Energetic pony!! Help!

My welsh pony mare is very energetic. Last year she ran away with the cart and swerved on to a lawn and threw the driver off the cart. She is well trained to the cart-she has a month and a half of training-but is very energetic and wants to go fast. She dosn't do any of this stuff when being ridden. What should I do to inprove my ponys bad cart habit?

            

work her in the round pen more? Perhaps her respect for the driver is not what it should be. Can you work her in the pen with her harness on?

            

Just to be sure I am reading your post correctly - you are saying she has had a month and a half of training with the cart? If so, and if she is doing as you have described, I would have to differ with you on your opinion that she is, in fact, "well trained" to the cart. This is not an issue of her being "energetic" at all. I would suggest going back to square one on her driving work so that you can find and fill the holes that are creating this issue for you.

            

Agreed. She is not well trained. Was it 6 weeks from start to finsh? Or 6 solid weeks of just driving. Does she respond to voice commands. I would be taeching that 1st while long lining and then do lots of desensitizing. If she is fine when ridden I would think she may be scared of the cart and taking off.

            

if she were well trained, she wouldn't have run!

Do ground work like long-reining and lunging so she respects peoples cues from the ground. I don't know if you have an availiable space, but then hitch her to the cart and drive around a safe, enclosed space. Do all cues the same as if she was being longreined.

If she is unsure about the cart, longrein her hitched to it, but don't sit in it and walk along side the cart. She could be afraid of dragging a heavy weight and that's why she bolted- something might have spooked her near the end of those 6 weeks of training and its now set in her mind driving is scary!

            

            

??????

            

It isn't uncommon for a horse to be energetic and maybe a bit wound up when it gets hooked up or saddled up. Maybe she enjoys it and wants to go? Should she listen anyways? Of course. Maybe a few laps in a round pen or a quick ride before you harness her would take out a bit of her energy. I also found that if I warmed them up and then made them pull a bit heavier cart they had to work a bit. Make her pull the cart in a few patterns. If she is thinking and working she will be less likely to just want to take off and run. Then when you do go out for a leisurely ride down the road, she is already settled in and ready for a walk. Good luck.

            

I have trained many ponies and not a few horses to drive. Because the potential for bad accidents is higher with a driving horse, it needs to be 100% before it ever gets out in the open, or even driven in an arena.

I think your pony needs to be restarted by a competant driving trainer. You can't train a horse to drive just because you know how to ride. Can you find someone who drives who can help you. If a driver trained your horse, you really need to find someone else.

Since it sounds to me like you are a novice, I would suggest that you take some lessons with a really well trained driving horse.

If you look on the American Driving Society website, you can probably find a driving club near you, where you can get good information and help with your pony.

Driving is a blast, but it can be very dangerous. My neighbour, who is an expeienced horseman and been driving for over 3 years had an terrible accident over Christmas and broke both his legs among other bad injuries.

Last but not least... PLEASE wear a helmet, it could save your life.

            

Try switching to a regular headstall instead of the blind bridle. Some get nervous about the noises behind them, the sqeaking cart, etc. If they can see what's causing it it can be less of a problem. Also, put a halter and long lead (lungeline) on under the bridle. Have someone drive while you walk alongside. Allow the lead to float. It's there in case. Initially she may feel more secure if you are close to her head but the idea is to gradually work your way closer to the cart. Be sure the belly band isn't real tight that you can easily slip four fingers between it and the horse. Otherwise the back pads dig in, causing pain. This can bring up predatorial instincts, thus the running to escape. Be sure to pocket some treats and as she does well, reward her efforts. Your groundwork without the cart needs to solidify her whoas. Then practise while she is being driven and you are by her head only have the driver say whoa. If she does then a treat is in order.