Bitless and Blinkerless with a Pair of Shetland Mares
We get a lot of questions about bitless and blinkerless driving, so we thought that since the opportunity had arisen to do some bitless driving, we would go the whole way and drive blinkerless as well!
Meet Sweetie and Ettie - two Standard Shetland ponies, full sisters a year apart, but almost identical! Due to an unfortunate dental issue (diastema gaps between her premolars and molars, as discussed in the video) Sweetie needed her mouth flushed out of trapped food and found the bit uncomfortable - particularly when turning left. Thankfully, it is an issue that should resolve itself as she ages and her teeth close together. But for now, she is more comfortable without a bit. Her sister, Ettie, has no such troubles, but was happy to go along with the idea!
See how they get on out for the first time without Blinkers or Bits! This film will hopefully be Part 1 of 3 films we make about these ponies.
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I love the clipetty clop of their hooves and they trotting in harmony just lovely
I love the sound the Shetlands make!
Their little feet...going twenty to the dozen. Such darlings. Thanks Barry for the video.
Shetties are smart little creatures. Watched a guy breaking his 3 to harness, each in kind of a mini sulky (as for trotters, but smaller) within 10 minutes. We all drove along, 6 people, 3 ponies, to the next "Biergarten". (Bavaria). They just did their job as if they had done it for years. Risky... but the ponies did it. Ho fear of nothing. No hesitation, no "but"... amazing. The little gelding dug a big hole in the gravel with his front hoof while we sat and he stood there tied to a tree. We un-dug it quietly before leaving, not to annoy the landlord. Got home safe. I know it was crazy, just went along, not my ponies, would not have done it that way. But it worked out somehow. Now, these 2 bitless... they just seem to know how to read and write ... wonderful litte things. You are shaming all those who seem to NEEEED heavy special curb bits and blinkers and and and to feel "safe" while driving. If you have no "mental reins" handy, all the other tack is useless.
Just an amazingly kind,and understanding trainer..I wish there were more like him.
Once again, another great training demonstration by the master himself, Barry. Many thanks for educating the equine world with your excellent horse sense.
Great to see them driven without bits or blinkers
They are so sweet! I love the sound of their hooves on the pavement.
A Pair of cuteness !!! You Can See Them Comunicating and working together with you !!!! All respect with you !
Lovely little pair of Shetland mares! My daughters had a pair very much like them and I was so impressed by their enthusiasm at work. People forget that Shetlands weren't 'toys' in the past. They are strong for their size and can do a day's work with all the enthusiasm of larger ponies and horses. Any 'naughtiness' is just a sign that they haven't been properly trained and conditioned. People so often let ponies get away with things that would be really dangerous if you let a bigger horse do them. Teach your ponies well and make sure that they get the exercise that they need and they will be both happy and fit!
I was so pleased to see this as I'm hoping to eventually have Merlin blinkerless driving. He gets scared if he can't see.
What a lovely little pair of ponies. I'm glad you mentioned this to me a couple of weeks ago. I have been looking forward to this video clip. It is wonderful to see how accepting these ponies are of their work, even so new to them. Again, thank you!
How I enjoy watching your vids and hearing your horse philosophy, which is so much like my own. I train horses and instruct students, although these days more for fun that as a job. I enjoy starting young horses for riding, and have trained a several driving horses in my career. I had to chuckle when you talked about inflection in one’s voice being important and that a horse listens to that maybe more than the word command. You used the word “bananas” and it is a funny coincidence that I use that exact word to demonstrate this point to people. I have such deep respect for you, your experience, treatment of horses and their owners. You certainly have some beautiful roads to travel. I studied dressage and jumping in U.K. and Austria some years ago. The British Isles always feel like home to me. Your comment is so true about not being able to give someone experience and that in the end one learns that each horse is different. Many people who aspire to having and working with horses do not have good instructors about. Your videos show an approach I wish more western trainers would consider in the U.S., where I am from., where dominance and scaring the horse is still prevalent. It is getting better over here, but still a long way to go in approach and attitude. I have learned from you and I thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world.
Thanks Linda - good to know our philosophies are shared by others across the world!
