Driving people HELP!

My BF and her OH drive section A B crosses they are I think about 11.2 / 12 hands and are slim fit peoplethey do horse driving trials with them they do worry about the wieght and diet before the competion season but the ponys are fit and well and slim too.
So an A is prob ok but something bigger might be worth thinking about it will depend what you are planning to do ponys can pull huge weights my BF ponys are pulling more than there body wieght all the time.
I drive horses so it's not my field I will ask BF when I see her whether she would get bigger if she started again they started to control a ponys wieght issue and it all sort of got out of hand .
Driving is great fun I hope you get going with it
 
About 13 stone. He has a problem with his balance so cant really ride now, we thought a little pony and cart would be nice.
The only one i have driven was a much bigger cob.
 
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I would go for a 13 3/14 hh pony, cob type then you don't need to worry, our 15 2hh mixed breed pulls both my OH and myself, a combined weight of 20stone without breaking a sweat.
I agree driving is great fun, when my arthritus gets too much for riding, I have the driving to fall back on
 
A sec A should be fine to pull 13 stone!
A four wheeled buggy/wagonette would be better balanced than a two wheeler, which will help!
 
I wouldn't ask a section a to pull two adults any more than round a field and back- especially in a 4 wheeler. The weight of the carriage plus a further 13 stone plus a groom is a lot to ask of a 11.2. A well balanced 2 wheeler would be better- but I personally wouldn't look at anything under 13.2 chunky.
 
katastrophykat said:
I wouldn't ask a section a to pull two adults any more than round a field and back- especially in a 4 wheeler. The weight of the carriage plus a further 13 stone plus a groom is a lot to ask of a 11.2. A well balanced 2 wheeler would be better- but I personally wouldn't look at anything under 13.2 chunky.
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Shetlands and welsh A,s complete at HDT and would not advise a two wheeler for people learning four wheels much more stable but would advise a good light wieght carriage.
But personally I would go for bigger that's why I took up driving horses not ponys but my friends ponys manage very well and look amazing like mini sport horses I had no idea welshies could look like that until she started driving.
 
I'd personally go for something bigger. perhaps a chunky Sec C. You might find you will want to take some small passengers as well. I think a sec A would struggle on a long drive. Used to got on very long drives with a Sec C pulling two hefty men and his little legs would go ten to the dozen and he kept up with all the hoses. He drove past my house yesterday still going strong and he is now 21
 
It depends what you want to do- I drove a section A over the indoor season and kept the weight of the driver, groom and carriage to a minimum, around 20 stone worth of people and 70kg of 4 wheel carriage behind, and for indoor driving the 11.1 wouldn't have been happy with much more and would have been slowed down.

For quiet pleasure driving though it wouldn't be any problem- the above was pulling on a surface at speed with lots of stopping starting, and he was no exception, many section As take much heavier carriages and people for more work if they're that kind of pony :)

Katastrophykat- In showing loads of section As pull proper carriages for long periods of time, as do section As in driving trials both indoor and out :confused: With 2 adults and a 4 wheeler.
 
KrujaaLass said:
I'd personally go for something bigger. perhaps a chunky Sec C. You might find you will want to take some small passengers as well. I think a sec A would struggle on a long drive. Used to got on very long drives with a Sec C pulling two hefty men and his little legs would go ten to the dozen and he kept up with all the hoses. He drove past my house yesterday still going strong and he is now 21
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Agree about the small passengers I had not thought of that.
 
I think we underestimate how much these small ponies where bred to do in the past it's clear from my friends that they can happily take big work loads they need to eat very little and it is of course why they often suffer so much from being overweight . There is an amazing Shetland who I see at HDT's who easily pulls two people he looks amazing a muscle bound mini power pack.
 
There wont be any small passengers, my two daughters are grown up. All hubby wants to do really is go for a drive along the lanes around the field, i will go out with him but will be taking my own horse.
 
