Driving Certificate Program
Learn how to use your horse for work and driving
Always wanted to have your horse pull it's own weight?
This two-part certificate program will teach you how to prepare your horse for pulling loads and how to do in-hand driving. It is intended for personal enjoyment, not professional training. Students who successfully complete the two courses receive a Beginning Driving certificate.
DR
101: Foundational Driving
Saturdays, 2 -4 p.m.
Instructor:
Woody Hoopes
This five-week class introduces you and your horse to the necessary skills required for driving and will have you working as a team on the ground and get you ready for the next stage of pulling a cart, wagon or farm implement.
Some of the topics covered:
- Leading with respect, driving games and following a path
- Ground-driving, desensitizing to ropes and lateral pressure
- Desensitize to dragging and scuffing noises behind
- Pulling traces
Use of personal horse preferred or rent one of ours.
Prerequisite: NWNHC HS101: Foundational Horsemanship, Parelli Level 1, Jonathan Field Course 1, or other natural horsemanship equivalent. Horse must respond to direct and indirect pressure without opposition, stand still, be able to handle common environmental stimuli, have minimal flight reflex and, most of all, respect you. Human must be proficient in the basic techniques of natural horsemanship.
Horse Evaluation: Student horses will be assessed in the second class to determine suitability for driving. A limited number of driving horses will be available for those who have an unsuitable horse or need a horse for coursework. Horse rental fee $10 per class.
Download Course Syllabus
Tuition: $350
Additional recommended and required study materials and training tools are necessary for successful completion.
Limited to six students.
Auditing: $150 Full course
$30 Per class
DR
201:
Beginning
In-Hand Driving
Saturdays, 2 - 4 p.m.
Instructor:
Woody Hoopes
This six-week class teaches different driving and harnessing equipment, the skills necessary to properly harness and hitch a team, and how to drive single horse. Experienced horses, harness, and vehicle provided, or bring your own.
Prerequisite: NWNHC DR 101: Foundational Driving, or equivalent experience and natural horsemanship training.
Download Course Syllabus
Tuition: $350
Additional recommended and required study materials and training tools are necessary for successful completion.
Limited to four students
Auditing: $150 Full course
$30 Per class
