I have come to this thread, read, but until now, not had time for the kind of reply I would like to give(I think deeply about what I wish to say, so it takes me some time to write it out, in most cases.)
This is an excellent discussion. Liz, the way Mouse is moving in the 'now' photo appears VERY suitable for a potentially successful Country Pleasure horse! I would ENCOURAGE you to work with him toward the goal of sucess in breed showing, IF that is what you want-but ALSO, to consider the overall picture of how you wish your horse to be useful to you! I do think that ANY driver with good intent needs to be aware of the 'realities' of the breed show ring and the judging thereof, though.
I will begin by saying that my reference is mainly to AMHA breed showing(I took several firsts in the only R show I ever entered, but have never had occasion to attend another-and though it is a minimal sample, will say that the competition was then not NEARLY as tough as in the comparably-sized A shows I was also attending-some of you won't like my saying that, but it was what I found to be so.)When I started in minis, it was nearly all 'about' Halter-driving classes were MUCH smaller-and the same was true of the other performance classes. Has the quality of (driving, esp.)performance 'improved' in those years since the mid-80s? Absolutely-BUT, with the stronger interest has come all of the bad things you refer to(and more, believe me!) Though I believe that many who judge Miniature horse breed shows have 'learned more' about judging driving, I also believe that it has certainly not all been proper 'learning'. I have observed the now almost-universal tendency to judge/place Single as if it were Park(which, IMO, is where many if not most of the horses now showing there SHOULD be entered), and Country as if it were Single(too much SPEED, not enough MANNERS, improper WALK, too much/too tight CHECKS-and Country should certainly NOT be the haven for horses who can't quite 'cut it' (yet, or ever)in the Single Pl. classes!-yet friends who recently attended the Central Championships were told by other successful and truly Amateur exhibitors(meaning, not those who were being handed their horses by the trainers on the way into the ring and handing them back on the way out) that they were obviously driving according to the AMHA Rulebook, but that if they wanted to win, they would have to 'throw out' the rulebook-and when they did(tightening their checks, going FAST, having no concern about a good walk)-in Country-they indeed placed far better....
I absolutely AGREE that the days when a horse that is not a good mover could place well at any but the tiniest of local shows are GONE; it should be accepted that today, you MUST have a horse that is at least an above-average mover, be it high action OR 'grass-cutting'-or even middle-of-the-road! (This should not mean that horses that are average, or even below average, movers, can't be trained and enjoyed by their owners--just that owners need to be realistic in their expectations in the "high level" breed show ring-truthfully, there are going to be horses who do well at the local level that just aren't going to be considered at the national level.)Also, it should be a 'given' that to be competitive at the highest levels, ultimately, a horse must be steady and reliable in its performance, performing WELL and PROPERLY in competition(and this kind of consistency can only come by following an unrushed, patient, knowledgeable training program, along with experience.)
I was fortunate to know(and respect, and still do)one of the best, genuinely kind but talented trainers of Miniature horses there is, when I was starting to train my own to drive. She gave me some excellent tips-but also told me to buy my first 'show' harness-a Lutke-with an overcheck, and she(at that time)used ONLY an overcheck, and running martingale-which I did, and in my naivete, tried using both. I disliked both, quit using them routinely-and now believe that, although there may be those OCCASIONAL horses that 'need' a running martingale, for instance, as a training aid, in limited use, it is NOT a 'must' for driving!!(and, I would like to see ANY check made optional, at least for adult drivers.) My point is, that you CAN(I am living proof, as I have 'made' two AMHA Champions-for which being an 'ALL AROUND' horse is a requisite-and neither has ever been tightly checked(and are driven without a check, or with a loose sidecheck if the trackside grass is high and tempting ;-) -when not in the breed show ring),nor been driven with a running martingale--train your horse so that it can give a good account of itself in the breed show ring, yet be a versatile and competent animal for trail driving, parades and other public appearances, and even ADS-type competitions, including pleasure driving classes, reinsmanship, scurry, etc. and CDEs! Though there is indeed a different 'emphasis' in breed show ring vs. ADS-type show/competition/pleasure driving, I am one who does NOT believe that the two should be considered as separate and apart. I believe in training principles that include: doing LOTS of foundation work-ground driving, long lining, bending exercises, having the horse become SOLID in its understanding of 'whoa', and other verbal commands, such as 'walk, trot, trot on, step up', and, depending on the individual horse, 'back'- along with dragging the shaft simulator, accepting bags of straw hanging off the harness saddle, etc. -before ever hooking the horse. I want them VERY accepting of every experience I can think of BEFORE they are attached to that vehicle. I do not use head sets as a matter of course. I use an open bridle until I am nearly ready to hook. I am absolutely convinced that one can, and in fact, SHOULD, use these kinds of principles in the driving training of ANY horse-IF your goal is to produce a truly well-trained, versatile animal.
