Any drivers on here?

[eahotson]

I have done a little in the past and enjoyed what I did.Wondering if a change of direction from riding to driving would be a good idea.Obviously I would get a good driving trainer. Anyone a memeber of any of the driving clubs? Are they good? Anyone a member of BDS? What do you think.

 

[NeverSurrender]

I swapped from riding to driving when I lost my riding horse, whilst waiting for my youngster to grow up into the next riding horse!

My local driving club are a fabulous and friendly bunch - BDS also very friendly and welcoming but a little more old school/traditional, whereas the driving club wouldn't care if you turned up with a rainbow harness driving 6 donkeys from a chariot as long as it was safe!

Why not reach out to your local and see what they say? Although be aware that indoor/cones driving is on its summer break at the moment

 

[eahotson]

I swapped from riding to driving when I lost my riding horse, whilst waiting for my youngster to grow up into the next riding horse!

My local driving club are a fabulous and friendly bunch - BDS also very friendly and welcoming but a little more old school/traditional, whereas the driving club wouldn't care if you turned up with a rainbow harness driving 6 donkeys from a chariot as long as it was safe!

Why not reach out to your local and see what they say? Although be aware that indoor/cones driving is on its summer break at the moment

Thank you.

 

[tda]

I've driven in the past and hoping to get a pony restarted (after her maternity leave) quite soon. My dad did driven showing, tradesmen turnout, I just mainly bumbled around the lanes and tracks with a few cone courses for fun in the field.
There is a driving trials group in this area that are quite active which looks fun

 

[millikins]

I drove a few times decades ago and loved it, more than riding. When we couldn't find a suitable horse for my daughter we used the money put aside to buy me a cheap little pony off DD and have her pony professionally schooled. We had so much fun, I'm not into showing and the local driving club didn't have much for small ponies so we did indoor driving trials, it's probably the cheapest way to compete in driving, fun and lovely people.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Calling @rara007 @ester and @rabatsa

 

[Borderreiver]

My driving is really just how my riding used to be, I hacked all over and now I drive hack. I’m lucky to have off road tracks from my place and have been on the local roads a bit. I tried the competing thing but it’s not for me. I just love being out in the fields and it keeps me going as I head to seventy, not to mention all the other stuff which goes with looking after a pony and hauling a carriage about. My fell pony is fabulous. It can be hard to get started but is addictive once you do.

 

[millitiger]

I'm following this with interest as planning to break my Welsh D to harness when he is old enough.
It's something I've never done with my horses, I did do a BHS have a go at driving day this summer (to make sure I liked it!) and it was great fun

 

[Skib]

I am the opposite. In my ernest attempts to acquire an equestrian education, I went for some driving lessons. The first lesson was almost entirely consumed by tacking up and I then drove only in a large indoor school (It was pouring with rain)
Driving and long lining were never to my taste. I like to feel the horse under my seat and between my legs.

I was a poor candidate for driving because as a child I read many pony books where nasty children pulled on their ponies' reins. As a result I learned to ride barely using the reins at all.

Our yard has heavy horses and plenty of opportunities for learning to drive. But if I get too old and decrepid to ride the horse, I think I will simply retire. But there are people who love it and I wish you well.

 

[JBM]

I really thought this was gonna be about cars

 

[scruffyponies]

I broke my first pony to drive, with no experience myself, armed with just a book and after a whirlwind session with a local driver. We went all over the local area and had a ball.
Still love to drive from time to time, though I mostly ride. I really enjoy the process of introducing them to harness. Every youngster of mine has been broken to drive - particularly useful with ponies too small for an adult to back.

Some people never get on with it, and the risks are MUCH higher than riding. Best to have an experienced person involved, as a slight error in harness fit or adjustment can result in a ruined pony and/or a terrible accident.

 

[eahotson]

I am the opposite. In my ernest attempts to acquire an equestrian education, I went for some driving lessons. The first lesson was almost entirely consumed by tacking up and I then drove only in a large indoor school (It was pouring with rain)
Driving and long lining were never to my taste. I like to feel the horse under my seat and between my legs.

I was a poor candidate for driving because as a child I read many pony books where nasty children pulled on their ponies' reins. As a result I learned to ride barely using the reins at all.

Our yard has heavy horses and plenty of opportunities for learning to drive. But if I get too old and decrepid to ride the horse, I think I will simply retire. But there are people who love it and I wish you well.

Thank you.

 

[eahotson]

I broke my first pony to drive, with no experience myself, armed with just a book and after a whirlwind session with a local driver. We went all over the local area and had a ball.
Still love to drive from time to time, though I mostly ride. I really enjoy the process of introducing them to harness. Every youngster of mine has been broken to drive - particularly useful with ponies too small for an adult to back.

Some people never get on with it, and the risks are MUCH higher than riding. Best to have an experienced person involved, as a slight error in harness fit or adjustment can result in a ruined pony and/or a terrible accident.

I wouldn't dream of doing it without the help of a genuinely experienced person.

 

[eahotson]

Think I may join (on foot for now) a driving club and see where I go from there.

