Considering a horse that has driven....

Zirach

Zirach

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Hi all, I was just wondering if a horse that has been a ride and drive predominantly would have any issues being just a riding horse? What I mean is does it affect their general way of going, paces etc as I have been told by a few that they tend to have choppier paces and be quite strong ridden. Out of interest would you buy a ride and drive if you liked the look of the horse but wanted just a riding horse?
 
If it's perfect for you as a riding horse then I can't see it matters that it's been driven. Some of them that have been mainly driven can be a bit fixed about being in the centre of the carriageway IME.
 
My Oldenburg had been driven in Germany before I bought him. He was (well, still with us but retired now) the best dressage horse I have ever owned. His overtrack was massive, and I think doing a bit of driving helps a big horse to use themselves properly. If you like the horse, and you think his temperament will suit you, then I would go for it! (he is the bravest horse on the road I have ever owned too!)
 
we sold on a 14.3 pidebald mare trad cob who used to pull bowtop wagons all her life, neva done anythin else and was 6. Broke her in to ride an she was a star. Sold her on to her new home an they send us e-mails she is fantastic to hack alone past lorries etc. But then did her first dressage test a couple of weeks ago and shocked all the judges when they told them she was driven most her life :)


Id defintaly take another one on.
 
They may find the canter difficult , all my driving horse are ridden and are fine you like the horse I would not let it affect your choice .
 
It wouldn't put me off buying a horse. In fact I would think that traffic wise they would be excellent and with some schooling should be a great all rounder.
 
Thanks guys I know in private driving they are not allowed to canter and guessed this might affect that but this boy has done driving trials, road driving and does canter. Haven't been to see him yet but he looks a super type and his owner is lovely and been very honest :)
 
Zirach said:
Thanks guys I know in private driving they are not allowed to canter and guessed this might affect that but this boy has done driving trials, road driving and does canter. Haven't been to see him yet but he looks a super type and his owner is lovely and been very honest :)
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sounds thr package id go for it if right price :)
 
We had a new forest that had been broke to both but had mainly driven. He was the safest thing I have ever seen on the roads & would put anyone on him. He was only 5yrs too!

He did struggle with his canter transitions but after a few weeks schooling he picked it up easily
 
If he has done trials i'm sure he will have cantered with the carriage as they usually do in the hazzards.
My friends highland does county level showing and private driving, he qualified for HOYS for both.
My boy was broken to drive first and the only difference with his canter transisitions is that you have to ask properly, sorts out who can ride when i had a couple of sharers try him.
You should try driving him, its amazing fun :-D
 
My event pony used to be used for driving and it hasn't caused any problems for me, the only thing is when I first got her she used to fall in through her shoulder and I was told this could have been because of the shafts when pulling a carriage, but she's improved loads and doesn't do this anymore after schooling :)
 
My old mare is ride and drive, she competed in marathons in holland.

Fantastic, she can be ridden on the voice, fabulous in traffic and a real confidence giver for hacking out. Shes also competed to ele dressage, jumped and gone xc.
 
My cob was broken and bred to drive. To be honest I have had no issues with it and in fact I think ride and drive horses are more bombproof, as you are just communicating via a set of reins, not your whole body. I've never driven him, but would love to have a go.
 
Many horses that have been schooled for driving trials have really good dressage. About the only thing a good driving horse does not get to do is jump in harness, but many do jump when ridden.
 
They tend to make good riding horses as they are unlikely to nap, will go out alone and should be really good in traffic. As others have said, may need a bit of work in the school, possibly with canter, but would most likely be very straight forward.
Heres a video of Barry Hook, a well known harness trainer. A gentleman & horseman of the type so many think they are but could only ever aspire to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZBK1ae97ns
 
My Bob was a ride and drive cob who i bought as a 9yr old. I thought he'd be bombroof on the roads which he pretty much was. But as others said he'd take position in the middle and was difficult to push over with leg. Bit scarry first couple of times. He sadly had to be pts at the age of 11 from numerous issues but also suffered from arthritus which vet thought could have been caused from driving (concussion from trotting on hard ground).

He was my first horse, never to be replaced and was a very special boy.
 
I prefer R&D horses, as they are usually just about bombproof. As someone else said, they often prefer to ride down the middle of the road and they can be a bit on the forehand until you have put in the work to school them out of it. I can't say I've noticed them not wanting to canter, although mine have definitely all preferred hacking to school work and have struggled to canter in a school - but mine have all been quite big.
 
I bought a pony that had only been driven , I had him backed and he was ok but would not jump at all. He was a difficult character who was a nightmare to tack up but would stand solid as a rock to harness up. He used to tank off with me on the roads when ridden but was as good as gold when being driven. i think he just prefered being in the cart . I lost him a few years ago and am looking to break a new dartmoor into harness as I enjoy driving
 
Personally I dont think I would ever again, unless I was wanting just a hack.

Took me about a year to convince my current mare than cantering will not hurt her and that I can have contact on her mouth without her being pulled up. It was a long and tbh painful process getting that mare to canter. We had a lot of issues and needed Richard Maxwells help to overcome her "fear" of cantering. In her defence she had a gypsy driving background not trials driving, and as she is part hackney I think she was probably trotted.

However I would feel confident riding her down a motorway if needs must (as in traffic bombproof not that I actually would).
 
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I used to ride a mare who had driven. She was perfect to hack, absolutely loved being out and about but once in an arena she was a nightmare!
 
My first girlie was a driving pony from the age of 2 until I got her at 12 - she had been very much a working girl, pulling one of the last rag and bone carts round Barnet as well as being a pleasure pony. I got her when I was 12 too, and whilst it took us a while to perfect canter, once she found it she was superb, and her trot was fab, very solid and powerful, and she came through from behind very well as that is how she was used to working. It took us a while to persuade her that jumping was allowed but then she was amazing. The 3rd summer that I had her we won the overall PC cup at the annual show, were beating all the JA ponies because she had such a sensible head and didn't get fizzed (although by no means a plod), and at the age of 19 we went cross country with a bunch of event ponies and horses and she flew all the open fences whil they were messing around with the smaller ones. I'm convinced her driving made her jump so amazing, she was a 14hh cob but cleared open fences with ease, 4'6" and 5' or more wide. And she was totally bomproof, not bothered by any traffic whatsoever, saved my life more than once because of that. Yes, she did like to go down the middle of the road for a while, but it wasn't hard to overcome with schooling and confidence in being ridden. As a plus she also taught me to drive when we moved yards at 17yrs and is responsible for me now owning 2 fell babies as a prospective pair! I think it depends on what you want and how much time you are willing to give, but a competition driving pony will be familiar with all paces and will have done dressage in the carriage so should be reasonable there too, so it would just be introducing jumping if they have never done it before.
 
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