Banderas Walks the Line

Straight lines, circles & figure eights.  These are the things Banderas, the Hackney pony, learned in his first serious ground driving lesson today.  

Our previous attempts had been hampered by my inability to find a bit to fit his petite head.  He’s about a 46″ pony, but his features are very refined.  His pony bridle fits him, mostly now, after the punching some more holes.  The cavesson still needs some work.  But at long last, I found a bit that will work for his basic training: a 4″ eggbutt snaffle.  It’s a mini-me version of a grown-up bit. 

For this first lesson, we worked in the indoor arena.  I laced the lines through the tugs (the parts that normally hold the shafts of the cart) and set out.  We still had a couple of setbacks where Banderas wanted to either circle around me as if he were longeing or turn to face me, but we worked through those more easily than in the halter work.    Having the fine tune control of a bit & bridle made a big difference.  When he turned to face me this time, I was able to get him to move off more quickly to prevent a lines around the neck tangle.

I’m finding it interesting how different the control feels between long lines & riding reins.  The steering is totally different because you are so far back & removed from the horse, but I’m finding I can use much more subtle cueing to perform a turn or yield.  You have to start your moves earlier.   I’ve experienced the same with J, the Arabian / Warmblood cross on the long lines.  Makes me wonder if I can translate some of this “forethought” into my riding hand aids and have some positive results.  

Tags: horse, horse training, line driving, pony