Ground
Driving
By Todd Martin
It
is that time of year when we are starting a lot of prospects, so what
better time to get some training tips for getting those youngsters
started. Once we have done the basics, teaching the young horse to
accept a saddle and understand the basic round pen work, we then start
teaching them to ground drive. The purpose for ground driving the
young horse before getting on their back is so when you get up there
for the first time you will have some kind of guide and steering.
You can teach ground driving in a snaffle or with a side pull. I like
to start one ground driving with a side pull or a pencil bosal. I
will start some in a smooth mouth snaffle if I have had their teeth
checked and their mouth looks OK to accept a bit. I do not want to
put a snaffle in one’s mouth if they have sharp edges on their
teeth because the snaffle will push on their cheeks and rub them against
their teeth. It becomes uncomfortable and that is not the way I want
to introduce the bit. If you have not checked their teeth and do not
have a bosal or a side pull then you can use a halter. Just attach
the driving lines to the sides of the halter, this will work the same
as a side pull with just a little less bite on the nose.
The first thing that you have to accomplish when driving is to get
the horse to go forward. If you have done your round pen work then
you have a place to start. The easiest way to start driving is to
start in a round pen with you in the center. Just the same as if you
were going to lunge the horse. For example lets work the horse in
a circle to the left. To start you will encourage the horse to go
forward by using the right driving rein to bump the horse on his rump
to get them to move forward . You will use the left driving rein to
help keep the horses head looking into the circle. Your position in
relation to the horse should be behind the shoulder but not directly
behind the horse. If you are directly behind the horse you will end
up doing just a much work as the horse and will probably poop out
before they will. If you are positioned behind the shoulder you can
work the horse around you and not wear out before they do. Once you
have gotten the horse relaxed, walking then trotting and loping in
both directions you are ready to teach them to stop.
When teaching the horse to stop on driving lines you will find out
quickly that you are not strong enough to pull the horse to a stop.
Instead use the round pen fence to teach them to turn and go the other
direction. To do this you will encourage the horse to go forward and
start guiding them to work closer to the rail. While they are on the
rail you will slowly turn the nose toward the fence, eventually they
will stop and go the other direction. Just remember to allow this
to happen and not try to make it happen. The more you let the youngster
do this naturally the more they will have time to figure out how to
position their body correctly to perform the maneuver correctly.
Ground
driving is a great tool to help get your youngster going along faster
once you are in the saddle. Here is a important tip to go along with
ground driving. If you are not the most coordinated person make sure
that you keep the excess driving reins from becoming coiled around
your legs. Especially if you have spurs on. I have seen people get
tied up in their driving reins and get drug around a pen. I prefer
driving reins that are one piece or connected in the middle, this
way I can just keep the driving reins over my shoulders and nothing
is left dragging around in the dirt to get caught up in my feet. Have
fun with your babies!
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