mike!

[funkyboots]

so, i'm looking at harnesses on ebay as i might as well long rien him in the harness then buy new roller and lunging cav. (mines got rusty on loan and from 14.2 cobs...lol

so hes very stong and as most of you know,can't see where hes going half the time....one harness has blinkers on, one does'nt...which option do you think is best?

am very excited..lol
my nieghbour has offered me a saddle and bridle to long rien him from but as hes never seen them before either and will feel completely diffrent to a harness...not sure i wanna take that route..(shannon will wanna ride him then..lol)

[Sil]

If you're only going to be long reining him in it, then I don't think it would matter, I'd probably just stick to no blinkers. If you do get blinkers, I wouldn't just stick them on him though, he might panic unless he's had them on before.

I taught my pony to long rein without blinkers first and then with blinkers because I was teaching him to drive, I find he concentrates better with the blinkers on now, but at first he was really jumpy because he couldn't see everything, so I just used to lead him everywhere with them on, but I'd keep in his view until he was confident enough to drop behind, I did have to talk to him a lot and reassure him, even now he gets worried if I go quiet.

[funkyboots]

i've just looked again and both sets have blinkers on,,,forgot to ask if they come off. he's not 100% around 'spooky' stuff and lorrys yet. he was good today and i think being in a field with a carrageway and railway either side is working wonders..lol

[Sil]

The blinkers don't come off, they're attached to the cheekpieces. I'd probably just keep working on doing stuff without blinkers for now if he's a bit jumpy, you could always get the harness and save the bridle for later perhaps.

[My Crazy Clan]

I would do all the work without the harness first, once hes ready use the harnesses to train him further, also would keep the blinkers on to start with, tie his mane back or plait it we have the same trouble with magic forelock.

[funkyboots]

ahh what the heck..if he cant see where hes going he has to listen to me!!