini that didn't take to the cart well, but I just could be lucky. It obviously takes a little more time to get them show-ready, but they could walk, trot, stop, and turn in the cart within two or three days.

Since you've never done it, though, I'd suggest getting someone to help you.

babycakes · 11-28-2006, 01:58 PM

If you could find someone who knows how to train ponies to drive that would be very helpful. I personally find the books very confusing and wish I could help, but my mother is the driving person.

The only real advice I have is to begin with ground driving. Do this as long as needed. Take your time.

After this make sure you get your pony used to something following behind them. My mother had someone follow her around with a wheelbarrel. You can also hold broom sticks up against his sides so he gets used to the feeling of the shafts.

Be very cautious when it comes to actually hooking up the cart. Some horses will freak out. I would definatly make sure you have someone experianced to help you with this.

Also, always remember that when other horses see you and your horse hooked up to a cart they have no idea what it is. So be aware that some horses may bug out and make your pony nervous.

BarrelGirl · 11-28-2006, 02:14 PM

The only thing with ground driving... remember that they shouldn't bend too far when they turn... it's more like the rein pressure moves their shoulders over instead of bending their neck around. I've always been told that if you draw imaginary lines straight ahead off their shafts, their head should never come out of those imaginary lines. I wish I had pics showing this...

Because of this, I've personally found it much easier to spend less time on ground driving and more time putting miles in the cart with them. I've never had a cart kicker and only had that one runaway incident and I've trained 11 minis how to drive.

But... before ours are driving minis, they're obstacle minis. They have already been used to bells, tarps, bridges, bags of aluminum cans, wheelbarrels, small wagons, etc. And one thing that helps A TON... since we have many minis, we like to pony some behind the cart while driving another mini. After being ponied behind and beside the cart, they've already been exposed to it's noises, etc, all that's left is the feeling of the shafts. (but that feeling is less stressful because like I've said, they've been exposed to everything, including bags of cans on their backs, wreaths, etc.) With all their exposure to strange objects, the sound of the cart barely phases them.

I know some reputable mini trainers around here put their minis in a bitting rig thingy and put a little pressure on the inside rein in a round pen. When they give, they stop and switch sides. As soon as the horse gives to both sides, they hook it up to the cart and take it in the field. They let the horse run/trot as quick or as slow as the horse chooses, and figure out the turning and stopping while in the field. No obstructions, nothing to run into. They do the same with their shetlands. While I don't agree wholly with what they do, their driving horses always win because they're flashy and always a little edgy. For driving shows, they like the hotter, flashier horses because they normally have a higher headset and pick up their feet a little more.

11-27-2006, 06:49 PM
Miniature_Pleasure Newborn Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ----, MA Posts: 5	I'm Training My Miniature! But How? (pics of pony) Where do I start??? Ah, I know. Well about 2-3 years ago I bought a black and white Miniature gelding approximately 7.2hh. He is definately a cute little thing! Well the people we bought him from said that he would make an excellent driving mini, but the thing is I'm not sure how to teach him. I have the bridle ( I just need a bit), and I have a harness, I don't have a cart but hopefully will be getting one this Christmas. So to make a long story short, I need to know how to train him, I've used the "ol' use the lunge line attached to both sides of the halter try to train thing" and that worked out very good, but he's been a little stuborn about driving. I think that he is still a little sad that his best friend, my 9 year old American Paint Pony(black and white) aproprietly named Oreo, just left our house on Saturday to go to a friend of mine's house for training. So What should I do??? Signed, Ashlyn

11-27-2006, 08:01 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,898	training Having just been through this with my miniature mare and giving up since I just don't think she's cut out for driving (she LOVES to jump), I suggest getting some books. There are some good ones out there, can't remember them right now. Also, do a search on "driving" on this forum and check out the threads. I know I posted a lot over the summer about my trials and tribulations! I wish I could help more... __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

11-28-2006, 11:21 AM
ron Started Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 2,649	In your position, the first thing I would do when teaching a horse how to drive.....would be find a trainer that trains driving. some of the worst wrecks you can imagine happen when driving. and just because he is a mini...don't think that he can't overpower you while in the cart. get a trainer, get driving lessons for you. __________________ Well now boogie little baby, boogie woogie all night long. A haw, haw, haw, haw, a haw.

