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Everything Horses and Livestock Magazine ®
Everything Horses and Livestock®
|
November 2017
|
EHALmagazine.com
36
Here.....Hold My Mini
By Featured Writer Delana “Dee” Hay
I often get asked how I train my minis to drive. I
do not train show horses. I train strickly for plea-
sure driving. Some of my methods are the same
as with a big horse. The minis are quick willing
learners. They truly love having a job. The key to
my training is a lot of handling and plenty of visual
stimulation. It is
very important to
teach “whoa” and
“stand”.
They are desen-
sitized before I
start driving them.
My minis are
exposed to many
things. We have a
noisy mechanics
shop at our farm.
I lead the minis
through there as
motors are running, air hoses are spewing and
fans are blowing.
We participate in the
Kaw Valley Farm
Tour. Our animals
are exposed to over
700 people in two days. I also use an obstacle
course with a pedestal, teeter totter, bridge and
jumps. They are used at parties for grooming and
petting. All of this handling and desentizing help
prepare them to drive.
Crowds and noise are not a problem at any of
our events.The more they are exposed to, the
easier they are to train. Try not to scare your mini.