31/12/2014
Finally tandem!
We have driven Ivanhoe and Paulette long reins in tandem before (you'll find a video somewhere in the blog) but finally we put them in cart too. Was really fun but we need some more practice in the turns... :D
08/12/2014
From foal to driving pony part 1.
So there was discussion of breaking a Shetland to harness a time a go in Shetland Pony Driving group in Fb so lets see how I and probably most of Finns do it.
Foal to yearling
The best way to get a driving pony suitable for yourself is to breed one! :D This is something I've noticed through the years, then you have the trust all the way and you know who the pony is - unless you spoil the trust with your actions. Here comes the advantage of having experience, then you know when to push more and especially - when to leave it. I don't use goodies or special technics like natural horsemanship, I just build the trust with the pony from the start and always try not to loose it, I think it is called common sense ;) It is always, in my opinion, so much easier to start doing things with a foal than have an adult pony who is not used to work with people and tend to already have its own opinions of doing or not doing things you ask for, so we start "working" with ponies in a normal calm pace to reach a driving pony who can basics in 3-3,5 years. Then to talk about training a pony forwards from that, is another story.
Our two year old colt Thorin Ax showing off for mares and foals. Your ponies moves a lot naturally if you pay attention to how you draw your fences, here safely colts and a gelding besides mares as there is a dtich between but you still get the effect of ponies moving in stead of just eating all day long, you know how Thelwell's these are...
So the summerfoal Shetlands have a few hectars pasture and lives in a herd or mares and youngsters, that makes them move and play all day long - never forget that a horse is born to move, so as we live on a farm, tiny paddocks is not an option, our ponies have lots of space. Summerfoals have their collars when their hooves are done and they get their medicines for worms from the age of 7 weeks and vaccines from the age of 6 months. I walk around in the pasture in summer (or I should say all year long) just to make a good connection with the foals and the best way to do it is to scratch them a lot, they love it and thinks only positively of you from the start! When they come to the stables in the summer for different reasons (their dam being washed, hooves etc...) we start leading them at the same time, following the dam makes it natural for them.
First time their hooves are done we have them in the box with their dam but then often on the stable corridor with the dam waiting in the box, I keep the foal and Marko works and I give them a lot of scratching all the time which they enjoy. Here they learn to stand in the corridor and it is just as natural as being free, it just is a thing you do as a pony and the don't question it as it is okey to be there and be scratched ;) Often you hear questions when to learn a horse to stand on the corridor for example, well we don't learn them in a certain point, it is just something that follows in the process and you just know when you can for example start to have them attached from the collar, usually I don't do it before they are yearlings and always first attached from just one side and keeping the rope yourself from the other side. You don't want to frighten them by attached them at once, they must first learn safely that if they move there comes a pressure and then they just have to move back to loosen, usually they do learn quickly when you can add a bit of flexibility keeping the other side to yourself at the beginning and as they are used to the same logic when being lead! It is so important to learn horses to adjust to pressure from they are foals, if you don't they will get the panic the first time it happens and if they are adult, it is much more dangerous! Two weeks ago our three summerfoals were microchipped and the registrator did not stop wondering how well beahaved our three foals were when chipped and taken blood tests to verify their parents, though it snaps them a bit, they trust you.
Jenniefer (the broodmare), Elenya Ax and Mithrim Ax happy of getting a new friend to play with.
First time their hooves are done we have them in the box with their dam but then often on the stable corridor with the dam waiting in the box, I keep the foal and Marko works and I give them a lot of scratching all the time which they enjoy. Here they learn to stand in the corridor and it is just as natural as being free, it just is a thing you do as a pony and the don't question it as it is okey to be there and be scratched ;) Often you hear questions when to learn a horse to stand on the corridor for example, well we don't learn them in a certain point, it is just something that follows in the process and you just know when you can for example start to have them attached from the collar, usually I don't do it before they are yearlings and always first attached from just one side and keeping the rope yourself from the other side. You don't want to frighten them by attached them at once, they must first learn safely that if they move there comes a pressure and then they just have to move back to loosen, usually they do learn quickly when you can add a bit of flexibility keeping the other side to yourself at the beginning and as they are used to the same logic when being lead! It is so important to learn horses to adjust to pressure from they are foals, if you don't they will get the panic the first time it happens and if they are adult, it is much more dangerous! Two weeks ago our three summerfoals were microchipped and the registrator did not stop wondering how well beahaved our three foals were when chipped and taken blood tests to verify their parents, though it snaps them a bit, they trust you.
Being in a horse transport comes naturally if we take them to breed shows with their dam as summerfoals, if not, then they usually do it with a friend or and older pony when they are yearlings and we have never had a problem with them loading or when driving the trailer, they just trust it is okey as it is you who present the new thing and they have a friend with them. Usually we taken a short drive or two the days before the trip to show them it is okey. They don't usually question walking to the trailer either as ponies are curious if you let them be - and again - they trust you. Let them look at the trailer and smell the floor and take their time and soon enought they walk in.
When they become yearling in the spring/summer we put the bits on when we take them on a walk around the farm and they get used to have something in the mouth. At the same time they get used to follow the human away from the herd, which they also have to do at the shows. It's usually no problem. Then we also teach them to trot and here I might have Marko behind the pony also asking the pony with voice commands to trot along if they don't start trotting with just me besides them. It is much easier if you be consist and in a friendly manner, demand them to do what you want (and I DON'T mean hitting!), because after a few tries they'll do it naturally the rest of their lives. Just be determind and still friendly and remember to praise them A LOT!
Foals are naturally curious and open-minded, just as kids...
When they become yearling in the spring/summer we put the bits on when we take them on a walk around the farm and they get used to have something in the mouth. At the same time they get used to follow the human away from the herd, which they also have to do at the shows. It's usually no problem. Then we also teach them to trot and here I might have Marko behind the pony also asking the pony with voice commands to trot along if they don't start trotting with just me besides them. It is much easier if you be consist and in a friendly manner, demand them to do what you want (and I DON'T mean hitting!), because after a few tries they'll do it naturally the rest of their lives. Just be determind and still friendly and remember to praise them A LOT!
Colt Dunedain Ax at official breeding evaluation for foals as yearling
Well that's about what we do till they turn 1 year :) I would never ever recommend someone to just leave the ponies until they are five, it is not fair to start demanding them then, if you don't have shown any interest before. You must give their minds and bodies time to adjust to work gradually as they grow and not take for granted that they will serve you perfectly at once when they are "grown up". You also very much must take their personalities in consideration, if one pony learns quickly it doesn't mean every one does. The most irritateing thing to do is not doing the basics properly and for examle hitch the to the carrige before they can handle it, so make it a fair experience for the pony, do your homework and make a connection with the ponies from the start, life is so much more simple after that!
04/12/2014
Writing...
Might start blogging again after a long pause... If someone wants to read my texts ;)
Lots have happened since last writing, we have for example participated in combine driving competitions and in breed show performance classes this year. Here som photos!
Lots have happened since last writing, we have for example participated in combine driving competitions and in breed show performance classes this year. Here som photos!
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