A Horse Training Secret From The 1800s To Teach A Horse To Drive Without Lines!


Horse owners who are history buffs may recognize the name Jesse Beery. Beery was an enormously famous horse trainer from the 1800's and early 1900's.

He learned to train horses at a very young age. It was clear he had a gift for horse training and made it his life's work.

Among the almost countless things Beery could do with a horse, he taught them tricks. One of the most amazing tricks he taught was teaching a horse to drive without lines. (In layman's terms, you have no long reins (known as lines) connected to the horse. The only connection to the horse is the buggy hitched to the horse) This trick almost defies belief!

Beery said this about driving a horse without lines: "While I do not advocate it as being a universally practical way of driving a horse, yet it is possible to so thoroughly train the horse to certain signals that he can be controlled more reliably under excitement and in case of danger than it would be possible to manage him with bridle and lines."

Beery says there are a number of ways to teach this to a horse but suggests his method as the most reliable.

In a nutshell, Beery first turned his horse loose in an enclosure about twenty-five feet square. He would walk in with a whip and teach the horse to have confidence in him and not fear the whip. (The horse is never whipped).

Once the horse has learned to come to handler at the command of "Come Here" and shows no fear of the whip while it's gently waved over his head and body, and will follow the handler all about the ring, then you have laid a good foundation for further instruction.

Put the horse away until the next day where the horse learns signals of the whip.

That process is as follows: Stand close the the horse's hip and take a short whip and tap lightly on the right shoulder until the horse, in anticipation of driving a fly off, will swing his head around to where the tapping is. Step forward quickly and hand him a few oats, or a small piece of apple, almost in the act of turning his head around. Step back and continue the tapping and rewarding.

After a while, in his eagerness for the reward, he will take a step or two to the right when the tapping begins. Then caress him and treat him very kindly for that act. Soon, the idea will be conveyed that when tapped on the shoulder the horse will know to turn in that direction.

Remember to train both sides of the horse.

Once both sides are trained now an open bridle can be put on. Use short lines that come back as far as his tail only - but they are used only if he becomes unruly or to convey your idea to him.

The handler's whip should not be over five feet long at this stage and the handler should stand directly behind the horse. (Beware of kickers) Let the whip extend to about the middle of his mane.

The signal you wish for him to stop for is raising the whip and holding it in a perpendicular position. Associate the meaning of this movement, and position, just as the whip is raised so the horse can see it. Pull hard on the reins and say "Whoa" - all at the same time. After a few repetitions the horse will know what to do. (Assuming you have thoroughly educated your horse to whoa)

The first few times he stops without a pull of the reins step forward and reward him immediately. Much of the success of teaching this trick depends upon how you give the rewards. If the reward is given in a manner so that the horse can fully comprehend it was complying with the handler's wish, it will greatly enhance fixing this impression on the horse's brain.

But if not given in the right manner, the reward will be worse than none at all.

In the same manner, the horse is taught to turn left and right. This is done by giving the horse a pretty smart tap on the lower part of the shoulder and immediately place the point of the whip three or four feet in that direction. Should he attempt to jump and go ahead too much, you can hold him in check with the action and signal to stop him.

Essentially, these are Beery's instructions for training a horse to drive without lines. It's important to note this is a shortened version of Beery's instructions and there is more to know.

About The Author

Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author of several best selling horse training and horse care books. For information visit his website at www.horsetrainingandtips.com. He is also the leading expert on Jesse Beery's horse training methods which can be seen at www.horsetrainingandtips.com/Jesse_Beerya.htm.







Related News



Pet Health Care - Washington Post

Pet Health Care
Washington Post, United States -6 hours ago
I make my own birthday the anniversary of my pets' annual health-care visit. It gives me peace of mind to know that everyone is caught up on all of the ...

Missouri Humane Society rescues pets in Indiana - Jefferson City News Tribune

Missouri Humane Society rescues pets in Indiana
Jefferson City News Tribune, MO -5 hours ago
ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Missouri Humane Society is rescuing a menagerie of animals, this time in Indiana. The Missouri Humane Society said Thursday it has ...
How much is that doggie?St. Joseph News-Press
all 2 news articles

Longer Living, Healthier Pets Boost the $5 Billion Market for Pet ... - MarketWatch

Longer Living, Healthier Pets Boost the $5 Billion Market for Pet...
MarketWatch -22 hours ago
NEW YORK, NY, Oct 10, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- At the center of robust global animal health product growth, the US market for pet medications is ...
Longer Living, Healthier Pets Boost the $5 Billion Market for Pet...International Business Times
all 15 news articles


Couple's hearts, home always have room for pets on the mend - Arizona Republic

Couple's hearts, home always have room for pets on the mend
Arizona Republic, AZ -11 hours ago
The pets return to the Humane Society for adoption. Leo, a 3-month-old Shar-Pei stray, is her current foster dog. He was bitten in the eye - the ...

Families must choose between pets and homes - Calgary Herald

Families must choose between pets and homes
Calgary Herald,  Canada -4 hours ago
That family was forced to give Friday up to the shelter because they could not finding housing that allows pets -- an increasingly common scenario in ...
Hard times trigger more pet abandonmentsMLive.com
all 2 news articles

Students Helping Homeless and their Pets - KGET 17

Students Helping Homeless and their Pets
KGET 17, CA -10 hours ago
They also collected items for their pets, including dog treats and flea spray. "The students get to think about someone else other than themselves and they ...
Tracing Tracy TerritoryTracy Press
all 2 news articles

Community's pets receive a blessing - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Community's pets receive a blessing
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL -7 hours ago
CORRESPONDENT PHOTOS / CHRIS MIKULA Pets and their owners gather for the Blessing of the Animals ceremony Sept. 4 at Living Lord Lutheran Church in East ...
Church celebrates blessing of the petsMarco Island Sun Times
Beach church hosts pet blessingMiamiHerald.com
all 3 news articles

Social Release: PetSmart(R) Offers Top Costumes, Toys and ... - MarketWatch

Social Release: PetSmart(R) Offers Top Costumes, Toys and ...
MarketWatch -14 hours ago
PetSmart Dog Fashion Expert Rashell Cooper says, "Pets are members of the family, and just like kids, they'll sport the latest trends in costumes this ...

Hyper Dogs Make Bad Pets, Great Life-Savers - CBS 5

Hyper Dogs Make Bad Pets, Great Life-Savers
CBS 5, CA -16 hours ago
"They make terrible pets," said Marin County Fire Capt. Jim Boggeri. East Bay SPCA Shelter Supervisor Lenny Deets adds: "Rambunctious, high-energy escape ...
Unwanted Bay Area Dogs Become Life SaversCBS 5
all 2 news articles

Tough Times: No Reason To Abandon Or Neglect Your Pet - Hartford Courant

Tough Times: No Reason To Abandon Or Neglect Your Pet
Hartford Courant, United States -6 hours ago
By WILLIAM HAGEMAN | Chicago Tribune CHICAGO - The trend of pets being shooed out the front door or abandoned in forest preserves has put animal welfare ...
Pet of the Week: BusterTampa Bay's 10
all 2 news articles