Training Deaf stallion?

[EVican]

I have determined(with the help of my vet), that my boy Pippin is, indeed, deaf. Now I have a question: how do I go about training him to drive? How do I teach him voice commands such as "whoa", "walk on", "trot", etc.? Are my dreams of teaching him to drive out of the question now? I realize how important it is for a horse to know these commands, so if y'all have any experience or advice, it would be GREATLY appreciated!!

 

[Reignmaker Miniatures]

Don't give up on him, there is no reason to think he can't be an excellent driving horse regardless of his lack of hearing assuming he has the right stuff in other ways. Since he doesn't understand language the way we do anyway the words are only a cue for him with a trained response to the cue. You can substitute any signal, in his case non verbal, for the vocal cues. Try whip placement cues perhaps for each response required. I use my whip as a precue quite often with my horses before the follow up rein cue. It may be a bit more challenging in the beginning because you are used to speaking your directions and he is used to watching for what want and picking up subtle hints you likely aren't aware of. Just be patient, take it slow and forgive him his early mistakes because he must trust you to help him to understand each command in a whole new way. Without sound he relys on sight and now you are wanting him to rely on feel. Good luck.

 

[Mona]

I have heard and read that oftentimes the deaf horses make the best riding/driving horses because the sounds don't spook them. Good Luck with your new boy!

 

[Rocklone Miniature Horses]

Get him used to a whip asap. The whip can be used to flick on his bod for different things, for example my friends pony is trained left and right with just the whip (and i don't mean hitting the horse. i mean literally brushing the whips end on that side so he feels the side its on) so thats something, and "go" would be flicking it closer to his bum, and woah could be something else.

 

[Strangeaddiction]

I agree with everyone above, train him to the whip. You will have to come up with different cues for different things and make sure you are consistent!! I have trained deaf riding horses but never a driving horse. I also have a deaf dog. They are usually very smart and in tune to you so he should make a great driving horse. Consistency is key!