 

[Gloi]

I won't name them but I was a member of a driving club in the late 70s early 80s. They had local rallys which I went on a few times. They seemed to consist of trotting as fast as possible for an hour then tieing the sweaty horses to the wagon while they went in the the pub and got drunk.

 

[eahotson]

I won't name them but I was a member of a driving club in the late 70s early 80s. They had local rallys which I went on a few times. They seemed to consist of trotting as fast as possible for an hour then tieing the sweaty horses to the wagon while they went in the the pub and got drunk.

Well I can't say I like the idea of trotting the ponies so fast for so long but I like the drunk bit!

 

[Gloi]

Well I can't say I like the idea of trotting the ponies so fast for so long but I like the drunk bit!

If they looked after the horses once they got back it would have been okay but they just seemed to leave them steaming without so much as a string sweat rug.

 

[littleshetland]

My little 9hh shetland was borderline laminitic about 12 years ago. I got him through it and decided a campaign of exercise would be good for him so a knowledgable friend helped break him in to harness, and we've been trundling about ever since. Its a lovely thing to do, and the shetlands been fit and healthy for years now.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Think I may join (on foot for now) a driving club and see where I go from there.

That's a great idea. I used to spectate when friends went to driving competitions in your general area, and they had a lot of fun.

I tried driving and hated it . I felt too far from the horse and really rather nervous, though I'd have happily ridden the same horse .

 

[Gloi]

I'd really like to drive my current pony and I did actually get him walking round in my trap. However he was a bit big for it so I sold it and the roads round me aren't really suitable for safe driving, I've had incidents when riding where I've had to squash into the hedge to avoid a vehicle and would likely to have been hit in a trap . I've driven several of my others but I was in a slightly better area for it and there was less traffic.

 

[eahotson]

I have done a little (very little) driving in the past and enjoyed it but I was always with someone very competent and driving very safe, well schooled ponies.One instructor used to visit a client who was in poor health and just used to take her out for a drive and another one who liked to drive a bit but if she got tired or if there was something potentially a bit scary coming up,he just used to take the reins back.

 

[eahotson]

I'd really like to drive my current pony and I did actually get him walking round in my trap. However he was a bit big for it so I sold it and the roads round me aren't really suitable for safe driving, I've had incidents when riding where I've had to squash into the hedge to avoid a vehicle and would likely to have been hit in a trap

Roads these days are getting less safe for riding/horse driving.

 

[ester]

I drove a few times decades ago and loved it, more than riding. When we couldn't find a suitable horse for my daughter we used the money put aside to buy me a cheap little pony off DD and have her pony professionally schooled. We had so much fun, I'm not into showing and the local driving club didn't have much for small ponies so we did indoor driving trials, it's probably the cheapest way to compete in driving, fun and lovely people.

There is a current push to get the smaller ponies doing outdoor trials but the groom definitely needs and electric bike .

Fb tells me today 12 years ago I first went to watch rara in deepest darkest wales, sat on the back of a carriage and said this is weird. I’m mostly groom/backstepper and the lack of control can feel a bit weird to start but it’s very good fun once you get going (albeit I also get to do it behind a very good driver )

Said driver then had a mad idea that I do an introductory (gateway) completion with a pony I’d never driven and was also fairly new to it( we did manage to fit in one session) and then I won it and qualified for 2 championships , good coach ) I do find him easier than the previous pony as he is always going forwards, having to keep forwards and everything else can be tricky . I’m just learning/working out how the contact has to be a bit different for the sportier side than you would when riding.

There’s a complete range of levels but one stand out feature is that whatever the level everyone is friendly/helpful/welcoming.

There’s quite a few drive outs/pleasure rides that happen, some of competitions are running them along side so the ‘roads and tracks’ also serve as a pleasure drive and BDS run them too. If you’re on Facebook the British carriage driving and British carriage driving chit chat groups would give you lots of info and have people who could direct you to the possibilities in your area

 

[eahotson]

There is a current push to get the smaller ponies doing outdoor trials but the groom definitely needs and electric bike .

Fb tells me today 12 years ago I first went to watch rara in deepest darkest wales, sat on the back of a carriage and said this is weird. I’m mostly groom/backstepper and the lack of control can feel a bit weird to start but it’s very good fun once you get going (albeit I also get to do it behind a very good driver )

Said driver then had a mad idea that I do an introductory (gateway) completion with a pony I’d never driven and was also fairly new to it( we did manage to fit in one session) and then I won it and qualified for 2 championships , good coach ) I do find him easier than the previous pony as he is always going forwards, having to keep forwards and everything else can be tricky . I’m just learning/working out how the contact has to be a bit different for the sportier side than you would when riding.

There’s a complete range of levels but one stand out feature is that whatever the level everyone is friendly/helpful/welcoming.

There’s quite a few drive outs/pleasure rides that happen, some of competitions are running them along side so the ‘roads and tracks’ also serve as a pleasure drive and BDS run them too. If you’re on Facebook the British carriage driving and British carriage driving chit chat groups would give you lots of info and have people who could direct you to the possibilities in your area

Thank you for your helpful advice.