Breaking horses to drive. Hampshire/Berkshire area

[Shellby27]

Fingers crossed when Rosie eventually has her foal I will have a lovely pair of heavies which i would love to drive. Rosie has apparently driven before, but i would like to send them both somewhere to be professionally broken to drive.

Can anyone recommend somewhere in the Hants/Berks area? Rough estimate of how much it would cost me? Duration of training etc? Also what age is best? I'm assuming a 4 year old would be ok. Gives me some time to save and also take lessons myself. Would I be better off with someone who specifically drives heavy breeds?

Be grateful for any info/links to websites

 

[Ezme]

Driving is driving so I wouldn't go to someone who specificallt drives heavies. I don't know if its a common thing but some of the people round here who only drive heavies are a bit heavy handed and theres no need for it. I drive heavies and they all have lovely mouths. Our heavies are broken at 3 (some continue work, some are turned away depending on charecter) but it's not unusual to start at 2 1/2 when they've not got all their strenth then turn away but one of our best horses wasn't broken to harness until 8!

Great job on getting lessons and sending the one who may be broken away too, i've seen it happen when people think a horse is driven and it freaks! lol

The BDS has links to trainers and breakers
http://www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk/

Our last two percherons were sent away to break and wern't be best handled and I think they were away for 6 weeks and were going nicely but we schooled them on. I don't know how much it cost. That was with a specific heavy horse trainer who broke them mainly in chains (farm type work/vehicals) but we transfered them over to pole work pretty easily.

 

[Tallante]

There are a couple of people I have spoken to and/or visited in anticipation of getting mine broken next year.

Roger Page, Lowhill Farm. I think he's Chairman of BDS Hampshire.

'Jules' Clapham near Kingsclere mostly breaks to ride but has also broken driving ponies. Jules has 'started' my 3 year olds with some in-hand work, long reining and lunging but they've been turned away until next year. I will probably send them back there.

Kevin Merry near Oxford. Has a working pair of Fresians and also breaks to drive. He had quite a few in his yard when I visited in January. He's well equipped to break horses or ponies. Google him.