Driving peeps: opinion, please!

why shoe just for driving some dont need it one of mne is unshod and cand do 30 miles a week ridden and driven only needs boots if the ground is extremely stoney
i start them driving at 3yrs old and then generally drive them untill about 5 yrs old before riding them properly but still back them at 3yrs as in my opinion its difficult to teach them two jobs at once without confusing them
 
Its normal for some ct, when I was working for the gypsys it was standard id started to break a yearling in ready for a trap. Then from the pictures he was driving not long after.

Tbh I can see many points of view on it but the horses I looked after were all in top notch condition and the racers were prepared well. All the horses lived in but none had splints, or swollen legs.
 
On some of the yards where they are starting horses for teams they are started at two in the back part of the year when they are quiet from competing then turned for spring / summer then bring them back up in there three yo winter and keep going..
Starting at two is not at all unusual .
 
cinnamontoast said:
Stupid Facebook thing, filly of two is shod and broken to drive. I think that's way early.
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A lot of Standardbreds that race under rules are broken to drive and shod at 2; a proportion also race at 2 if that's what they're bred for/they've progressed enough. It's not just gypsies - our 2yo filly is shod and broken to drive and will hopefully run her first race at the start of July (she's been in training since February). ETA: she was bought in October as a yearling, and went straight to the trainer to be broken in the cart. She was there for 8 weeks learning to accept the harness, cart and learning to jog before coming home to winter with us (another 8 weeks), then she went back to train for the summer.

I know a lot of people don't agree with it, and people are entitled to an opinion.

(I guess this is where I say *dons tin hat and ducks for cover*)
 
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Have put heavies into harness and bitted at 2 but not actually pulled anything of any weight until 3 some might pull the odd sled or tyre before three to get them used to low chains if mature enough etc. Most heavy horse people do this as far as I know. Would do the same if breaking to drive it very much is dictated by horse. Some require a turn away period some just get on with it.

Not shod until out on roads working regualry until about 4yo.

As for backing to ride we just hop on..............
 
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