| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | After a while, in his eagerness for the reward, he will |
| Horse owners who are history buffs may recognize | | | | take a step or two to the right when the tapping |
| the name Jesse Beery. Beery was an enormously | | | | begins. Then caress him and treat him very kindly for |
| famous horse trainer from the 1800's and early 1900's. | | | | that act. Soon, the idea will be conveyed that when |
| He learned to train horses at a very young age. It was | | | | tapped on the shoulder the horse will know to turn in |
| clear he had a gift for horse training and made it his | | | | that direction. |
| life's work. | | | | Remember to train both sides of the horse. |
| Among the almost countless things Beery could do | | | | Once both sides are trained now an open bridle can |
| with a horse, he taught them tricks. One of the most | | | | be put on. Use short lines that come back as far as his |
| amazing tricks he taught was teaching a horse to | | | | tail only - but they are used only if he becomes unruly |
| drive without lines. (In layman's terms, you have no long | | | | or to convey your idea to him. |
| reins (known as lines) connected to the horse. The | | | | The handler's whip should not be over five feet long at |
| only connection to the horse is the buggy hitched to | | | | this stage and the handler should stand directly behind |
| the horse) This trick almost defies belief! | | | | the horse. (Beware of kickers) Let the whip extend to |
| Beery said this about driving a horse without lines: | | | | about the middle of his mane. |
| "While I do not advocate it as being a universally | | | | The signal you wish for him to stop for is raising the |
| practical way of driving a horse, yet it is possible to so | | | | whip and holding it in a perpendicular position. Associate |
| thoroughly train the horse to certain signals that he can | | | | the meaning of this movement, and position, just as the |
| be controlled more reliably under excitement and in | | | | whip is raised so the horse can see it. Pull hard on the |
| case of danger than it would be possible to manage | | | | reins and say "Whoa" - all at the same time. After a |
| him with bridle and lines." | | | | few repetitions the horse will know what to do. |
| Beery says there are a number of ways to teach this | | | | (Assuming you have thoroughly educated your horse |
| to a horse but suggests his method as the most | | | | to whoa) |
| reliable. | | | | The first few times he stops without a pull of the reins |
| In a nutshell, Beery first turned his horse loose in an | | | | step forward and reward him immediately. Much of |
| enclosure about twenty-five feet square. He would | | | | the success of teaching this trick depends upon how |
| walk in with a whip and teach the horse to have | | | | you give the rewards. If the reward is given in a |
| confidence in him and not fear the whip. (The horse is | | | | manner so that the horse can fully comprehend it was |
| never whipped). | | | | complying with the handler's wish, it will greatly enhance |
| Once the horse has learned to come to handler at the | | | | fixing this impression on the horse's brain. |
| command of "Come Here" and shows no fear of the | | | | But if not given in the right manner, the reward will be |
| whip while it's gently waved over his head and body, | | | | worse than none at all. |
| and will follow the handler all about the ring, then you | | | | In the same manner, the horse is taught to turn left and |
| have laid a good foundation for further instruction. | | | | right. This is done by giving the horse a pretty smart |
| Put the horse away until the next day where the | | | | tap on the lower part of the shoulder and immediately |
| horse learns signals of the whip. | | | | place the point of the whip three or four feet in that |
| That process is as follows: Stand close the the horse's | | | | direction. Should he attempt to jump and go ahead too |
| hip and take a short whip and tap lightly on the right | | | | much, you can hold him in check with the action and |
| shoulder until the horse, in anticipation of driving a fly | | | | signal to stop him. |
| off, will swing his head around to where the tapping is. | | | | Essentially, these are Beery's instructions for training a |
| Step forward quickly and hand him a few oats, or a | | | | horse to drive without lines. It's important to note this is |
| small piece of apple, almost in the act of turning his | | | | a shortened version of Beery's instructions and there is |
| head around. Step back and continue the tapping and | | | | more to know. |
| rewarding. | | | | |