Training an Arab Horse for Carriage Driving - Harry

[@ponyproblem]

This is Harry, a pure bred arab that I have owned for 7 years since my good friend bred him. He is actually only just 14.2hh. Harry jumps, has 22 British Dressage points and has done a few sponsored rides. I've never hacked him much as we are on a busy route and he was never very confident out. Harry has won a bit in the show ring but often overreacted at the slightest thing (and at the motocross displays - not sure I blame him for that though!) and funnily enough, Harry's first exposure to driving was when he heard the Hackneys at the South of England passing our lorry and it took him by such surprise he knocked the partition over in our lorry and was caught underneath it for quite some time! Not the best introduction to carriages it has to be said! Despite this, I sent him to Barry after a brief phone call as I knew immediately that Barry was the right man to break him to drive. I can't thank him and Rhi, his assistant enough, they have done an amazing job, their knowledge, patience and total understanding of horses is world class and I'm looking forward to many years of pleasure driving (whilst trying to find an excuse to have another one broken to drive!) Thank you, Barry and Rhi.

[@barryhook2]

Thanks Gill! Great to have info straight from the owner for people to read. Seeing owners driving out with their horses together makes all the hard work worth it! p.s. the best excuse to have another broken to drive is that you could drive a pair - especially if you had Harry's well-matched lunging friend trained up as his partner ;)

[@brooksequine7621]

Harry jumps puddles .

[@ponyproblem]

Brooks Equine and your point is!

[@sandrasmith16]

Arabs are such beautiful versatile horses and are so loyal and faithful with the right handling and training. He looks very curious but calm and happy. I hope that you have many long years together

[@kathybradbury]

I’ve only known Barry by his KZbin, but he is quite apparently a truly knowledgeable and genuinely kind man of great character. I only regret not getting to see Harry from all angles, as he is doubtless a lovely animal in his carriage tack.

[@Sine-gl9ly]

I drove my Arab mare many years ago. She was a high level competitive endurance horse. After acquiring an elderly but neglected pony, I discovered he was not only broken to drive, but extremely experienced. He taught me to drive, I then broke every other pony I was involved with to drive and - although my Arab mare never went between shafts, as I could only afford one 'adjustable' pony-size exercise cart - taught her to pull a harrow and a roller so we could look after our little sand school and the grassland. She also did lots of similar useful work - generally dragging things around that I'd otherwise have had to ask for help for from farming neighbours. She was great at it, and seemed to truly enjoy it - as she enjoyed almost all things we did together.

[@AndreaDingbatt]

What a Wonderful Arab! ! Loads of prescence, loads of Energy, Loads of Character!! Absolutely lovely to watch him in Harness, he has such a Confident Character!! Definitely a Happy boy!! Thank you Barry!!

[@ruthmcchesney4957]

What a super chap Harry is. And what a great video this is as an example of mutual trust and confidence between horse and driver, with both enjoying that trust and confidence from the other. Harry has a great rhythmic trot, evidence of his Arab ability to get 'in the zone', (as it were..) and just keep going. He was quite clearly enjoying his work, whilst also flicking his ears back to you for further instructions/reassurance, etc. The trandem bit at the end was just the ticket! A fab video, Barry, many many thanks. Xx

[@ponyproblem]

Thank you Ruth, Barry and Rhi have done an amazing job with him.

[@riverbank4126]

I loved to see an Arab in harness for a change. My older daughter was given a Shetland mare who had been driven for years at shows and on the road and it was the pony that gave me 'driving lessons'. After that experience, I put almost all the horses that I trained in harness before I rode them. They learned to face traffic calmly and were much safer to ride than horses who had never been driven.

[@brendareed8412]

This makes a lot of sense, imo. Drive them first to give them confidence for riding.

[@AliWade1971]

When you get a good Arab, you get a horse that will do anything. Smashing boy. Lovely to see one in harness.

[@hhlagen]

My Arab mare was so much fun to drive and ride. Miss her very much. She would do whatever I asked of her. Incredibly intelligent and versatile breed. Patience is the key.

[@ryandennard2342]

I’ve got 4 year old pure breed Arab the same height and was thinking of breaking him to drive . As have no rider for him. Glad I’ve seen this given me a bit of confidence to do it as never seen a Arab driven before

[@barryhook2]

Any breed of horse can be trained to drive! Arabs are used for driving, people are just more used to seeing them showing in hand etc. Good luck with yours!

[@JB-uc5qp]

Amazed at this, arabs are not my thing i find them a bit fine and flighty for my liking, but to see him in harness and doing a great job i am very impressed.

[@silverkitty2503]

i was really impressed when that lorry passed!

[@ponyproblem]

@@silverkitty2503 Me too!!!!

