Driving advice needed please

[Parksmum3]

Hi I’ll keep this as brief as I can. I have a lovely 13.3hh chuncky cob, he is now 14 years old and I have owned him since he was 3. He has always been amazing to hack, loves getting out and as bombproof as you can get in traffic. We have a very good bond and I can read him really well. So a few years ago I got a taste of driving with a friends pony and I absolutely loved it. Just recently it has become more of something I really want to do so I’ve started long reining him to see how he reacted which he has been brilliant at, even out on the road. I have bought a harness (He just stood there resting a hind leg as I was trying it on bless him) but I want to get someone experianced in harness fitting to come and have a look before I start working him in the harness as I don’t want it to rub him. I haven’t got a cart yet as still in early stages but I do no I want a 2 wheeler just for pleasure use. I’m looking for opinions really as I do not really want to use blinkers, I’d like to go open bridle. He has a really soft mouth he is very good with voice commands. As I have owned him so long personally I think he would be better in a open bridle as he is a confident nosy little chap who likes to no what’s going on. The only thing I’m unsure about is could I use his riding bridle to drive him in? Just to add I will be seeking professional advice and guidance throughout. I have spent many hours watching Barry hook on YouTube and reading sally walrond books. I would love to send him to Barry hook but unfortunately he doesn’t load well (I’m not into competing so this doesn’t worry me) i Will try and upload some pictures off him in the harness over the weekend for anyone to give opinions on. Thanks for reading my essay ?

 

[rabatsa]

The first thing anyone needs to know is your location. It is no use us recommending someone in Scotland if you are in Cornwall.

 

[Smogul]

Driving is great and any horse I have had that did both definitely preferred to be driven rather than ridden.
However, get a professional on board as soon as possible. Anyone who breaks professionally will tell you it is so hard to undo problems caused by a novice trying to do it by themselves. Also, you need lessons yourself.
I would be wary as a novice of using an open bridle. The blinkers have several functions and don't stop a horse from seeing what is going. Among other things, they protect the horse's eyes from a badly targeted flick from a whip - very easy to do when you are learning to control a driving whip in the wind!
You can use a riding bit if this is what he is comfortable in but you may find after a while that you need a driving bit. My first horse was broken in her normal snaffle bit but I did find I needed a slightly stronger bit as she got fitter and more confident in her carriage.

 

[katastrophykat]

Hi! We do need to know your location to find someone in your area, happy for you to PM me as well- I drive single and pairs, everything from ex A’s to sports horses and cobs in between. Rara is also a fab resource on here, but she’s competing this weekend so will be busy out on the marathon course just now ?

 

[ester]

not till 11.30 but very minimal internet connectivity too apparently lol. PB dressage score though .

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Internet is very poor where Rara is this weekend! Think there is one tiny spot at the top of the hill that works but otherwise its smoke signals!

 

[katastrophykat]

I hadn’t checked her times as I’m in a huff I was meant to be there too with my baby pair but the school waited til the last minute to send my little girl home to self isolate with a potential contact from a Covid positive test ?

Anyway… we’re all happy to help OP ?

 

[I'm Dun]

Why do you want to use no blinkers? What benefit do you think there will be over a standard driving bridle? Mine drives in half cup blinkers, but thats because I found she was tighter round obstacles with them, rather than anything else, and I still used normal blinkers for every day driving a lot of the time.

 

[scruffyponies]

1) You CAN drive without blnkers, but from experience, you SHOULDN'T. Everything's fine, until it isn't, and when they panic, and can see the cart chasing them, the panic gets much worse. Trust me, you don't want a bolting carriage horse.

2) If you can't train your horse to load, then definitely get help training him to drive. It is MUCH easier to train a horse to load calmly and safely than to drive calmly and safely.

 

[Parksmum3]

I am in Suffolk, east anglia. The reason I would prefer no blinkers is just knowing my horse, he is not spooky whatsoever and I just personally feel he would be happier and actually go better being able to see what’s going on, I don’t think he will be at all bothered about seeing the cart behind him. however im more than happy to try him in blinkers if a professional I get to come out and help me thinks it will be better. I have driven a friends pony on and off for the last couple of years (I look after him while she’s away and have free use of driving him) so have got some experience. I’ve never tried to train him to load, I’ve never had to, my partner borrowed a trailer when we picked him up as a 3year old we brought him home and he’s been in the same home for the last 11years. I have no interest in competing, don’t own a trailer. I was just trying to put my point across that I wouldn’t want to send him away anywhere for training to drive I’d much rather pay someone to come to me in an environment he’s used to and using the same roads he already no’s, Then train him to load and send him off somewhere for training. Thanks to everyone for there comments ?

 

[ester]

There is a busy east anglia carriage driving group who would be excellent for local advice/training/trainer suggestions for you. Very nice people even though I've only stewarded and backstepped.
https://www.eacdg.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/191368470960293/

 

[Parksmum3]

There is a busy east anglia carriage driving group who would be excellent for local advice/training/trainer suggestions for you. Very nice people even though I've only stewarded and backstepped.
https://www.eacdg.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/191368470960293/

thanks for the links much appreciated ?