11-28-2006, 11:33 AM
country-mare Coming two Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fred, Texas Posts: 1,520	I agree with ron, find someone who can help teach you to drive and work with your pony. This is what I have planed for Jack in a couple of years. I have a friend that shows and raises shetland and so for she has been a big help with any questions I've had with working with Jack. The web site www.minitack.com has books on teaching your pony or mini to drive, I'v already bought one and there is another I also want. Good luch with your mini and let us know how it goes.

11-28-2006, 01:51 PM
BarrelGirl Coming two Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,893	Let me begin by telling you that I didn't go about training my first driving mini the right way... My parents told me if I wanted her to drive, it was up to me to teach her. I was maybe 9 at the time. I thought I had all the basics down, before I hooked her up to the cart, but I forgot one important thing... they can't bend around when they turn because of the shafts! My first mini took off of me and I pulled one rein to stop (full-size horse riding was engrained in my head) and I caused quite a wreck. She tried to turn, but bent her body too much and flipped. No one was hurt, and I did end up taking that mare to AMHR nationals in 1998 and placed 8th in my driving class!! Ever since then, I have taught every mini we have to drive. I have a good system and normally get them in the cart and down the road in two or three days. I haven't come across a mini that didn't take to the cart well, but I just could be lucky. It obviously takes a little more time to get them show-ready, but they could walk, trot, stop, and turn in the cart within two or three days. Since you've never done it, though, I'd suggest getting someone to help you.

11-28-2006, 01:58 PM
babycakes Coming two Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,586	If you could find someone who knows how to train ponies to drive that would be very helpful. I personally find the books very confusing and wish I could help, but my mother is the driving person. The only real advice I have is to begin with ground driving. Do this as long as needed. Take your time. After this make sure you get your pony used to something following behind them. My mother had someone follow her around with a wheelbarrel. You can also hold broom sticks up against his sides so he gets used to the feeling of the shafts. Be very cautious when it comes to actually hooking up the cart. Some horses will freak out. I would definatly make sure you have someone experianced to help you with this. Also, always remember that when other horses see you and your horse hooked up to a cart they have no idea what it is. So be aware that some horses may bug out and make your pony nervous. __________________ Jena <3

11-28-2006, 02:14 PM
BarrelGirl Coming two Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,893	The only thing with ground driving... remember that they shouldn't bend too far when they turn... it's more like the rein pressure moves their shoulders over instead of bending their neck around. I've always been told that if you draw imaginary lines straight ahead off their shafts, their head should never come out of those imaginary lines. I wish I had pics showing this... Because of this, I've personally found it much easier to spend less time on ground driving and more time putting miles in the cart with them. I've never had a cart kicker and only had that one runaway incident and I've trained 11 minis how to drive. But... before ours are driving minis, they're obstacle minis. They have already been used to bells, tarps, bridges, bags of aluminum cans, wheelbarrels, small wagons, etc. And one thing that helps A TON... since we have many minis, we like to pony some behind the cart while driving another mini. After being ponied behind and beside the cart, they've already been exposed to it's noises, etc, all that's left is the feeling of the shafts. (but that feeling is less stressful because like I've said, they've been exposed to everything, including bags of cans on their backs, wreaths, etc.) With all their exposure to strange objects, the sound of the cart barely phases them. I know some reputable mini trainers around here put their minis in a bitting rig thingy and put a little pressure on the inside rein in a round pen. When they give, they stop and switch sides. As soon as the horse gives to both sides, they hook it up to the cart and take it in the field. They let the horse run/trot as quick or as slow as the horse chooses, and figure out the turning and stopping while in the field. No obstructions, nothing to run into. They do the same with their shetlands. While I don't agree wholly with what they do, their driving horses always win because they're flashy and always a little edgy. For driving shows, they like the hotter, flashier horses because they normally have a higher headset and pick up their feet a little more.