Learning How to Harness Train a Horse

Although we had already decided which horse breed we wanted to bring to Sallygardens we also needed to do something about the fact that we are total  and utter horse novices. It became apparent that a horse trained up to do the pulling ('driving' in horsey terms) of carriages/loads of wood/etc.  is an expensive animal. We began to look at buying a younger horse that could be trained a couple of years later but training costs are high and the animal has to go to stay where it's being trained for a few weeks, maybe even a couple of months at €120 per week. I just didn't like the idea of sending my horse away (and I didn't even have a horse!). I started to wonder what it is that people actually do to train a horse, it all seemed so mysterious and secretive, something that a layperson couldn't possibly ever contemplate doing themselves for fear of death.  We were warned off this idea by a lot of people.

Then I happened across something that has changed our entire approach. I got in touch with the ispca in Longford to see if they might have a horse suitable to foster that would meet our needs. Through that connection I was introduced to Vanessa Bee. She runs a variety of courses, one of which taught participants how to train their horses to drive. I was sure I'd need to be a highly qualified and experienced horse trainer to attend, but I was assured that novices were more than welcome. What's more I didn't even need to own a horse to do the course, for those of us without an equine, we were paired up with an experienced horse handler and an  ispca rescue horses.

I have to say I was very scared at first but after we'd gone over the basics of how to build a trusting relationship with a horse based on respect and confidence, it all began to make sense. The key to those things seems to lie in learning how to politely 'ask' a horse to do something and crucially, how to recognise a 'try' and give immediate reward.

The course I attended first was two days of Pony Power during which we learnt how to introduce a horse to a harness, rig it up to something to pull and get the horse to move forward and drag the object. There were three horses and out of those one was successfully pulling heavy logs out of a wood, another was happy to drag a tyre around a field (a similar sensation to harrowing) and the third happily wore the harness and long reined nicely from the ground.

Tilly being long reined, she has previous driving experience

But before we familiarised the horses with any new equipment we first had fun tying it out on eachother.  We actually learnt an awful lot about how it felt to be a horse, actually it can be quite confusing deciphering all those 'asks' via the long reins! We also trialed a few quick release ideas incase a horse became scared and we needed to drop the load without delay.

This is Maria of Gaia's Horse blog with Pepsi and Crystal watching with anticipation

This horse Pepsi had never previously had a harness on before. She excelled and really loved the work. You can see how proud she is of herself. Once Vanessa had long reined her for a while and she was sure Pepsi was happy with everything she did her first job ... pulling a log out of the woods, and she did it like a pro.

This horse is only 14.2 hands high, which is the threshold from pony to horse, so she is a small horse. However you can see she is strong, her leg bones are chunky, her chest is broad and muscly, her rump is large and rounded and her back is short in length. These are the attributes, along with a gentle temperament, to look for in a working horse.

The course changed my attitude to horse training. I'm sure that with a little more help we'll be able to train our own horse. Apart from my own revelations with regard to horse training it also became apparent that the ispca rescue horses were undergoing a very valuable form of rehabilitation. They were being transformed from horses that sought kind hearted folk to offer them a place to live quietly in a field, to being very useful farm animals that can be utilised for work ... but of course the folk who foster them still need to be kindhearted. I'll be revisiting the ispca in Longford soon and telling you more about each of the horses there that are seeking a home.

Comments

[debra]

It is all about respect and trust, I think. #1 daughter had a horse named Pete. He was rescued off the track, and many said he'd "never amount to anything." With love, patience, trust and respect, #1 daughter built an incredible relationship with Pete. He followed her everywhere, and would do anything her understood her to ask.

[Cindy Jones]

I would love to be able to train my Appaloosa to do some of the farm chores. I bought two goats also with hopes of training them to pull a cart. Seems with all there is to do, these two things fall pretty near the bottom. Glad things are working with you and your horse.

[cliodhna]

what a cool thing to do, I grew up with a pony who became a large hairy member of the family. he would break loose from the field and come and kick the kitchen door when he got lonely. They have such individual personalities and just want to please. we just have to learn their language.