Don't think size is an issue then but temperament is all pony must be calm stand still when told for as long as its told to and it goes without saying be excellent in traffic.
 
Well we do have a sec c out on loan but there is no way we would drive her! Thats why we are getting another pony the ones we have (have a shetland and a welsh b both out on loan) dont have the right temperament.
 
Rara07- I know there are- I compete in HDT myself. But as singles they are limited- many do a shortened 'small pony' marathon and owners are always striving to reduce the weight on their turnout to help out the pony.

As I also show my HDT pony (14.2) I can verify that he works nowhere near as hard in a showing class as he does round a marathon!

Sorry OP- off topic... But from bitter experience, I bought myself a lovely 12.2 section B for driving and after a year or so convincing myself that she could do it, I finally bit the bullet, sold her and bought myself a 14.2. I should have bought the 14.2 first and saved myself getting firmly attached to my lovely sweet 12.2 and breaking my heart when she went!

Best of luck!
 
I started driving with a donkey. If you are not out to do long distances and just pootle around then a section A should be fine. I disagree with the majority and I would go for a two wheel vehicle as they are easier to pull and cannot jackknife. It also teaches the driver all about balancing the vehicle so that no weight is put on the ponies back. If a 4 wheeler is driven - especially the modern ones - you have to keep a groom on the back otherwise they have a habbit of doing handstands if you use the brakes.
 
Fii said:
A sec A should be fine to pull 13 stone!
A four wheeled buggy/wagonette would be better balanced than a two wheeler, which will help!
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I think you would be best to find a pony and trap, the two wheeled are easier to manage, but have to be the correct size and type to match the pony. Most four wheels are more awkward, though the Fun Bug is fine.
The BDS will have a local branch and you there are local driving clubs [with ads]. You would be best advised to get a nice strong pony rather than something which will be struggling up hill.
A section A is fine for an older lady or a child, but an adult wants something bigger.
 
Goldenstar said:
I think we underestimate how much these small ponies where bred to do in the past it's clear from my friends that they can happily take big work loads they need to eat very little and it is of course why they often suffer so much from being overweight . There is an amazing Shetland who I see at HDT's who easily pulls two people he looks amazing a muscle bound mini power pack.
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I plan to get a Shetland to drive!........at some point!


EPRider said:
I started driving with a donkey. If you are not out to do long distances and just pootle around then a section A should be fine. I disagree with the majority and I would go for a two wheel vehicle as they are easier to pull and cannot jackknife. It also teaches the driver all about balancing the vehicle so that no weight is put on the ponies back. If a 4 wheeler is driven - especially the modern ones - you have to keep a groom on the back otherwise they have a habbit of doing handstands if you use the brakes.
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I have never used the brake to stop, only used it once stopped, so it didnt roll back/forward on a hill!
 
EPRider said:
I started driving with a donkey. If you are not out to do long distances and just pootle around then a section A should be fine. I disagree with the majority and I would go for a two wheel vehicle as they are easier to pull and cannot jackknife. It also teaches the driver all about balancing the vehicle so that no weight is put on the ponies back. If a 4 wheeler is driven - especially the modern ones - you have to keep a groom on the back otherwise they have a habbit of doing handstands if you use the brakes.
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You should not be out and about without a groom anyway I have never had any of my four wheelers do a hand stand you would have to be pretty silly with the front brakes for that to happen .
 
Miss L Toe said:
I think you would be best to find a pony and trap, the two wheeled are easier to manage, but have to be the correct size and type to match the pony. Most four wheels are more awkward, though the Fun Bug is fine.
The BDS will have a local branch and you there are local driving clubs [with ads]. You would be best advised to get a nice strong pony rather than something which will be struggling up hill.
A section A is fine for an older lady or a child, but an adult wants something bigger.
Click to expand...

Modern four wheelers are fab easy to manage and and turn and easier on the horse.
I am sure what the age of the driver has got to with it it's the wieght that's the important thing.
 
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