Driving/Carriage horses

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kateknights

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Ok so an elderly friend of mine has got a driving pony 14.2hh, welsh sec D, she has had her since she was 2yrs and got her professionally broken to drive. She now wants to get her broken to ride (she's 9 this year), She will send her away to get her broken professionally. My question is, do you think she will take to riding ok after so long driving? Has anyone got any experiences of this? I am hoping she will be a great riding pony, she drives on main roads all the time and is great in traffic, she has been all over the place in the lorry with the Driving clubs, if all goes well I will possibly take her on loan, as she does not want to sell as she means so much to her.
What are your thoughts on this???
KAte x
 
Hi, I am sure she will be fine, we have horses that ride & drive and they are great, no problems.

Good luck with her and lets see photo's when/if you have her on loan. :)
 
she might be a bit nervous in traffic at first if always driven in blinkers, also the vehicles pass closer
and at first you may need to ride with the voice a lot
 
I am very lucky as I have poss one of the most easy cobs going so I can ride in a open bridle however I have kept the same bit for driving and riding (Wilsons snaffle on softest setting). He was broken for both at the same time. I rode my friends cob in a open bridle and she freaked, she very rarely gets ridden as is mainly a driver, absulotely bombproof in her blinkers to ride but not a open bridle.

If he were mine wouldnt upset him at his age (not saying hes old but hes old than normal to break) I would keep him in his blinkers if he has only ever driven. Another thing I find that if I havent driven for a while Winston wanders the road when driven because he is allowed to look at things when ridden and all of a sudden hes restricted again, I suppose he could drive in a open bridle, but I dont have the experience for that or understand the implication.

But I know nothing about your boy so he could be chilled out about it only going on my experience of a similar horse who has mainly driven all her life. Hope that helps.
 
Saying that I cant edit prev post. I know another driving horse (sec D but is a CHESTNUT MARE ;D ) and she will just bolt backwards if you get on her back yet is a fantastic driver. So its the luck of draw maybe? Good luck and share pictures, I love a nice Sec D unless shes a chestnut mare hehe

For prev post sorry I have posted he/him. Just realised I should have said a lovely girly
 
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Hmm, very interesting. Thanks Toffee, yes she is a black mare, and sooooo pretty, i have known her for 7 years so am a bit biast anyway. tee hee
thanks again
Kate x
 
Mine is fantastic at both, was originally broken to drive and did driving trials, when my friend got him at 4 she rode him and he went did pony club.
He has done both over the years, i tend to ride him more than i drive because i don't very often have someone to come out with me, he's responsive to ride but is very strong, was driven by a heavy handed man when he was young.
Same friend has an IDxWB mare who is a total allrounder, vaults, dressage, HT, and has just broken her to drive, she's going fantastically.
If you have a horse, especailly with a nice nature that you already know it shouldn't be a problem backing her.
 
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