I strongly feel that if you put this kind of SLOW, SOLID foundation on a horse, you can then go in about any direction with them. I train EVERY horse with breeching from the start-yet have been perfectly able to take such horses into breed driving classes w/o breeching(though I am frank to say, I do NOT like the practice, as I have come to believe that it is at best unkind to expect a horse, esp. a miniature, to back a cart and driver via the tug loops and therefore the harness saddle, as they must if there is no breeching. It is usually only 'gotten by with' in the mini breed show ring. ) Once Country Pleas. classes were introduced into AMHA driving, I began showing(and yes, placing well and even winning!)with a suitable turnout, and USING BREECHING!!! (Gasp!) It CAN be done....the 'secret', if there is one, is to know enough to understand that although the breed show ring and the wider world of 'real'(for want of a better word; I don't consider roundy-round the show ring 'real' driving, now that I know what the 'real' driving world can consist of)differ in their emphasis, that you are MUCH more likely to have an all-around, fully-enjoyable horse if you are willing to spend the time putting a good foundation on the horse-and if that is done, chances are VERY good that you can successfully exhibit/use the horse in any venue! The principles of true collection and extension, enabling a horse to learn to 'use itself' to its best advantage, are a long tried-and-true, if lofty,goal worth taking the necessary time and patience to achieve. If what you want is 'quick glory' in the breed show ring, then you may well 'get by' with 'hooking this week, showing a few weeks later', at least with an accepting animal, and leaving out such proven areas of needed training as acceptance of breeching-after all, show rings are level, and you don't have to ask the horse to back far, right? -or in Roadster, not at all--but I will say that any horse so lacking in an all-encompassing driving education would not and does not interest me-no matter how well they may have done/do in the breed show ring. Show me the horse that is learning/has learned how to stretch down and seek true contact with the bit, who is becoming/is truly collected, in a balanced frame, relaxed but energetic-then you have my attention, and respect!
I am taking an occasional outside Miniature for driving training, nowadays(and therefore, have given up Amateur status). I ground drive(working the horse 5 days a week)for at LEAST 30 days before I will hook-no matter how accepting it is of the basic gear and handling. Liz, with your level of experience, and desire to take a correct approach, I see no reason why you couldn't be successful in both the area showring AND in other enjoyable driving venues.
I do agree with Andrea in some aspects about the breed show ring-specifically, that a class gives only a very brief glimpse-and IMO, often not a truly accurate one-about what a horse is and can do. I don't really agree that it is where breeders are testing out the success of their matings...though perhaps, if all horses were shown with only the benefits of excellent and proper training and development of their abilities, then it should and would be that! I am totally in favor of BREEDING for desired abilities and talents; this is a major reason why I am vehemently OPPOSED to 'enhancements' of any sort! As has been pointed out here ad nauseum-no, you cannot take a horse with NO ability and turn it into a bodacious mover with enhancements-that's not what I think, nor what I mean. As others have said, too-lots of people simply enjoy the experience of showing-far from limiting it basically to an activity for breeders.
Our club instituted some non-point, non-approved Novice classes at our self-sponsored show this spring. Such are a perfect place for those wanting to 'get their feet wet'; perhaps you might approach whoever puts on your area's miniature breed shows for consideration of a similar idea?
Liz--I admire your depth of thought on this subject, for it shows a deep committment to 'trying to do it well and right'-which is a very admirable position, IMO! Would that more were like you....YOU GO, GIRL!!!
(And, I do like the idea of no headers in adult-driven Country Pleasure classes, horsefeather.)
Margo
