Ground Training with Albert the Shire Colt

Albert is a rising two years old, Shire colt. As those of you who follow us will know, we do not take horses for breaking to drive until after their third birthday. However, we do have horses under three years old in for groundwork and general training, which is what Albert stayed with us for.
Due to his upcoming Stallion Inspection, his owner asked us to cover a few things he would be required to do - lunging in both directions at walk and trot, trotting up in hand and standing nicely for a judge.
To skip the lunging section of this video, please fast-forward to 3:30 mins.
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[@pyrografix]

I want to thank you! I have been watching your videos and have always been of the mindset that patience wins. I have 14yr old former (2x) grand national winning, super well trained Morgan mare. (I mention that only to make the point even the best trained horses can learn more, need more, deserve more, etc.) Smart as the the day is long too! I have had her a year now. A few months ago, she suddenly developed a strong fear of a doorway on the side of the arena. I am a disabled, older rider so having her do sudden jumps, side passes, veering away, etc at this area constantly was not only an unwelcome element, it is a painful one for me. I was inspired by you and so I started sitting on her and facing her towards the dread doorway for as long as it took for her to start to relax. Once I felt her relax enough, a few steps forward and stop, face the doorway and wait till she relaxed enough to go again, each time a little closer to her great fear. We did this a few times a week for a least a month. I think the other people at the barn thought I was crazy. Their 'method' is to just keep forcing her to go past that doorway and she will 'get over it' eventually. I disagreed and stayed the course. It took a full 20 minutes of her staring, nearly frozen in fear in her anticipation something bad was going to come from that doorway before we could take a few steps forward that first day. I would have sat on her for hours if I had to. I needed her to trust me that I wouldn't be putting her in danger and that the doorway wasn't dangerous. I did this for over a month and am so happy to say she now will calmly walk past the doorway with no flinching, no sideways jumps, etc. I so proud of her! I can also attest to feeling a stronger sense of a bond or trust from my horse for having done this with her. While we stood there all those times, I told all who questioned what it was I was doing about your videos and training skills. While my horse is not a driving horse, your methods of patience in overcoming unwanted behaviors and fears, is universal. Thank you again! You are very inspiring to me, as well as many many people I am sure!

[@christielawrence4640]

Thanks for sharing this! Love your story!

[@brendareed8412]

How I wish had had the chance to study with you, Barry. And what a lovely boy this colt is. Genial and willing.

[@brendareed8412]

It's lovely to see a good-hearted horse enter into a happy, useful life.

[@DeepSeeBlue3636]

So glad this channel finally popped up. Seen a lot of good trainers in different fields but I always think; I want to see them in 20,30 ,40 more years of experience . It’s a real pleasure to hear the empathy in thoughts and how soft-spoken and varied you are in your voice when talking to the horses.

[@barryhook2]

Thank-you for your kind words!

[@PhyllisGlassup2TheBrim]

I loved this video. Albert is getting what Merlin should have had. Patience, being shown what was required and more patience until there's a lightbulb moment and he understands. That's what Merlin is getting now.

[@brigittegeorg]

Do you know what? I've never known or heard of anyone but myself and my riding partner of thinking of doing an emergency stop. We used to ride together. Such an important thing! Love your work and Very thankful and grateful for it.

[@susanbrown2909]

What lovely boy..he has a lovely face. Thanks Barry to see this colt put through his paces .

[@sandrasmith16]

Albert is going to be a stunning boy when he matures. He is a super smart baby. I love the way he listened and was having a little play the odd time. It was almost like am I doing a good job mum? Yay thanks for the scratch mum

[@ruthmcchesney4957]

What a fantastic video. I would LOVE to have Albert! He's just a (large...) blank canvas, ready to soak up all that is gently and carefully instructed of him. That immature, ungainly, somewhat uncoordinated, slow eagerness to understand and then please is heart warming. What a project to look forward to. Just fab. Thanks to both of you. Lovely stuff. Xx

[@Dewdaahman]

Spending time with you Barry is not only looked forward to, but is a great block of instruction received, once your videos arrive.. Thank you Mr. Barry Hook, you are loved my friend.. :)

[@marinaellinson5623]

I love how he decides that the water is pretty fun - he is just lovely.

[@kathleenschaubhut4174]

Albert is a lovely boy and is having a positive training experience.

[@HatashiLuvsU]

Gorgeous boy, and it looks like he's doing very well!

[@melaniehellum1281]

What a beauty. Soft eye kind horse.

[@christielawrence4640]

This is wonderful.

[@evie8143]

what a wonderful horse.

[@DianeStPeter]

Thank you for this video. Great to see! I would love to see more of these ground training and ground driving videos. Also first time drivers in the arena before they are ready to go down the road. It's nice to see what to expect when the horses are not quite ready to go down the road.

[@barryhook2]

Will keep that in mind! Although sometimes, a quiet road is exactly where we start driving ponies off. All depends on the horse!

[@oliveoil2x]

Wonderful video! Thank you for breaking it all down as you go. Taking the time and extra effort to share your training moments as they build is much appreciated. As you always say- they’re all different and your approach adapts to the horse’s progress so closely- it’s just excellent. Splitting your focus with training and your video audience takes that much extra and I’m sure there are many of us who are grateful and want to express our appreciation for you & yours. Thank you. - From Challis, ID USA.

