Training with a coach

As a beginner in combine driving it is extremly important to rely on professionals/coaches so since I started driving combine driving we have packed our ponies and carriages and went to training with three different coaches. You really have to be enthusiastic as that is not then at the nearby riding club but at least 150 km away from us as there is not so many drivers interested in training with a coach nearby and we have to find enthusiast further away :) So yesterday we drove to Vaasa, 150 km, to train with Ben Simonsen (for example silver in World Championships with single).

The ponies have practically not been driven the whole autumn because I was so busy with the job I had. I started training them before Christmas and we have just been jogging and working them with long more slow pace work-outs so the training was the first dressage drive for them in a long time. That I think was just an advantage as I think they don't forget what they have learn earlier but on the contrary are keen to work again. So I was very pleased the way they worked though of course they were a bit rusty.

One thing that is very annoying for me is when the ponies run againts the bit with the mouth open, in the beginning when I started driving Ivanhoe the dressage way in stead of the way he had learnt when he was a trotting race pony, he did that all the time. Easily you think that you are too hard on your hand (which also might be the case) or that you have to change the bit (which also might be the case), but Ben convinced me to be calm and wait, the pony have to first learn where you want it to be and what the right position is and then - as if by magic - they shot their mouth and work in the right shape when they understand what you expect of them. So I try not to worry about the mouth too much and wait, and it is just as he says. Then when the magic happens ;) it is your turn to ease your hand and touch. Not very easy in fact, I tend to be too slow and hang on the reins though one should have already eased the touch to the reins as the pony already works in a right way. Well, the point is anyway, I still drive only with straight bit and a slightly curved liverpool and that is all I have needed these two years and might be the only bits I ever need with Shetland forward, as they shut their mouth and relax when they start working the right way, trust it, they do; so = wait until your ponies learn to work in right shape first with a nice normal straight bit which they can rely on, then start make it complicate with ten different bits if you still think it is necessary ;) You can't expect the pony to work in a right position if you haven't taught the pony what it is you want. Of course ponies vary in the shape of their mouth, their temperament and spirit and might need for example a different bit, but still, think first where the problem might be, I usually find it in the other end of the reins... Be first sure of that both you and the pony understands what it is you are doing and what you are asking of the pony, I think it is very very very simple in the end, not easy though!

Ivanhoe had not been drivien with liverpool for a while and as we have only done some jogging work-outs he was hanging on the bit a lot in the beginning with open mouth

But he has not forgot what he has learnt earlier so after a while he was in the right shape

For Paulette (two photos above) the liverpool is too hard as she is a very sensitive mare so she is driven with a straight bit. She is very forward so the driving becomes easily a pulling contest but Ben drove her a few minutes and quickly she figured it out what is expected. She has been on a training like this only once before and driven only sporadic and more in pair, so I really have to work with her more to get her in the right shape.

Working in circles with Paulette

She has a nice trot too!

Training halt too above with Ivanhoe

 

And then again trot (Ivanhoe), it is very important to drive with a coach who look at it all from the ground and tells you what to do to learn it right straight away

As my ponies has only worked a few weeks now I'm very precise of how much I demand of them to keep it fun for all parts and then I have to notice also that they stand in the trailer a few hours also. So we stopped when both the ponies had had a good work out but in good time before they would have been tired. Then they are walked a while with two fleece rugs, the rugs changed once and after a while still one new fleece rug and normal outdoor rugs for transport to protect them from draft in the trailer. I cover their feet with boots and fleece or wollen wraps which is important as they have studs on their shoes and I don't want them to get hurt on their feet if they would loose balance in the transport. Home they got their Back On Track backwarmers on with a fleecerug for the evening to warm the muscles.

A happy driver and too lovely ponies on their way back in the trailer and home :D