Easy in the Harness

This is the start of an occasional series about Driving Rites of Passage. These are things that most drivers seem to experience as they dip their toes into driving. Many drivers have owned a Meadowbrook at some point in their driving life if they do pleasure driving.

Have you had experience with Meadowbrook carts? Do you love them or are glad they are now in your past? Let me know!

The Carriage Association of America has an article on the history of the Meadowbrook as well and I used it and other sources...

This episode discusses the types and uses of check reins. It compliments the article and illustrations I shared in this post:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/check-reins-129285311

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What do you need to look for when selecting a vehicle for you and your driving animal? This discussion covers the important, basic points to consider for ensuring that you have a vehicle that is both functional and comfortable for you and your driving partner.

I have a brief article with illustrations discussing vehicle fit here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/107412296

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What is contact? How do you use it and how should it feel in your hands? Contact is a subject that comes up frequently and here I express my views on what it is and how it should be used in order to communicate with the animal you are driving.

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Picking the proper bit can be a big topic in driving. Selecting one that works well for your animal. While this is a topic best addressed with visuals, I make an attempt to discuss bit cheeks and mouthpieces in an introductory fashion to help give people a baseline understanding of how to talk about them and what to look for in one.

I have a post with illustrations on driving bit cheeks here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/basic-cheek-for-98729400

I have an article in-progress covering mouthpieces that should be finished this summer. I'll...

Discover the key differences between the two types of neckware found on driving harnesses. How does the neckcollar and breastcollar compare to each other and what is the ideal use of each one?

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This episode discusses the difference between reactions and responses from our animals and how to help them respond better in stressful situations.

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What is a breeching? Why do you need it? What does it do?

In this episode I talk about the breeching, what it does, why it is important, and cases in which you might not use one and types of breeching.

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This short podcast covers one of the overarching principles in my training philosophy that developed after reading the book "Give Your Horse A Chance" by Lt. Col. A. L. D'Endrödy. The physical book is no longer in print, but you can find electronic versions of it. My copy was published by Trafalgar Square Publishing in 1999. That principle is the idea of asking the animal to do something, and then giving them the space to allow them to do it.

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This is the "about me" podcast, also my credentials, or why you might want to listen to what I say episode. I hope you all enjoy hearing about how I got to where I am with carriage driving and working with animals in harness from my first experiences driving to formative animals, books and dvds that influenced my process, and more.

The DVDs and books mentioned

Clay Maier: Train Your Horse to Drive

Nate Bowers: Parelli Driving DVD

Doris Ganton: Breaking and Training the Driving Horse

"Carriage Driving" by...

Self-Carriage is a valuable trait for any horse to have no matter the work they are being asked to do. In this episode I discuss how to evaluate, check, and improve your animal's self-carriage for better, more fun and productive driving.

If you want more carriage driving related content and would like to support this podcast and the other content related to it, please visit https://www.patreon.com/certhorsemanship

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In this episode I discuss the spares kit, what it is, and why you should have one on your vehicle when you're out driving.

If you want more carriage driving related content and would like to support this podcast and the other content related to it, please visit https://www.patreon.com/certhorsemanship

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Open and closed bridles: What they are and why we use them. Considerations for why you might drive using an open bridle or a closed bridle. A discussion and a few stories about why someone might chose to drive their animal in an open bridle over a closed one and vis versa.

If you want more carriage driving related content and would like to support this podcast and the other content related to it, please visit https://www.patreon.com/certhorsemanship

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The training quadrants are basically ways to either reinforce or extinguish behaviors. Positive reinforcement adds something to reinforce a behavior and negative reinforcement takes away something to reinforce a behavior. There is also positive and negative punishment, which discourage or extinguish undesired behaviors. The first two are the ones we want to focus on and use when working with our animals.

Find more great driving-related content and support the podcast at patreon.com/certhorsemanship

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What is the most important gait for the driving animal? This is a trick question: it's standing still!

This is a discussion on why standing still is so important to driving and how to help improve your animal's ability to stand when needed.

Find more great driving-related content and support the podcast at patreon.com/certhorsemanship

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A discussion on the different types of ways you can participate in driving from agricultural work to the show ring and racing to pleasure.

Find more great driving-related content and support the podcast at patreon.com/certhorsemanship

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Welcome to the Easy in the Harness Podcast! Stories, Solutions & Strategies for Safe, Satisfying Driving.

In this episode we are covering driving resources for helping you get started on your driving journey, whether it is training, competition, or practical work.

Governing Organizations

International Equestrian Federation

https://www.fei.org/driving

American Driving Society American

organization for driving competition

Resource for Canadian and USA drivers.

americandrivingsociety.org

Carriage Association of America

Motto: ”Helping preserve our horse-drawn heritage”

https://www...