Breaking an 18 year old pony to drive

[Sarah04]

I've just recently started driving my standard Shetland and I'm enjoying it so much I'm now preferring to do this to riding my New Forest pony so I was wondering would he be to old to break to drive? He's 18 in Feb and as fit as a fiddle. He's Easy to do and not phased by much apart from the odd pheasant jumping out on us and he's good in traffic .

 

[Equi]

No reason why not I broke my mare at 14. Now 17 and hasnt driven since last winter, but still would and could lol

 

[Finlib]

Many years ago had my 14.2 arab x cob broken to harness aged 17 she took to it like a duck to water drove (and rode) her until she was 30 really easy to break to harness and really good to drive.She was a lively ride but bomb proof in traffic if the horse is good in traffic go for it!!

 

[Sarah04]

Great Thank you. Hows the best way to start? long reining lots then put harness on or harness on and long rein in It?

 

[pennyturner]

If you have a harness already, slap it on there. Your quiet pony is unlikely to be much bothered by it. If not, you can long rein by passing the reins through run up stirrups on a riding saddle, and do all the groundwork on voice commands before you splash out on any kit at all.

Get hold of a copy of Sally Walrond's 'breaking a horse to harness' if you can. It sets out all the steps very clearly.