Does temperament make a difference?

[WashingtonCowgirl]

I got told today on another forum that it doesn't matter how calm the horse is when it comes to picking a driving horse. That it was totally irrelevant. Now, please tell me that I'm not the crazy one here, that temperament makes a HUGE difference in whether a horse will be successful driving or not.

 

[MajorClementine]

Temperament is why I will never try to break my thoroughbred to drive. But maybe someone really good could teach just about any horse??? I'd like a calm one please. That's about all I can handle. My gelding is about as spooky as I'd want a driving horse but that's just my comfort level.

 

[Minimor]

I can see the point in both sides. There are those people that can't get along with a driving horse unless it is very calm, and then there are those that are perfectly capable of training and driving a less than calm horse, and much prefer that sort. In my books there are some horse's that are rather cold blooded; they can be very calm, but they also have a cold blooded attitude about being trained; they can come unglued just because they don't feel like doing what is wanted.

For myself I don't look at 'calm' as such. I want a horse with some look at me attitude--he must have some spirit and am not intimidated if he goes along snorting. I do want him to have trainability --meaning he must be accepting of what I want him to do. More sensible than calm I suppose.

 

[WashingtonCowgirl]

They were upset that I am training Spanky to drive myself, and I'm pretty sure now that it was a desperate "I'm running out of things to say about it because you are proving all my points so far wrong" and the person was trying to be irritating at that point.

And I guess I can see both sides, but don't you still want a horse that is calm enough that it doesn't react to at least normal driving encounters?

 

[Jill]

I do think temperment makes a difference in many ways. Some horses are more docile and I don't know that this helps in all driving classes, but it may make it more (or less!) enjoyable for different people to drive (some people like a challange, etc.). Where I would see that temperment would make the biggest difference is how "driven" the horse is to please his/her person. Some horses really want to please their person and I think that is an asset when it comes to performance.

 

[Sue_C.]

I think a lot of people mistake "calm", with nonreactive", which isn't the same in all counts. The mare I am driving now has tons of "tude", believe you me...yet she is totally fearless, and responsive. Now, I also have an older mare that will fall asleep in harness if you let her...has a very laid back attitude, yet will eye-ball something new, and blow a bit...whereas the younger mare would just give it a look, a harumph, and do her "sassy-butt" trot right on by...

 

[susanne]

I read this a bit differently...perhaps wrongly so.

The people you spoke with may have been trying to say that, even with the calmest, best-natured horse, you should never take shortcuts in their training. They may have come across people who think that with minis' tractable nature, they can jump right into driving without the appropriate preliminaries. Minis can be so easy to handle from the ground that even fairly knowledgeable horsepeople sometimes forget that once they get in a cart and their feet leave the ground, any size advantage is lost. A pint-sized horse can run in front of a semi just as easily as a full-sized horse.

If that is what they are saying, don't take it personally -- they are most likely just concerned about your safety but aren't wording it very well. And if I read this wrong, it wouldn't be the first time!

 

[WashingtonCowgirl]

Yes Suzanne, after explaining the situation a bit more (on both ends) that is exactly what she meant. But it did give me a bit to think about. I guess I always grouped lazy and calm and non-reactive all in the same boat, when they aren't.

 

[disneyhorse]

Personally I'd rather drive a forward horse than a lazy one. But "calm" doesn't necessarily mean more trainable than an alert horse.

The driver should match the horse. Quarter horses and Saddlebreds are both breeds that can be driven, but the saddlebred will often be the less "calm" one. But not always!

 

[PaintMeFancy]

I think that depends on who it is and CALM is different then level headed. I think you need a sane horse to drive (from my limited experience) but I think this goes for riding as well for safety reasons. I would think a calm horse is a preference. My friend has a hyper (definitely not "calm") mini who she loves to drive - he likes to go and doesn't have the patience for silly at home walks... more of an endurance mini as you will...

I however being novice and having a 2 yr old kid (human kind) wanted a VERY calm and mellow horse to drive, however, I think with more experience knowing me riding I will want something with a little more pep and a little less calm when I don't have my toddler in tow.

 

[Knottymare]

Never forget the 7 Ps regardless of what your horse's temperament is

Prior Proper Planning Prevent P I S S Poor Performance!

 

[WashingtonCowgirl]

Never forget the 7 Ps regardless of what your horse's temperament is

Prior Proper Planning Prevent P I S S Poor Performance!

I've never heard that before. I love stuff like that, makes things so much easier to remember!

 

[targetsmom]

I was in a driving clinic a few years ago with a well-known Morgan trainer and asked him what to look for in a driving prospect and he said "temperament". I totally agree, because we have a spooky, claustrophobic gelding that we gave up on years ago. Now, temperament might mean different things to different people, but I would guess that the reason most people give up on a prospect (like we did) is because of temperament, manifested in training issues. That is assuming there wasn't some aspect of the training that led to physical problems, because I know that can happen too.

 

[MountainWoman]

I just started driving training and I chose to start with my laid back mare. Nothing ever bothers her and she's happy doing anything I ask of her. She just takes everything in her stride. I think if I were younger, I might have started with a more "up" horse but I'm not and we're perfectly happy together. I think you just have to do what works for you and your horse. I personally have so very much to learn about driving so I'm interested in having a willing, calm partner. Maybe it's like riding. There's beginner horses and advanced jumpers and everything in between. Just have to assess your skill level and your comfort level to make a good match.

 

[Blackwater Farm]

I think temperment makes a difference depending on what kind of driver you are and what kind of driving you want to do. We all know that there are just as many (and I can not stand Pat Parelli but will use his word!) horse-analities as there are personalities and different temperments will suit some and not others. So I can see how some say it matters and some say it doesnt. I say it depends!!!

 

[Blackwater Farm]

Never forget the 7 Ps regardless of what your horse's temperament is

Prior Proper Planning Prevent P I S S Poor Performance!

I LOVE THIS!!!

 

[studiowvw]

That Prior Proper Planning thing is a British military adage (Wikipedia) and taken up by many, including Pat Parelli.

Lots of good stuff in the Parelli program, but 'tis true, ol' Pat can be totally annoying

I went to a driving training clinic with Nate Bowers (son of natural driver trainer Steve Bowers, and now associated with Parelli).

The clinic and the solid base and foundation presented to the horse was AWWWWWWESOME!

The prep is to teach the horse accept and use the confines of the shafts, also the pressures of the harness.