I put the harness on billy for the first time since last march. No kicking out today. I'm so relieved.
When I put it on him last February after 2 months break from driving and his first time with me harnessing up since buying him, he had melt down and started kicking out with the breaching and crupper. Not at all what I expected considering he was suppose to have done more driving than riding. I put it on him again a month later and he still didn't seem happy. I decided to let him mature and just work on the riding for the year. He still doesn't seem happy in heavy traffic being ridden now so I'm not happy to drive him on the road.
I did long reined him on the road a few times without harness but I have less control than riding. My plan is to start doing some long reining in harness in readiness to drive him. My goal is to be driving him by the end of the year.
For now I'm just happy that today I have taken the first step to getting him driving again.
When I put it on him last February after 2 months break from driving and his first time with me harnessing up since buying him, he had melt down and started kicking out with the breaching and crupper. Not at all what I expected considering he was suppose to have done more driving than riding. I put it on him again a month later and he still didn't seem happy. I decided to let him mature and just work on the riding for the year. He still doesn't seem happy in heavy traffic being ridden now so I'm not happy to drive him on the road.
I did long reined him on the road a few times without harness but I have less control than riding. My plan is to start doing some long reining in harness in readiness to drive him. My goal is to be driving him by the end of the year.
For now I'm just happy that today I have taken the first step to getting him driving again.