Last Friday, Lisa brought a cart to Showgate for Violet to learn how to be a driving horse. On Friday, we put her into the harness and I lunged her. On Saturday, I lunged and long-lined her in Blinders. On Sunday, she had the whole harness on and trained and we rode. And then this past Monday, she began her training in earnest. Barbie and I spent two days long-lining her in full harness and then had her practice pulling a log, so she could get used to the pull, the feeling of tugging, and the noise. And on Tuesday, she was fine with the cart beside her. So, today we introduced her to the cart. We used her best Parelli squeeze game skills by walking her all around the cart on long-lines, squeezing her between the cart and a wall, and then had the cart jostled and banging about behind her. She wanted to turn to see the cart, but was calm and ready. Barbie and Tom led her and I held the lines in back and she was put between the shafts. She was a trooper. She got banged once on her back legs and was mellow and forgiving. She had a few rough spots as her three handlers figured out how to work her around the narrow arena, but she was elegant, willing, and sweet. I even got to give her some big kisses and love midway through this training session! I could not be more proud of this giving, strong, sweet, and intelligent mare! Tomorrow I go to the barn early so we can practice the shaft training some more! Namaste.