Thankyou for this Barry. You truly are such a master. I also love how humble you are.... especially as we all know you’re the best👍❤️☺️
How gorgeous are these Shetland Ponies , absolutely proper to see them going bitless Barry , anyway just typical of you Barry take them under your care and doing a wonderful job of it , wouldn't expect any less of you after all your the Greatest.Thank you Barry for all the valuable information you give us,and showing us this great video ❤️❤️
I must say, your videos tell the listening ear, and watchful eye much more than many a book. I am so very grateful for you doing this!
Teacup Haflingers :)
LOL
I found the demonstration of inflection delightful! I hope like mad that I’ll be able to find someone like you when my pony grows up enough for training.
Smashing ponies. Send them over here to Pembrokeshire!
Really good video...I appreciate all your thoughts and tips....
Have you ever seen the Norman Thelwell series of Pony Club cartoons? Thelwell's drawings of Shetlands look *just* like these two little guys!
*girls))
@Lost Hero em... there's "mares" in the video' name and description. Mares = girls of horses or i don't understand something in this life?)) That's strange to call them like that, really
Welldone for understanding there was something wrong with the pony, i still don't know why some people still use pain compliance bits and whips it shows horses like these pony horses do better without bits . It marks the skill of a person who wants to learn proper horsemanship skills and use these pain implements as short cuts to riding or pulling carts etc. They may have a small brain but these two are very intuitive and understands what you are asking. They look like they're really enjoying themselves where you were in the village where the cemetery is. I wonder if they share same sire and both parents were the same colour very pretty.
Had to watch this bitless, blinkerless video. It was "bananas" LOL! Love it. Pressure and release... I'm no expert, but all the things I've seen or read about it are referring to cues or signals or "requests" you give an animal (such as gestures, physical pressure, or voice), until the animal does what you ask. Many people talk about stimulus - response - reward. But I haven't seen anyone saying it has to do with a harsh bit or pain. Though no doubt there are still plenty of people who deliberately inflict pain. I think the most frequent training mistake people make is getting the timing or the reward wrong. We had a neighbor who would call his dog, and when the dog finally returned, he would whack the dog. Then the man complained how stupid the dog was.
I have been learning a lot from watching your videos. I drive my pony bitless too.
Wonderful. ❤️❤️❤️
When my Merlin comes to you, you can sit with him and he wouldn't dream of kicking you. Even when vets were poking him and he was very very scared, not once did he ever offer to kick or bite.
Would it be ok for me to share this with a bitless driving group that I belong to on Facebook? It’s fantastic to see them both going so well. !!
Are the reins hard to hold or something? Barry is constantly shifting the reins in his hands.
Constant minor adjustments are often essential with green horses. Better several small corrections than one large one when it's already too far gone.
🐴👍
Hi so are they not fully into adult hood yet . Beautiful pair of sheltland ponies , they very funny loving mischievous characters big personalities good companion horses .
They are 4 & 5 years old, so technically 'adults' but a horse may keep growing until they are 7 & 8 years old and their mouth does not finish developing until all their adult teeth are in, which can vary between individuals.
Do you sell the rubber bits with the thinner mouthpieces Barry? I spoke to Mel about buying one a couple of years ago, but I don’t think you’d had them made at that point?
Hi Danielle, unfortunately we don't sell any rubber bits. We have not had any luck so far finding a material both durable and flexible enough for the job.
Thank you for the video. I am very curious what the ring between the reins is for.
Thank you. I know the working of the reins. I have a pair of small ponies myself, one of them is prancing and maybe the ring is a good idea.
@@Tommiedoggie Lost Hero is right - We use them particularly where there is chance the reins might drop forward over the pole and get stuck, which seriously affects communication with the horses both for steering and stopping!
As per usual your foot covering the brake incase anything goes wrong
I don't agree with your definition of pressure and release. Pressure should never be pain. If it is, it becomes torture and release. When I am working a horse, I put pressure with my body language, voice or tools and release when the horse responds with the right answer. Just like a high horse would put pressure on another horse. Mutual respect. Clear communication. No pain, no forcing. Patience. And the horse gets to figure out the answer. Maybe the definition of pressure and relase or the way it is used is different in the driving world than it is in the natural horsemanship world. I wouldn't know. I'm very new to driving.