Driving with a Falabella miniature horse

Training a Falabella miniature horse to drive a carriage requires considerable experience and a solid foundation in groundwork. When a miniature horse panics, it can be incredibly powerful. So, avoid accidents and gradually build up training.

It starts with lunging as described in our previous blog, first on a single line, when this is confirmed, you can walk, trot and canter, then you can move on to the double lunge, after which you can walk behind the horse and use this to guide and stop it.

To allow the horse to feel pressure on the leashes, it's best to have someone walk behind the horse and increase the pressure slightly. This should be done in a safe environment, such as an indoor or outdoor arena. To vary this training, take the horse out on the road by hand as often as possible. They need to get used to traffic, noise, puddles, bridges, ducks taking flight, and even dogs. You can also use blinders on the bridle to reduce side visibility.

Take your time with all these steps. If something doesn't go quite as smoothly, go back to the basics. Repetition is key, and build trust with all the cues you ask from the horse. When your basic training is well-conducted, harnessing will be calm and confident. Impatience will be punished, and uncertainty will be felt.

The first few times you harness a horse, do it in pairs. One person leads the horse with a lead rope, and the other can sit comfortably on the box. When it feels safe, this is the time to untie the horse and guide it using its own legs, your voice, and the reins. If you're unsure about this process, there are professionals who will train your horse for a fee. It's important that you and the horse don't have a bad or frightening experience, as this is often remembered with all the consequences.