with Elisa Marocchi Introducing Your Horse to Driving – Part 2 Last month we looked at what to consider if one wishes to
start their own horse or pony in
harness. This month, I’ll introduce the first step on the journey to
enjoying driving with your equine partner. The goal of this lesson is
for your horse to consistently and promptly obey voice commands Elisa winning the FEI 1* at the 2018 Katydid CDE in South Carolina. Photo credit Picsofyou.com.
irst though, a reminder that ideally, this work should be undertaken in partnership with an experienced driver – preferably someone who trains driving horses regularly. The actual first hitch and early drives should be with the assistance of a professional, or a seasoned driver. The steps outlined here and in subsequent articles provide an overview only. More detailed explanations can be found in my publication “Introducing your Horse to Driving” (available at www.wildwoodfarm.ca) or in any number of excellent books available on the subject. OK - let’s get started! Non-slip, sturdy footwear and leather gloves are a must and some readers may want to wear a helmet. A round pen or fenced arena is helpful, but not required. While you’ll eventually need to have a full set of harness on hand, for the first lesson all you’ll need is a
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for walk, trot, canter and halt on the single lunge.
regular bridle with a snaffle bit, a single lunge line and a lunge whip. If you read my article on the importance of walk work, you’ll know that we will start off in this gait. This allows your horse to relax and be in a mindset where he can listen and learn from you. With the lunge line attached to the bit or headstall (attached in whatever manner you prefer, providing it is safe and comfortable for you and your horse), begin by introducing a simple, consistent verbal cue to ask your horse to walk. I use “walk up” with an upward lilt to my voice and the emphasis on the word “up.” Ask once in a clear, firm voice, raising your lunge whip and pointing it at his hip as you speak. If your horse doesn’t promptly walk on, repeat the command but this time raise your voice and lightly apply the lunge whip to his hip. The goal is for your horse to respond right away to the initial voice command so be firm
