Finding Stillness
September 13, 2018 by Andy Marcoux
Probably two-thirds of the information passed between the driver and the horse is transmitted through the reins. It stands to reason that the more clearly and accurately we can handle the reins, the clearer and more accurate our communication will be. That’s where being able to
There’s No Place Like Home
August 27, 2018 by Andy Marcoux
I got a great little success e-mail last week from one of my west-coast students, Deb Holmes. She'd just finished up the Equestrian Institute Combined Driving Event in Ethel, WA where she won her division. The note read: RE: "There's no place like home" Andy, Thank you
Specific Goals for Specific Results
August 22, 2018 by Andy Marcoux
What’s your plan when you head out to drive your horse? Do you make a plan and follow that plan, or do you follow your horse's nose? Some people will answer that they are going to do ring work, dressage, cones, or fitness and feel like that’s a pretty good plan. But that is
Corners and Turns
May 21, 2018 by Andy Marcoux
Driving corners and turns in a dressage test shouldn’t be that difficult, but it’s the one place that people most often get it wrong. They either drive so far from the corner that they Unfortunately, there’s no guidance in the rulebook other than the diagrams that come with
Improve Your Body Mechanics
April 11, 2018 by Andy Marcoux
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that how you’re using your body on the carriage effects how your horse is moving. After all, you’re fairly isolated from the horse, and you’re sitting 3-4 feet behind him. But small changes in your body can make big differences in your horse’s way
Breast Collar Design Flaw
April 9, 2018 by Andy Marcoux
This style breast collar has been showing up more and more as I travel the country. They seem especially prevalent in small pony and mini harness. They feature a ring where the trace tug is anchored to the breast collar. One assumes this is intended to accommodate varying lines
The Missing Link
March 27, 2018 by Andy Marcoux
Do you ever feel like the second half of your dressage test or pleasure class is just a little better than the first half? Maybe you’ve even thought, “If I only had a little more time to put my pony together, I could have had a much better drive.” That’s a common experience.
Blinders or Not?
March 14, 2018 by Andy Marcoux
It only takes a quick search on the internet to find all kinds of misguided theories on why driving horses wear blinders. The most common reason given is that they are used to keep the horse from being distracted. Speaking of distractions, the search will no doubt soon lead
Driving by the Seat of Your Pants
March 10, 2018 by Andy Marcoux
Think about momentum for a moment. For example, picture yourself in your truck and trailer with horses loaded, heading down the highway. Your exit is coming up in a half mile or so. Being a careful and mindful trailer driver, think about how you are going to approach that
Bucking Strap Routing
March 3, 2018 by Andy Marcoux
In my practice, I rarely use bucking straps (aka. kicking strap.) That doesn’t mean that I’m against them. I have several students who keep bucking straps on their harness because their pony has been known to have a buck or two here and there. The purpose of the bucking strap
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