breaking a pony into harness? :P (my crazy idea haha)

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LittleMouse

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call me crazy....
but i want to break my pony in to harness!
i have my prom next year and i want to drive him in ahahaha!
its random and i havent thought it through yet BUT:
1. he is 15, is that too old (he will still be used as a ridden pony though)
2. can i get him to that standard in one year??
3. and most importantly....how does one go about breaking a pony into harness??


thanking yous! xxxx :D
 
Im in the process of breaking my first driving pony. I broke him to ride a few years back and now want the driving experience too.

First of long rein until you legs fall off. Long rein everywhere. Make sure you teach all voice commands and that pony responds well to them all.
Introduce harness, bridle with blinkers etc. Long rein some more.
Train him to drag something, most people use a tyre. Its not just the feeling of pulling but also the noise of something behind. Teach him to be happy with ropes all around his legs. Teach him to back between shafts, be happy when the shafts touch his legs and his sides. Then I guess just hitch him up and give him a walk out. As said its my first time to so would be good to hear from people who have done it before who may have more hints and tips!

Im going to get some lessons at a decent driving school too.

As far as getting him to the point of pulling you to prom. I dont think thats out of reach if hes fab in traffic already. Have to put in a fair bit of work though!
 
Wonderful idea, but personally I wouldn't recommend driving him to prom. It'll be a whole new experience for him, and advisable for you to wear a riding hat, something I doubt you'll want to wear just before you go into your prom ;)
 
def get help from someone who knows what they're doing esp when putting in carriage for first time - its really dangerous and so many things can go wrong very quickly! I currently am breaking in an ex-racer (yes i have questioned my sanity!!) but have been breaking to harness for years but will still have help when it comes to putting in carriage! def get some proper lessons too. then happy driving!! its great fun!!!
 
Don't forget your prom will be evening, driving in the dark's not a good idea. Have some lessons, Pippa Bassett's in Capel, see if you like it.
 
Wouldn't worry about horse's age. My mare was broken to driving when she was 14 and adored it. But I had her broken professionally by my instructor who insisted I had lessons with my mare before I took her home.
 
Unless you want your hair & makeup ruining not a good plan. You're ok without a hat on the very well trained driving horses they use for weddings etc but not advisable on one recently broke to harness.
If you want to drive him, I suggest you look up your local driving club & asking them to point you in the direction of someone who can help.
 
aw wheres the like button! i think going to prom is a brill idea!

also i would like a like button for the poste who said their breaking there exrace to drive! i would love to do this.

:):)
 
Two questions and things you can do now.

1. Is your pony superb in traffic and with all sorts of hazards? If not I would do some work with a bomb proof companion.

2. Have you ever long reined? If not I would start that too in an arena. You don't need all the kit to start with. Tie your loose stirrups together under the belly with a bit of twine, run two lunge reins from bit through stirrups and lunge with both reins, try turns etc.

3. Put on a bridle with blinkers and see how he responds to that.

4. Two of my Shagya Arabs came from National Stud in Hungary, where all fillies are broken to harness before they are backed. We watched two grooms start training.

They had a wooden cross with two ropes attached to that and to a collar. One each side they walked a young horse pulling this. You could simply run the ropes through the collar and hold them, then if the pony panics let go.

Don't go near a cart till all that is done.
 
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