 

[rabatsa]

I had a donkey that I drove both with blinkers and in an open bridle. One day out on the road a stone was thrown up by a passing car and the off side blinker was dinted and the leather torn by the stone. If the donkey had been in the open bridle that day he would have lost his eye. I have only used a blinkered bridle out on the roads since.

 

[Parksmum3]

I had a donkey that I drove both with blinkers and in an open bridle. One day out on the road a stone was thrown up by a passing car and the off side blinker was dinted and the leather torn by the stone. If the donkey had been in the open bridle that day he would have lost his eye. I have only used a blinkered bridle out on the roads since.

Thanks for sharing that, glad your donkey was ok! That’s not something I’d considered before, defiantly given me food for thought

 

[scruffyponies]

I had a donkey that I drove both with blinkers and in an open bridle. One day out on the road a stone was thrown up by a passing car and the off side blinker was dinted and the leather torn by the stone. If the donkey had been in the open bridle that day he would have lost his eye. I have only used a blinkered bridle out on the roads since.

Traditionally the blinkers were also to protect the eyes from being accidentally struck with the whip - especially wheelers in a team.

 

[Smogul]

I am in Suffolk, east anglia. The reason I would prefer no blinkers is just knowing my horse, he is not spooky whatsoever and I just personally feel he would be happier and actually go better being able to see what’s going on, I don’t think he will be at all bothered about seeing the cart behind him. however im more than happy to try him in blinkers if a professional I get to come out and help me thinks it will be better. I have driven a friends pony on and off for the last couple of years (I look after him while she’s away and have free use of driving him) so have got some experience. I’ve never tried to train him to load, I’ve never had to, my partner borrowed a trailer when we picked him up as a 3year old we brought him home and he’s been in the same home for the last 11years. I have no interest in competing, don’t own a trailer. I was just trying to put my point across that I wouldn’t want to send him away anywhere for training to drive I’d much rather pay someone to come to me in an environment he’s used to and using the same roads he already no’s, Then train him to load and send him off somewhere for training. Thanks to everyone for there comments ?

I feel you are giving slightly mixed messages about this pony. You seem to say he is confident and likes going places but you don't want to send him away and would prefer him to be in an environment he is used to. Why? What problems do you foresee? You may struggle to find a professional prepared to spend the time needed to travel to you.
Why not reach him to load anyway? You might find you do want to compete when you start driving. I never competed as a rider but do as a driver. Agree it would be much easier to teach him to load than break him for driving.

 

[ester]

You do need something to actually practice loading into though

 

[Parksmum3]

I feel you are giving slightly mixed messages about this pony. You seem to say he is confident and likes going places but you don't want to send him away and would prefer him to be in an environment he is used to. Why? What problems do you foresee? You may struggle to find a professional prepared to spend the time needed to travel to you.
Why not reach him to load anyway? You might find you do want to compete when you start driving. I never competed as a rider but do as a driver. Agree it would be much easier to teach him to load than break him for driving.

sorry I am not always very clear in my messages. I mean he is very confident hacking out, new routes , routes we haven’t been on for a long time he’s not spooky or jogging etc in the slightest etc. i ride him through the midddle of a very busy village centre and he loves all the hustle bustle and attention. If he sees people walking along with shopping bags he will try to stick his nose in thereto see what’s in there. just trying to give a picture of his personality. If I can’t find someone who can come out to me then I will defiantly look at getting a trailer and start to train him to load, I’m not opposed to it It’s just I’d like to do it at home as a project with professional help rather than send him off, I’d like to be involved as much as possible and do as much of it myself with guidance

 

[Goldenstar]

You will enjoy life more in a four wheeler .
There will be a driving club local to you I thinks there’s a list of trainers on the British carriage driving website .
Use blinkers drivers use them for a reason tradition is sometimes a good thing .
Never drive alone always have someone competent with you .
He will use different muscles to pull that he does when he’s ridden so be prepared for soreness and a gradual conditioning process .
Have fun I enjoyed driving when I was unable to ride but as soon as I could ride again I was not interested .
Driving is hard on the hocks so that’s just something to keep your eye on .

 

[Orangehorse]

People take their breakers to the local driving club and long rein them round the carriages and the other horses, to get them used to the sight of horse and carriage. The local driving club holds long rein training events during the winter for new drivers, and they also hold examination days so you get qualifications for driving on the roads. Driving people are very nice and very keen to help new people. Why not see if you can get involved and help stewarding,e tc.

 

[Goldenstar]

I got a very good bit of help when I started .
The lady teaching me sat me down in the house with an iPad and showed me a series of carriage driving accidents on YouTube it certainly concentrated my mind .
When things go wrong they can go very wrong very fast a horse loose with a carriage behind bouncing on its side is a terrifying thing to see .