[@rebeccapaquette9203]

Arabians, more than any other breed, are a mirror of their owner and type of handling. If you are calm and consistant, and treat them with respect instead of trying to force them to do things, they are incredible horses.

[@marilynbridges8697]

Absolute truth. They are my favorites by a wide margin!

[@brooksequine7621]

@@rebeccapaquette9203 : Sure . They're so incredible that most professionals cast them aside as rubbish horses ... Dressage , 3 Day Event , reining ( NRHA ) , etc ... sorry . NO WAY .

[@ldg2655]

I very much enjoyed this video. Thank you for taking me along for the ride....

[@Tara101]

Excellen! Great to see the Arabian so calm on a very fast road with the huge yellow lorry flying past

[@sandyd.2513]

I have started and driven several Arabs and half Arabs and they were awesome. Just like any horse some are willing and some are not. I drove and showed an Arab who prefered to be driven as opposed to ridden. He was a really fun little Gelding.

[@MsEssmess]

Roads were made for horses long before cars came.... well done Harry.

[@prillyg]

thank you for sharing this. really enjoyed the ride!

[@deetngator1624]

He does seem happy, most of your horses do. Very little stress. Would love a cart like this.

[@Lugimoo]

The video I've been waiting years to see! You guys working with an arabian, shame I've given up on my guy lol.

[@gkseeton]

Handsome. Like seeing an Arabian really fit. They are why men have carved horses out of marble. Just gorgeous. Endurance, oh yeah, we used to do an hour hard trail ride to get ready for dressage lessons. Otherwise too much energy to focus on the nitty gritty details.

[@JudyHart1]

Ann Seeton you made me giggle.

[@clwest3538]

Ah the spirit of the Arab! At 22:34 - little steam engine that can ... or a fire breathing dragon-horse (depending on your fantasy pov ;-) ) Beautiful!

[@randolphlearning5255]

Just in the nick of time..another episode. Best of luck to your channel.

[@Mrsstick07]

The cars really do go past you so fast. Frightening. 😮 x

[@jeanviarengo231]

And I loved watching "the end game" a great purchase. Why retrain each step when the horse just needs to know what his job is. I'm glad you mentioned it.

[@marilynmcclintock2974]

I really loved this video, thank you. Grandma Sue in central Indiana and Izzi Too

[@Dobiegal]

The most beautiful animal in the world. A Purebred Arabian. Thank you, God

[@sandrasmith16]

He looks beautiful, flag flying as only an Arabian can do

[@lspthrattan]

Lovely boy, that one. I had a little bay Arabian mare years ago. Sweet natured, beautiful, but afraid of everything, and a bit too much to ride sometimes. I lacked the patience to be her best owner, and usually wound up riding my big placid Tennessee Walking Horse instead.

[@eternalbliss1168]

I was wondering do you find a certain style of harness better than another for horses such as Arabians who tend to carry themselves differently through the neck. Different breast collars, (curved) and with neck straps for example how they ride on a more upright neck. I was wanting to purchase a harness for my Arabian just for pleasure driving around the roads and fields. I was thinking possibly a Marathon style cart, 4 wheel as opposed to 2. I love the freedman brand Harness's but that would have to be a used one, do you have any brands you prefer for everyday use. Thank you in advance. Love to see you driving all the different breeds of horses, it goes to show your way of training is flexible enough to cover all horses.

[@comesahorseman]

Quite light on his feet, he's an athlete.

[@brooksequine7621]

John , this horse is an athlete compared to what ?

[@comesahorseman]

@@brooksequine7621 did you mean "compared to what"? Clarify...

[@brooksequine7621]

@@comesahorseman : Read my posts and you shall understand . When is the last time an Arabian won any. ...ANY Olympic challenge ? NEVER . However it is such a great thing that we can.pick and choose our horses . I wish you only the Brightest of blessings with your Arabs .

[@comesahorseman]

@@brooksequine7621 never owned an Arab in my life, I train Standardbreds and ride the occasional mixed breed. But, I stand by what I said; this horse is light on his feet, places them precisely at the trot. He has the soft, graceful carriage of an athlete. Whether he earns Olympic medals or not doesn't concern me.

[@brooksequine7621]

@@comesahorseman :

[@yolandamoyer863]

Is it OK if they keep turning their head to have a look behind them? I’ve seen some driven without blinders and wonder what you think?

[@barryhook2]

They don't tend to when they're trained. We do drive without blinkers sometimes - especially when we're training for riding alongside driving.

[@janesmith5871]

This was great. I think---just put an Arab to work, real work, and things will be fine. They cannot stand idle to let their brains take over. :)

[@diesel_dawg]

What would you respond with to those who claim horses shouldn't be on roads? I'm not that sort of person, but I've seen many such comments online.

[@barryhook2]

We don't tend to bother responding. There is no point if that is their opinion. What we do do, is when we are out and about we try to cause as little disruption to the road as possible and train our horses to cope with as much varied traffic as possible.

