benson21
Well-Known Member
As the title really. I am looking to have donovan broken to harness, I know I will have to send him away, and just looking for what it will be like, how long, etc etc.
Did you break your pony to harness, or send it away for someone else to do?
- Thread starter benson21
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Littlelegs
Well-Known Member
Not done it yet but will drive daughters when outgrown. I'll do all the groundwork, including pulling a tyre. But my driving experience is limited, although I've assisted someone very experienced breaking two to drive, my knowledge isn't sufficient to know how to deal with any hiccups, except for those covered with those two. My driving skill is also limited, so when its time to put her to for the first time I'll get some help. How much depends on how it goes. Not sure she'll be sent away though. I'm hoping I'll find someone who wants a driving pony broken/schooled for riding & do an exchange of help.
YasandCrystal
Well-Known Member
I broke my 10hh falabella x to harness when he was 5 years old. He had already shown a great interest in the driving horses going up an down the lane at the yard I was at. I am told many horses are wary of carts and I witnessed this when we were out and about driving - ridden horses would be snorting and on full alert as if to say to my pony my godh look behind you at that scary thing!! 
I had no prior experience in driving only in breaking to ride.
I bought a cheap harness and an eyewitness guide to driving - got him and me used to the harness and longreining him in it. I added some elastic to the breeching straps so he would get used to pressure on those as apparently that can be a scary moment for a driving pony when the breeching straps push into them acting as a brake for the cart.
We dragged tyres and a log around the yard for a couple of weeks and then went big bang onto hitching up a 2 wheeled cart and we frankly never looked back.
My pony was a star and in all the years of driving him I had but one scary moment when he took off at canter on a road, but he soon came back under control. The hardest thing with a little one like mine and a 2 wheeled cart is to always keep it in balance as clearly a 10hh could not have taken the weight of me and the cart.
My pony is headshy and still is (I have owned him since he was 3 and he's 22 now
), so I always drove him in an open bridle with no blinkers. I think you will love it - friends have sent away their ponies and if you can do any of the groundwork yourself first it helps, else I think you are looking at 6 weeks away. Good Luck.
I had no prior experience in driving only in breaking to ride.I bought a cheap harness and an eyewitness guide to driving - got him and me used to the harness and longreining him in it. I added some elastic to the breeching straps so he would get used to pressure on those as apparently that can be a scary moment for a driving pony when the breeching straps push into them acting as a brake for the cart.
We dragged tyres and a log around the yard for a couple of weeks and then went big bang onto hitching up a 2 wheeled cart and we frankly never looked back.
My pony was a star and in all the years of driving him I had but one scary moment when he took off at canter on a road, but he soon came back under control. The hardest thing with a little one like mine and a 2 wheeled cart is to always keep it in balance as clearly a 10hh could not have taken the weight of me and the cart.
My pony is headshy and still is (I have owned him since he was 3 and he's 22 now
), so I always drove him in an open bridle with no blinkers. I think you will love it - friends have sent away their ponies and if you can do any of the groundwork yourself first it helps, else I think you are looking at 6 weeks away. Good Luck.
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benson21
Well-Known Member
My plan is to have friving lessons using instructors pony and trap (hopefully, if I can find someone!!) for at least 6 months, then send don away to someone (again, dont know who yet!) to have him broken into harness. i lunge and long rein him, and he goes quite well off my voice, so its now moving to the next stage, which I guess is pulling a tyre???
millikins
Well-Known Member
You don't mention if you are using any books or videos to help you, if not then "Make the Most of Carriage Driving" by Vivian & Richard Ellis and Joy Claxton is reasonable and easy to read. Are you long reining in blinkers, he should get familiar with them.
benson21
Well-Known Member
See I thought about long reining with blinkers, I presumed I would need to do that to get him used to them, but then I was told at a carriage comp last weekend its an idea to do all this in an open bridle so, when he does have blinkers, if something goes wrong he wont be spooked by the carriage behind him, cos he would be broken to harness with open, (hope that makes sense!!)
Sunshine8
Well-Known Member
We broke my pony after I outgrew her. We long reined and dragged with both open and blinkered bridles. She took to it so easily. The only thing that she had to figure out was turning in the shafts, she took a second to think and then worked it out 
I would just suggest that you take time with the long reining and the rest will be easy
I would just suggest that you take time with the long reining and the rest will be easy
Achinghips
Well-Known Member
If you send him away it will be for 6 - 8 weeks. Normally they have a set fee and you pay extra for hay. Generally, within 5 weeks they will tell you if "it's just not going to happen", so you can bring him home early.
I will be breaking mine to harness in the Spring, so interested in knowing how yours goes
I will be breaking mine to harness in the Spring, so interested in knowing how yours goes
hayinamanger
Well-Known Member
Read/buy a copy of Sallie Walrond's book Breaking A HorseTo Harness, it's a step by step guide with photographs.