Dynamo Jin- Breaking to drive

we have had many many racehorses retire at the age of 15 without any problems because of when they were broke.

To each their own but I strongly disagree with training a yearling to drive. They are not ready physically or mentally and I think the picture proves that.

Their knees dont even close until ages 3-5

Also miniatures and ponies are very compliant which really can be a bad thing for them. I would never hook a cart to a horse that has only been line driving for 3 days.

Instead of instant gratification people need to think long term.

I agree with you. I worked at a training barn with Standerbreds for harness racing. We never started a yearling. We always waited until they were 2 before we did any serious training. If your jogging a yearling 2 miles every day you won't have a race horse for very long. Way too much stress for a yearling....

absolutly agreeing with everyone who says it is wrong to do this before 2 1/2. and i also question your methods, but i want to add that i think it is extremely foolish and potentially dangerous to advise people you dont know ( or anyone for that matter) to try to break ( i dont like this word, but in this case i think it might be appropriate) to try to break a horse to harness in a week. so many things could go wrong and for someone with no experience or background in driving, to then get caught up in a situation of panicked horse, which hasnt had the correct level of time invested in it , could prove fatal. and much as i dont approve of any horse being started as young as original poster is advocating, there is a vast difference between starting a novice driver and a novice horse in an environment such as a track and to then give the impression that it is so quick and easy that someone could think it was safe to do so on a public road. i really do think it is very irresponsible.

serious training? at 2? i highly doubt that. standardbreds racing careers are supposed to START at 2. 90% of STB racehorses are broke as yearlings, the other 10% are because people dont do anything with them and usually end up just getting rid of them.
2miles slow is not serious work. serious work is when she learns to turn and start training down her miles, trying to shave time off as she goes along. she doesnt start this until she turns 2, but is well broke ahead of time in preparation.

first off, who said i told anyone to break a horse in a week? she just happened to be a great well mannered horse who learned very quickly due to her previous handling as a weanling and such. i NEVER told anyone to break a horse in a week.
secondly, when did i tell someone with no experience to break a horse by themselves? i didnt.
third, when did i say anything about driving on the road? i didnt. i dont deal with that. i break and drive racehorses, and thats that. if someone asks me what i believe is a good age to start breaking a horse at, i will say yearling. because thats what we do.

there are over 20 yearlings at the track i am currently training at that are jogging just the same as my yearling is. so you can question my methods all you choose, i really dont care. because obviously a lot of other people have the same methods.

i am basing my comments on the replies you have made to several threads in the driving section, whereby people are asking advice on how to break thier horse to drive, etc. and in none of them have they said that they are breaking a horse for harness racing. they also havent said where they are driving them or what thier level of experience is. and to be honest, just because it is common practice at your track, or any other track, doesnt make it right or in the best interests of the horse. so i guess we will have to continue to disagree with each other

Im trying really hard to stay respectful but dang its hard.

Why you feel you have to resort to this

On a horse that by your words was very willing and compliant I will never know.

Maybe if you would wait until shes mature mentally and physically you wont have to resort to that.

The picture to me is heartbreaking and shows a horse that has had enough. You may think its cute or funny but to me it shows a horse in distress. I have never had a horse do that ever. But then I would never try to train a horse to drive in 3 days.

Horses live on average 20 years so why would anyone try to do it all when they are only a yearling. Again people need to think LONG TERM not just TODAY. What is the rush??? In rated shows she cannot show in driving until shes 3!

We dont "break" horses here - we train them.

she layed down once, and that was it. ive seen adult horses lay down. ive seen horses that chronically lay down every time they are hooked to a cart because they were never broken of the habit.

she didnt like the feeling of the bit, so instead of throwing a temper tantrum and throwing herself all over, rearing, striking, etc. she layed down. obviously it wasnt that traumatic if she layed there eating grass. if she was that stressed she would have been blowing and sweating, not eating grass.

as far as adivce ive given people. its a forum. people are coming on for advice from all types of people. just because YOU dont agree doesnt mean your advice is right and someone elses is wrong. everyone has their own way of doing things. if it works for them then fine.

but so far ive been called irresponsable, and foolish. as far as im concerned thats not called for. had i been a new member i would have been out of here ASAP. keep this in mind when posting. some people dont appreciate it, and it WILL drive new members away.

I have not called you or anyone else names. There are always many ways to do something.

But this is an open forum so just as you have the right to post your opinion, I have the right to disagree, and give my opinion.

i didnt say you did at all. i dont mind opinions, but when someone calls someone names for the way they train or such, thats uncalled for. everyone has different ways of doing things. sometimes you have to suck it up and admit that your way isnt the only way to do something. i never called anyone dumb or anything for waiting until the horse is older to break. do i agree, maybe not, but thats not my decision.