[@diesel_dawg]

@@barryhook2 Thanks! It fustrates me when I see people claim that. One American guy showed the video of two or three U.K. folks out riding on the roads and a car ran into them. He said that if people have to ride their horses on the roads (like we do in the U.K.), then they shouldn't have horses at all. I didn't know how to respond.

[@LythaWausW]

@@diesel_dawg As an American I understand him because in America we don't need to ride on roads. I've been in Europe 12 years now and if you don't ride on roads, you cannot (trail) ride at all. It still makes me very uncomfortable, but the horses really don't care.

[@brooksequine7621]

As a European , we say that , " Arabs are good for looking at and eating ." Egyptian Arabs ... ugh . Russian and Polish Arabs can be the best of the lot for performance but they are limited . I'm a Warm blood , Thoroughbred , Thoroughbred cross , Lippizaner , Appendix Quarter Horse , Friesian person . Sometimes you have no other way BUT to go on as a driving horse ! Arab or not ! Love your work !

[@ponyproblem]

Glad youre not an arab lover

[@brooksequine7621]

@@ponyproblem : No , I'm no Arab fan . I've schooled & competed a few Polish & Russian bred Arabs but the Egyptian. ... no thank you . I adore going to their competitions to watch as it is such fun , pomp & circumstance ! There's something for everyone in this world and that's great !

[@brooksequine7621]

@@ponyproblem : Me too !

[@littledog012]

What is the red ribbon around his neck meant for?

[@elihop9419]

littledog012 It is a grooming collar. Quite a few drivers (including myself) use them. I think Barry has a video explaining the reasons why in the FAQ section of the channel, but don’t quote me on that. They’re also very handy when clipping bridle paths!

[@pavlinaglodekova4643]

Is the training of arabian horse for driving so much different from training of some other not "so hot temperament" horse? I have shagya arabian stallion and I payed for his driving training but it didn t go well, it was complete disaster for speaking the truth. His driving trainer tought him only to be afraid of cars and beated him until my horse finally refused to even approach the cart. Driving trainer told me that arabian horses are not good for driving and are very difficult to be trained and that especially mine is good only for slaughtery... I was very upset about it, because the horse is very nice even if stallion and he never ever showed some naughty behaviour when trained under the saddle or in hand. Is it possible to train to driving the horse that had already bad experience during first driving attempt? I really would like to have your opininon.

[@ponyproblem]

You had the wrong trainer, sadly

[@Solitude11-11]

That’s so sad. Barry has made many spoiled horses come right though

[@classicambo9781]

You can counter condition any animal but it will take a lot of positive reinforcement and dedicated time. Look into learning theory and clicker training of CAT-H to get started and then when he can be happily around the carriage take him to someone kind like Barry.

[@judgementravijudgementravi9930]

Bone taila pudichukunu eppdi okkanum of okkanum 😄😃😀😍

[@Ibnmsrk]

You have an Arab and u make him drive a carriage!!

[@TOP5-f3i2l]

An Arab horse towing a cart !!! 😮 The Arab horse was raised to fight wars and competitions You can buy donkey that pulls your cart

[@yeah5363]

Why would that matter 🙄

[@TOP5-f3i2l]

@@yeah5363 Doesn't matter But we hear a lot about the Arabian horse He's a fighter and an authentic man who doesn't use Arabs to work And fancy He was raised on races fighting and improving the breed of other horse species

[@brooksequine7621]

If a Warm blood , Thoroughbred , Friesian , etc ... holds its tail up , you've got some spinal problems . You've got to be an Arabian lover to like this sort of thing with the tail waving about high up in the air . NOT my gig . Such a play on words ... gig .

[@eidalqahtani9086]

I don't think that he is a pure Arabian because Arabian horse's are not made for this purpose..

[@bonnieclotfelter5030]

I have 3 Arab horses in harness over the passed years.I trained them.They did just fine.

[@sandrasmith16]

Arabians are an extremely versatile breed. Not just pretty to look at but pretty darn good at everything

[@brooksequine7621]

Yup . Head and tail up . Everything we Do Not want . If it weren't that this man is a real trainer = absolute wreck .

[@AbouZahrah]

Arabian horses wasn't created for this work

[@109367]

A lot of Arabs compete in fine harness, Shetlands and Minis even pull carts, no horse is "not made" for this work

[@sandrasmith16]

Who says they werent

[@TheEmpress-jy4rp]

I love Arab horses owned them my whole life , I couldn’t ask for a better horse 🐎... I miss my mare she looked just like him beautiful bay , he’s gorgeous , I love how there tails flag when they trot or run , and yes very athletic horses they are my mate could go for days there endurance is off the chart , thank you for the video , and I love how kind you are to these majestic and amazing animals