At 22:30:46 on 12.03.10, Arabs01 wrote:
Hi I have a 9hh pony that I would love to harness train, But this is a new area for me so I would love any tips or advice on this :)

At 23:30:00 on 12.03.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Long line first, start with long lining with saddle, then long line in a harness without the trap/buggie/carriage etc. Once he is used to this you can attach it all up and drive your pony around :). Remember lots of praise.

At 01:52:00 on 13.03.10, Arabs01 wrote:
Ok sounds like a good start to me thanks for that. How do I get him used to the buggy? Someone did suggest to me to start by getting them to drag a tyre.

At 08:18:09 on 13.03.10, j_leopold wrote:
yes you could get him topull a trye that way if he panics he is not gonna hurt himself with a tyre than if it was the buggy...take everything at his pace and sont rush im...it took 6 months to get one of mine in it walking quite happily...and theother one still isnt their as he is quite nervous so we going to start from the begining...the thing im struggeling with is the trot...anyone have any ideas how to get my pony use to trotting with the buggy...

At 19:34:01 on 13.03.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
As for the buggy thing i would give the horse his feed on the buggy and generally associate the buggy with good things. Treats, fuss, hay, whatever your pony likes. Now he is totally relaxed walk him infront of the buggy with someone pushing the buggy (not attached) so he see's that the buggy won't hurt him and if he does panic he is not attached. Do this a few times. Now harness him up with long lines (still not attached) in front of the buggy again. This is a multi-task including more than one person but the more people helping the better as more company generally makes ponies relax. Now harness him up to the buggy and just stand there, ask nothing of him just give him treats or fuss. Now take a few steps and then praise, everything nice happens when he pulls the buggy. Increase this daily but don't do too much at once. The first time you hitch him up and ask him to pull someone in a buggy have someone leading him too at the same time as using the aids. The Person leading can praise when he does something well. Hope this works. To j_leopold start again but long line at a trot, lead him with the buggy or long line as above at a trot. Praise, praise and more praise. Considering you pony has done it before at a walk the trot shouldn't be too much trouble, you pony probably just needs to learn the command for "trot" haha.

At 21:18:20 on 13.03.10, j_leopold wrote:
no he nows how to long line in trot..he is learning the piaffee in long reins atm as he does high school inlong riens...i think its the noise he doesnt like..so im gonna have to long lien whilsy making noises bejind him i think lol..

At 04:55:06 on 14.03.10, Arabs01 wrote:
These are very helpful tips thank you. I am lucky my lil guy loves food so I will use lots of treats. I still have to buy a harness for him I am using a roller and long reins atm. Harnesses are expensive!!

At 15:38:15 on 14.03.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Good luck with the noises j_leopold and to Arabs01 try looking for a second hand one, go on ebay and stuff, always a bargain to be had if you look hard enough lol :)

At 14:29:01 on 06.04.10, ToriSilverson wrote:

hey i thought i would ask here rather than start a new discussion. My 12hh pony, now has no work, the girl who was loaning her has moved on to horses, and my uncle doesnt use her much in the riding school, and i swear she was always tubby but shes huge now. so i was thinking of harness training her to try and get some weight off her and give her something to do...wot do you guys think? she can be quite spooky tho but shes very intelligent.

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At 19:58:08 on 06.04.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
To ToriSilverson i think harness training is a great idea! It is loads of fun and with blinkers she will probably stop spooking and she will probably end up concentrating so hard on the buggy and pulling it she will forget to spook! Haha, good luck.