Q & A - Assessing Horses for Driving
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Evening Drivers!
This week we're answering a question on how we assess horses for driving, including stories about the very few horses Barry has trained who just didn't like driving at all.
As always, comments and questions welcome!
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This is unrelated to the subject, but I hope Barry knows what a great ASMR artist he is. I’m not saying he’s boring, I love his content, but the combination of horseshoes on pavement and the sound of his voice eases all troubles. I have a lot of anxiety and he’s helped. I can only imagine his voice, demeanor, and instincts have a similar effect on the horses he trains.
Dear Barry, you really are a wonder, just being able to know that a horse is sad and possibly what the cause is, is the most wonderful gift in the world. A true horse psychologist and it's so obvious that horses are your world as I can just imagine you being 'lost' during Covid when interactions weren't allowed, I feel your frustration as you mentioned painting the stables etc. You must have felt so lost without having the horses around for you to train as horses are literally 'in your blood' so to speak. ❤
I remember seeing the vid about the mare that would come into season with the breeching/crupper. And, the chestnut pony that hated driving.
I remember the pony that just had an "I'm not doing it!" attitude. The immovable attitude. :)
Barry your more then a horse person..your equine master.
Horses are your life and there’s nothing like years of experience to convey all you know.
Horses are individuals..like many animals.
Do enjoy your chats on the horsey matters..very interesting.
Thanks Barry n rea.
I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening than sitting and having a chat with Barry over the table‼️ . Thankyou for sharing your knowledge with us Barry.
Stay safe during these covid days. 🥰
Barry, the bits you refer to that you’ve had made (thinner rubber bits) are you selling them also? Trying to find a thin one for Atom’s little mouth is impossible!
More, more, more of these magical stories of the characters and little peculiar traits of the horses which have passed through your hands. I agree with Hannah - no wonder horses like you. Sitting in that chair in the stable you must have seen some things in your time. Have any of the horses objected to you being there? A stranger in a strange environment invading their space? If they do object do you stay, or go? What gives you pause and makes you think, or worries you when a new horse comes in? Poor Barry, I am not giving you a moments peace. Rhi: fantastic work with the editing, etc.
Thanks Anna - Baz says he always sits on a stool so he can rock back or move quickly, as some horses are 'freaked out' by you sitting there and turn to kick. He always goes back to them so that they can see he's not afraid of their display and they all eventually come around.
Thank you for that explanation. Just like us all horse are different.
🐴🐴
Hello me watching all your videos and how you train your beautiful horses we had horses when we were growing up I think that is great thing that you are taking responsibility training them and showing the world good job
Very informative, thank you!!
Many thanks for your words of experience.
our new forest was brought to driving by a big coach yard and they said she was still a bit skippy, and with us she had a couple of fierce bucking fits so we removed the crupper which helped but she kept her guard and ran away a couple of times with us (we were clearly not confident enough with driving and she has a very strong personality), so we ceased the cart work. Thinking on it we were green then, about 16 years ago. I been thinking even though she s 22 now, I could see her with her field companion who s a few hands bigger doing a pair, with just the bar between them. Especially as she has done 'tied on the side' which she seemed a lot happier with. I expect you would have more ideas about her. Been thinking to get them down to you when the time is right for a try out. :)
Hi Joanna, you'd be welcome to call / email to discuss training your horses - details are on the end of most of our videos!
I miss roly, has any horse taken his place for training?
So do we! No horse could ever take Roly's place, but these days we have George (Rhi's pony) as a pony schoolmaster and Cloud (a friesian cross gelding) as our horse schoolmaster. They appear from time to time on our videos.
@@barryhook2 That's good, it's easy having a horse teach them.
I had a mini pony, just on 9hh a few years back that I picked up for next to nothing who I started in harness. I put a lot of work into that boy because he was a height and colour match for the pony I already had but he never settled into it. The more gear he had on the more up tight he was and after several months of running him behind the sulky in training gear and him still behaving the same I gave up. In only two weeks after I did he was performing a dozen or so tricks at liberty so I sold him on to someone who liked that sort of thing.
As it turned out it did matter much in the end because the gelding I wanted to match him with permanently lamed himself felling over in the paddock so I can't drive at all for now.
One day I'll get back out there though.
Do you ever work with mules? Whats your opinion of them?
Do you have a preferred breed to train for driving? I know you love all the horses you train, but isn’t there one or two breeds that seem to adjust to harness/cart better than others?