[@jenniferlehman2464]

He's going to be stunning at age 5! Slow and easy makes for a Happy, Safe, and Confident horse when you start doing little things like this at 14 months old. Beautiful work!! Best Regards from Ontario, Canada, Jenn

[@Amclaren2009]

Jennifer Lehman I was going to ask how old he was. He didn’t seem “put together” and his not even being two years old explains that. He is just a youngin.

[@comesahorseman]

Small steps, taken when they're ready.... 😊

[@sandyshark7500]

He's 2 in May my mum ownes him

[@jenniferlehman2464]

@@sandyshark7500 He's a really nice looking colt. He's really going to look amazing when his muscles fill in. You're going to have to keep us posted on how he does at the grading. Best Regards from Ontario, Canada, Jenn.

[@ponysmonicaharrison812]

Gorgeous, gorgeous methods and people!💜

[@mancheezethegreat8617]

Albert has very expressive face!

[@comesahorseman]

"You never know, that puddle might be deeper than me 'ead!" 😄 It occurs to me that the Standardbred(track) colts could use some of the same training... they're taught a lot of "go," they need a bit of "whoa."

[@sandrasmith16]

Having worked as a trainers assistant to a standard red, they get taught go or get flogged. I used to try and take as much time with them as I could sneak in when my boss wasn't around, because they get the gear jammed on them, jammed into a cart and then its go when they are only babies. By babies I mean yearlings

[@9woah1horses60]

He favors her, so use that, and you mustn’t restrict their face. Confidence. You’re (you’re barn) my favorite trainer here.

[@nancyk3615]

He is intelligent and kind.

[@amymusto7588]

Thanks Barry & Rhi - this was wxactly what I needed to learn.

[@PhyllisGlassup2TheBrim]

I love his name.

[@annamcknight2573]

He looks a treat now. This made me smile. What a sweetheart!

[@susangoddard9257]

Nice to see. I'm 'retraining' a rescue, that needed rescuing again, starting with the ground work. A nice horse, friendly, kind. But she can plant herself, any tips? I don't rush her, rubber bit, no shouting or stick, and she's going well apart from the planting. She doesn't seem nervous, and she's not 'naughty'. We stand together and wait until she's ready to move on, but I'm reluctant to take her out on the road because of it. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for your time x

[@tictactoe325]

He has such a kind eye.

[@dshe8637]

Lovely lad. He's getting a great start. Won't it be hard on you both when it's time for him to go back to his owner?

[@barryhook2]

On this occasion, not as hard as you think - his owner is lovely and always does what's best for him. Also, we'll hopefully see him again when he's 'all grown up' and ready for driving training :)

[@johnmcfadden9732]

Great videos all... Barry, you often comment about using rubber bits, but I wanted to know if you use straight bar bits (in rubber) or jointed snaffle rubber bits?

[@barryhook2]

Straight bar, flexible rubber buts. Like these: www.viovet.co.uk/Korsteel-Flexi-Rubber-Mullen-Mouth-Loose-Ring-Snaffle/c29567/

[@rrrrrr-ry3cn]

So cute

[@stephmacc9992]

Hi Barry and team, what would you recommend if your horse circled round you when stopped?

[@equestrianclubkemp869]

Very good training but do you really have to titan it so hard

[@MegJones7]

I love everything that you do. I trained cobs and ponies to drive for five years and just so wished I could have asked you the many questions that came up. Just one question....when one is lunging you use your body placing to drive on the horse or slow him down, as well as your voice. Here the horse can’t see you because of the blinkers. Is this intended?

[@barryhook2]

Hi Meg, We don't do a lot of lunging and since Albert needed to get used to working from the voice alone (for future driving training) and in blinkers, we tried him blinkered. For him it worked, possibly because it stopped him turning in so much to look at the handler - being a baby he was quite keen to always be 'with' the human and not being able to see them all the time actually seemed to help him focus on moving forward. Good question though - body language can definitely be a good help too!

[@MegJones7]

@@barryhook2 I thought you would have a good reason. Thanks answering. My ambition is to have two shetlands driving bitless and blinkerless. These videos showing the solid work that goes into teaching a horse/pony to stand still from your voice is so valuable....so tempting to skip....and seeing the props you use to desensitise them before they go out on the road. It is still a surprise to me how short a time you reckon to get them road ready with air brakes and motorbikes in this world! I used to give horses two short lessons a day. I think they learn best if given a bit of time to think about it. Do you think you pile on the attention/lessons/miles so much that they kind of give themselves up to it all? We live in quiet Pembrokeshire. The roads are narrow and traffic is scarce. Horses have to pass tractors and milk lorries occasionally and too close. When I get those shetlands I think I’ll do the ground work and then rent a field on a busy road and train them there. Thanks for the good you do for horses worldwide. Best Meg

[@barryhook2]

Bitless and Blinkerless Shetlands sounds great fun - have you seen Sweetie and Ettie on our channel? They're on this playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3Lce62aiNukkNU

[@MegJones7]

Yes I saw the Shetland video....very inspiring. I’ll watch it again. Thank you

[@jeanfish7]

A bit cow hocked, but then again I'm still watching for " the perfect horse "

[@thegoblinsteed3558]

😍♥😍♥😍♥😍

[@mayhemmike1789]

Holy shit..... 🤤🤤🤤🤤 THAT is a colt????

[@PhyllisGlassup2TheBrim]

No different to show training a pup.

[@barryhook2]

Exactly! Just a very big puppy!

[@williecosgrove]

3.22 take off those winkers so your horse can see you and watch the difference in that horse