Page 10 midwest horse digest February 09
Direct & Drive:
An Invaluable Lesson
By Cynthia McFarland with Chris Cox
control of the head.” Take just one step towards the
When you handle the lead rope, horse’s hip with your focus on his hip. Don’t
remember that the hand closest to the horse’s look at the horse’s head or eye; keep your
halter is your “direction” hand. This is the hand focus on his hip. As you do this raise your
that signals the horse to follow that direction. direction hand up in the direction you want the
Your “driving” hand is the hand closest to the horse to go (left or right). The direction hand
tail end of the lead rope. guides the horse in the proper direction, but
You need to be effective using the lead doesn’t pull on his head. Start twirling the end
rope in both hands. Practice feeding of the lead rope with your driving hand until the
the lead rope through your horse moves forward between you and the
hands and when you twirl fence.
the rope, always swing Don’t stop twirling until you get for-
OVER not under. ward momentum from the horse. Accelerate
Again, make the twirling until the horse responds. You may
sure you have the dis- have to pop the horse on the hindquarters with
engaging lesson down the end of the rope at first to get him to drive
solid on both sides forward.
Once you have mastered
before you move on to “If you’ve done a lot of practice with
disengaging the hindquarters, as we
direct and drive. disengaging, you may have to be firm until the
covered in our last training session, the next
“I don’t use a round pen horse understands he is now supposed to
step is teaching your horse to direct and drive.
for these exercises because I think you can move forward,” notes Chris. “Be consistent
This valuable lesson will help your horse
run a horse too much in a round pen, which with what you’re asking until the horse tries. If
respect your space, lead better, trailer load,
gets him tired and is hard on his legs,” Chris you’re inconsistent, you are lying to your
and also relates directly to guiding your horse
points out. “Also, you don’t always have a horse. Keep your feet still and only move them
while riding. The halter and lead
when you have to. Don’t
rope are essentially serving the
stop twirling the rope until
same purpose that your bridle
horse makes an effort for-
and reins do when you are rid-
ward.”
ing.
As the horse drives for-
If you take the time to
ward past you, lead the
really master disengaging the
lead rope slide through
hindquarters and the direct and
your hand so you aren’t
drive technique, you can
pulling on his head with
become very successful with
your direction hand. If
controlling your horse.
horse drives past too
As with the disengag-
quickly, don’t pull on his
ing lesson, the only equipment
head. Just disengage his
needed is your halter and long
hindquarters to slow him
lead rope. Start the lesson in a
and turn him back to face
corral, arena or someplace
you. Then drop both hands
where you can use a fence as a
to give the horse relief. Let
guide. You will be driving the
him “soak” and think about
horse between you and the
what he’s just done. Keep
fence.
your hands down when the
“This is not longeing;
you don’t want the horse to go all
Remember that the hand on the lead rope closest to the horse’s halter is your
horse is soaking and when-
around you in a circle,” explains
“direction” hand, which signals the horse to follow that direction. Your “driving”
ever you are letting him
Chris Cox. “You want to drive the
hand is the hand closest to the tail end of the lead rope.
relax.
horse straight past you and then
photo: Chris Cox Horsemanship Co.
Step by Step
disengage him by stepping
towards his hindquarters so he
You may find that older
turns back and is facing you.”
round pen, so if you know how to use your hal-
horses take more time to master direct and
When you disengage the horse’s
ter and lead rope successfully, you can handle
drive than young, green horses. Chris uses
hindquarters, you make him move his hind
whatever comes along.”
this technique with every horse, starting as
end. When you direct and drive, you cause the
young as weanlings and yearlings. Direct and
horse to move forward by directing his
Getting Started
drive is a great exercise to keep horses of any
hindquarters. It’s important to realize that this
age soft and supple and responsive.
is done without any pulling on his head.
Stand about 10 feet from the fence to begin.
“Most people want to get in front of
Holding the lead rope, stand two to three feet
To direct and drive the horse to your left:
the horse and pull, but that’s not what we’re
from the horse, standing no further back than
Take one step towards the horse’s hip, looking
doing with direct and drive,” says Chris. “Your
the point of the horse’s shoulder. Plant your
at the hip, not at the horse’s head or eye!
goal is to control the feet, not the head. If you
feet with one foot forward for balance; don’t
Pick up your left hand as your direction hand.
control the feet, you will automatically have
stand with your feet together side by side.
Twirl your lead rope with your right hand.
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