I love your videos, been watching in preparation for training my donkey jenny pair to drive. Question: have you any experience training draft/cart donkeys? If yes, any insight or particular techniques you found suited them especially? Thank you kindly for all you do, Mr. Hook!
Yes we've trained donkeys before!
Here are some videos you might want to check out:
ua-cam.com/video/4-5MluxV_fY/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/8KH-NaxvRKM/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/uja1oMmfsi8/v-deo.html
A few years ago, I paid to have a driving lesson. I got to harness a pair of gray Percherons, and off we went on the local roads. It was a fun and challenging drive. My instructor said that it's easier to drive two horses than one. I still haven't figured out how that can be. It doesn't seem logical at all! I had assumed that a beginner would start with one horse, then progress to two, and a really skilled driver would be able to handle a four-in-hand. (And a crazy driver would handle more than that!!) What is your opinion--is it usually easier to drive two horses, or one?
Depends entirely on the training of the horse(s)!
I've a lovely rescue pony, good mannered, calls to me when I arrive at the stable block, loves a fuss. Backed nicely, no problem However......when she is in the field with the others she will not come unless another one comes too. She doesn't bolt, kick or rear, just refuses to move. Interestingly she is more likely to be compliant if the lead rope is not attached, almost as if not having the rope attached gives her the option of running off if she needs to, not that she ever has. Shes not being naughty, I think its insecurity, but I don't understand and want to help her. Any tips would be greatly appreciated
Thanks.. I think my mare might be like that. Rides fine but acts like she's in season immediately she meets a gelding or even her friend mare... She could do with a crupper on saddle but I daren't..
I enjoy your videos so much! I will be getting 2 Percherons soon, they get along but are new to eachother.
Dan is great, Prince panicked and tears when starting out.
Is it fair to work them both together while working on stand still?
I dont have a single cart, but could work on ground work with Prince, the problem child.
Recommendations please?
Rears, not tears
I’m looking for a soft rubber bit for a miniature horse 3 3/4 or 4 inches and can’t find that in the states. Any ideas of where I can find one?
I don't know what your budget is or if you're still looking for a non-metal bit, but Bombers Bits ships to U.S. and I like to use their Moulded bit for riding and driving my full-size horses. It's thinner/firmer/more flexible than most of the rubber bits I've come across; most of mine prefer it to the rubber bits I've tried. [Side note - their bit production is currently ~3 weeks out due to the pandemic, but shipping to U.S. is free and only takes about 3-4 days to arrive after the bit's been produced.]
www.bombersinternational.com/dressage-bits/dressage-mouthpiece/dressage-moulded-mullen/loose-ring-moulded-mullen-1-detail
[Click on the "Cheekpiece" box under options to switch from the full-size "Loose Ring" to the mini/small pony-size "Pony Loose Ring"]
While the available mini/pony bit sizings [105mm/~4.13" and 115mm/~4.53"] might "seem" too large for your mini, you're supposed to add 10-15mm [~0.4" to ~0.6"] to your horse's mouth measurement to get the appropriate Moulded bit sizing, so they *should* work.
If 3.75" bit fits your horse better, I'd say get the 105mm. If 4" fits yours better, the 115mm.
[you could also directly contact Bombers to discuss sizing and/or order a custom-size.]
They also sell mini/pony bit guards. [Figured I'd mention this since I personally like matching bit guards to whichever company I purchase a bits from; Reinsman guard to Reinsman bit, Bombers guard to Bombers bit, etc.]
www.bombersinternational.com/dressage-accessories/pony-bit-protector-55mm-4-detail
Barry, I was at your clinic in Gettysburg. I bought a pony that I believe was in a wreck. She is sweet about everything but panics when something touches her back legs. In your opinion could I patiently retrain her not to panic. I don't need to go fast I would just like to make her comfortable.
We have retrained horses with similar issues, it should be possible but would depend entirely on the individual horse.
@@barryhook2 Thank you I will keep you posted
Is it possible the shetland that didnt like driving was not adapting to being away from home. Praps due to preciously moving from a good ome to a bad one, so triggered? just a thought as we had a mare who took a year to settle with us in a herd.
Possibly - horses should always be given plenty of time to settle when they move to a new home. For some horses, however, starting familiar work or even something new to do can actually help them settle into their new environment and routine.
Is there a certain breed you find easiest or hardest to take to harness work?
Keep watching - that question is one that will be answered in the coming weeks :)
I don’t like the word “breaking” a horse. Much prefer “starting” or “restarting” as a term.