Philosophy

A natural affinity for horses combined with decades of focused study give Olaf a unique understanding of horses. Olaf emphasizes the importance of assessing and respecting the individual horse's abilities and limitations. Central to Olaf's philosophy is the belief that all horses, regardless of breed or type, have an inborn need to work. With effective training and handling the horse can learn to use itself well and achieve its full potential. In any breed and any equine discipline, the goal is a comfortable, confident and responsive horse.

Question:
My horse is 10 years old and has never been driven. Is it too late to start now?

Olaf answers:
The horse's age doesn't determine whether or not he can be taught to drive. What matters is whether someone tried to train the horse previously, and failed. As you may know, horses have a long memory for negative experience. If your horse has had a bad experience with driving, it will be difficult to overcome that, but his age by itself isn't important.

Olaf answers:
The time depends on the horse's personality and ability and the trainer's skill. When I am starting a horse with no previous driving training, I generally say it will take about 3 months of basic work and then an additional year to refine and stabilize the training.

I have a quarter horse that I would like to train to drive. Can you give me any tips?

Quarter horses make excellent riding horses, but some of the same traits that make them so nice to ride (like their natural willingness to canter) make them less than ideal as driving horses. I'm not saying you can't train your quarter horse to drive, and in fact I know people in Norway and in the USA who drive quarter horses or other "riding horses" like Arabians and thoroughbreds. But the quarter horse (or Arabian or Thoroughbred )who excels at driving is probably the exception rather than the rule.
So my answer to your question is : You can start training your horse with long-lines, as you would start any other breed, but listen to your "gut feeling" and don't be too surprised or disappointed if the horse is telling you he "doesn't want to be a driving horse".
I should add that there are some breeds, like the fjord horse, the Morgan, the American saddlebred, and the Dutch warmblood to name a few, that do make good "dual purpose" (riding AND driving) horses.

Question:
I have a 3 year old filly that I am trying to train to long-line, and I am having some problems. Sometimes the filly turns to face me and wraps the lines around herself. Sometimes she just takes off and runs for the barn. (I have been trying to work in an open field).

Olaf answers:
The first thing I would say is this: long-lining is not easy and it is especially difficult to long-line an uncooperative horse. I would suggest that you go with the horse to a clinic or take a lesson with an experienced trainer, where you can get some help to get started. In the meanwhile, here are a few words of advice:
    - It's better to prevent a mistake (turning or running away) rather than trying to correct the mistake. Once the horse has started to run, for example, all your strength will not be enough to stop it.
    - If you can keep the horse on the bit it will help keep her from turning or running away.
    - When turning, always support the horse with the outside line and keep the outside rein low, behind the horse's stifles. This makes it harder for the horse to turn his haunches away from you.

Olaf's Philosophy