This came up the other day as that it is not scientifically proofen that experienced horses can be used to train young horses. Monty then mentioned how the Amish would hitch an older experienced horse together with a young one to the buggy.
The other day I was training three weanlings to be lead around and also to be lead in and out of the barn and into the stables. (These three weanlings were born in the US from lease mares and they are now in Canada so everything is new to them) They were so bewildered once they were ofloaded in their seperate pens nobody could catch them. This is when the owner asked me to put halters on them, teach them to lead and also to be lead in and out of the barn as well as into the stables. First off I tried join up in their pens and to my embarrashmend it did not work for me. In the end I catched them with a larriat and played and desensitized them untill I could put a dually on them. Teaching them to lead with the dually was not that easy either but still much easier than with conventional halters. Also with the dually once they realize how to come of the pressure they were leading like champions. The next step was to lead them into the barn. The first weanling took about thirty minutes before he was willing to follow me in and out of the barn. But once he realized nothing is going to attack him in the barn he was following me in and out of the barn and in and out of the stables with a loose lead rope and his nose right by my shoulder. The second weanling a filly was more skittish and after a half an hour went by without any sucses I decided to try something else. I called a girl who was brushing her horse and ask her if she would mind leading her horse in and out of the barn a few times with me and the weanling following right behind them. It worked like a charm! The filly had no problem following the older horse into the barn! We did this a few times and then I could lead the filly in and out without a figh and she is following me like a dog. The third weanling also a filly was as easy as pie. I asked the girl right from the start to help me out by leading her horse in and out of the barn a few times. The filly followed the older horse without any hesitation and within five minutes the lesson was over! I believe if we can think of methods and ways to use the experience of an older horse to train a younger horse the training will be so much easier. If Monty can show us some examples of how to use an older quiet horse to train a young inexperienced horse it would be great
Not too long ago (think a couple of decades only) it wasn't *scientifically proven* that new born babies could feel pain.
I'm all for scientific proof, but just saying that just because they haven't gotten around to it, that doesn't mean it isn't so.
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Not sure if I'm talking about the same thing here, but in Sweden I think older horses (esp. in agricultural work) have been used all the time to "teach" younger horses.
In the olden days, already as foals, the draught-horses were tied next to their mom's while they pulled hay carts or wagons or whatever.
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Exactly *how* they learned from them, I can't say of course, because I don't think horses can mentally put themselves in the same situation as another horse and draw on their experience. (Heck, even humans have problems with that!) ;)
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For example, I don't think it's likely that a horse will learn to carry a rider just from watching lots of other horses being ridden. (Although I would love to know what goes on in their heads when they do, and if they can relate at all when they are presented with a rider.)
But when they are in a situation together, maybe the younger horse - by flock instinct? - choose to follow the more experienced horse's behavior in the new situation, because it is apparently the correct and safe way to handle said situation.
Like "monkey see, monkey do", or simply "Follow the leader".
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Just looking at my own youngster, I am certain he has gained lots of knowledge, and above all confidence, by following the behavior of older experienced horses.
For example to keep calm in the stable or field when other horses are lead away. Or to relax in the forest, in traffic, past cattle etc.
(Then again, he will follow almost any one any where if we just walk ahead of him. *LOL*)
Also, watching other horses ignore the gushing of a water hose or the clipping machine has also served to keep him a bit calmer and more "negotiable" than when presented with these things on his own.