Wearing loose side reins connected to her halter

What is the drive line? (video with Katy Pistole, Beautiful Brokenness Ministries)

April 29, 2023 Training

All the building blocks! – Freya is 13 months. As I think about her training, a few things become evident. First, the time is short. Once she is a fully trained horse, she (Lord willing) will be enjoyed and ridden for many years to come. Secondly, she has wonderful energy around her. She is soft and connective, She is curious and kind. I want to preserve all those characteristics in her as she grows up.

Primarily she is still operating in mostly a naturalistic (instinctual) way to new stimuli. Her life is a series of moments, and she has the default horse wiring to tell her what her response should be- But what is being layered into her now -over, and over, and over again- is focus. Keeping her attention on me as I ask her to complete very accomplishable tasks. One little learning lego block after another.

There are a few elements involved in her learning. Two primary elements are pressure and praise. There is a lot of praise and “good girl!s” Inside a training session, she has many small victories. Freya is rewarded with little mouthfuls of grain to help her understand that working/learning is fun- It’s worth it to follow the flat-faced human.

Horse training is also progressive, especially as it relates to pressure. Pressure is what she has to learn – both respond to and ignore. An example of pressure that she instinctually responds to it the drive line. (see Katy Pistole’s video.) I can use that line to help her move her feet. Pressure on either side will tell her to move forward or move backwards. Take a moment to watch the short video.

Examples of the other pressures, the ones she needs to ignore (or desensitized to) could be:

  • The addition of equipment, such as her surcingle
  • Distance from her pasture (safety)
  • Removing her from her herd (Daisy, Romeo and Juliet)
  • The addition of wind (horses typically do not like wind because they cannot track smells)
  • Proximity of vehicles rumbling by on the road like the big orange rattlely Balfurd laundry truck
  • Dogs barking, running, zipping around
  • Other horses on the move (an increase in energy)

I set her up in little teaching sessions to help her learn how to learn. She is vastly improving her responses to my ask, building her brain after each training session as she incorporates (lays down a pattern of success) in her mind.

Growth-wise, by my estimation, Freya has put on about 100 lbs since her arrival. She is beginning to bulk out. It will be interesting to see her grow this summer as she lays on the muscle surrounding that big bone structure. Her chest is broad, and her back is strong.

Coming up soon, Katy Pistole is coming back to WSS to help bring an expert eye to Freya’s training process. So excited! For all the horse fans out there, I’m glad to be in the tribe with you!

Our horses are a community affair. Would you consider donating for hay, farrier care, repairs to tack, medication, or even sponsoring Freya or your favorite horse? Please join us on the the horse adventure!