Driving People what breed/type do you prefer

AlexHyde said:
So I did it the other way round but my two Hackney crosses were bred for driving, *touches all available wood* both seem sound and sturdy, lots of spark and utterly lovely on the ground. My two are too bog for your needs but I guess that's due to what they were crossed with (Friesian and Holstein), but they've turned my head towards the Hackney breed.
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The hackney ponies I've seen are VERY hot. I wouldn't particularly mind but my backstep would have a heart attack :lol: I do love all the flying legs though!

Its so interesting to see every ones preferences. I'd have said I wasnt fussy till I started reading posts and going "nope, oh definitely not, hmm, maybe, actually no" :lol:

I've actually been offered a smaller, sportier version of Leo if I want it. Already established, moves nicely, lots of go but easy going and a foster pony for one of the big charities, so I would be doing some good with a limited risk. Perfect on paper. But I'll see what tomorrow brings first, because out of all these different types and breeds, I'd rather have my funny, quirky lump of a cob fighting fit again, He will be a hard act to follow for any horse.
 
Casey76 said:
you need a Merens! They are built for driving, and they do really, really well in driving trials... https://www.merensattelageelevagedesgesquis.com/attelage-merens

You just need to find something Tartine sized (13.3) rather than Blitz sized lol!
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We had one of these at a riding school I used to teach at. She was Tartine sized and a little sod! A hard working career as a driving pony would probably have suited her. She was very bright and made her own entertainment when she was bored. An all black pony would be so easy to keep clean as well!
 
Mine is a Freisian. Beautiful, kind, willing, and quick to learn.
(the same breed as the new Lloyds Bank advert horse).
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Leo Walker said:
The hackney ponies I've seen are VERY hot. I wouldn't particularly mind but my backstep would have a heart attack :lol: I do love all the flying legs though!

Its so interesting to see every ones preferences. I'd have said I wasnt fussy till I started reading posts and going "nope, oh definitely not, hmm, maybe, actually no" :lol:

I've actually been offered a smaller, sportier version of Leo if I want it. Already established, moves nicely, lots of go but easy going and a foster pony for one of the big charities, so I would be doing some good with a limited risk. Perfect on paper. But I'll see what tomorrow brings first, because out of all these different types and breeds, I'd rather have my funny, quirky lump of a cob fighting fit again, He will be a hard act to follow for any horse.
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Keeping everything crossed for Leo! But the smaller version sounds a promising lead!

Always the way, don't know what you want until someone says what about this and you're like erm no :lol:. Yes Hackneys are very, very hot :eek3:, but crossed with something saner I can imagine would calm them a bit ;) I like mine hot so I like it but yes can see they are not for everyone :o.
 
More than one equifest RSPCA pony seems to have gone straight home with the scurry and trials drivers ;)

Theres a fair few of the bigger dartmoor hill ponies driving well too.
 
Standardbred, two of our ex-racers are doing pleasure driving now and love it. They just have to be careful they don't leave the others behind on a fun drive :D Tough little horses that will turn their hooves to anything, with a good brain and sensible with it.
 
ester said:
More than one equifest RSPCA pony seems to have gone straight home with the scurry and trials drivers ;)

Theres a fair few of the bigger dartmoor hill ponies driving well too.
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I've had a flick through the charity rehomes and theres lots that dont really have a purpose. Too young for kids ponies, too small for adults and not registered for showing etc, but would make very useful driving ponies. We just need more people to take up driving!
 
Comtois are amazing driving horses and are very striking in looks - like a dark palomino. Jane Wordsworth based near Basingsoke shows and sells them and is hugely knowledgeable about the breed. They are predominately a driving and logging breed but you do get riding ones too.
 
Leo Walker said:
I've had a flick through the charity rehomes and theres lots that dont really have a purpose. Too young for kids ponies, too small for adults and not registered for showing etc, but would make very useful driving ponies. We just need more people to take up driving!
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yup, there are a few bransby prefixes doing it too and iirc they have a big of herd of leo-type/native type geldings to pick from.
 
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For myself Welsh or sports pony! Most of the other natives rarely have the movement I want. I could be persuaded by a sporty hackney or other native but most don't do it for me :p I went for Welsh after my sports pony (75% Arab) broke young and my previous pba didn't have the strength. That and young nice welshes are 1/2 the price of sports ponies. My pony of a lifetime is a Welsh X or trotter x sort but unknown- he's pretty long and downhill but he's not been limited by that- he's learnt how to carry himself and the judges love him, he's literally taken me all over the world from nothing.

It does depend a bit how seriously you want to take the HDT, even for club level you really need enough trot to make section A without rushing unless you're putting a lot of fitness in. Realistically friesian and cobby sorts that are into horse heights struggle, and pony wise if you're under 14hh you have to be pretty forwards or super fit- ideally both. A natural outline with a bit of elevation goes a fair way too! You won't want anything too light weight- I'm having to go with smallest people possible and lightest carriage possible for C until he gets a bit stronger and though at the bottom of your height he's not super fine. It is hard work! The 'A' will go all day but he struggles with 2 heavy adults on a surface with a micrasport. You can get away with a much 'plainer' pony scurry and trials or lower level if you accept the limitations.
 
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I'd have a nice stocky section B though a nice sports/show pony type would look quite dapper!

If you dont want a welshie how about a small new forest?
 
rara007 said:
It does depend a bit how seriously you want to take the HDT
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I'll be happy with indoors and not disgracing myself at an outdoor one day. I dont have the bottomless pit of money you need to be competitive sadly. But equally forwards, keen, sane but more sporty than Leo would be my preference.
 
Cleveland Bay of course, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh drove four in hand. Also my other rare breed make great driving horses. When we visited the Hungarian National Stud in Babolna years ago, prior to buying our first two brood mares, we spent a weekend there. Riding in the forest and also treated to a two hour drive with a pair of mares put to a hunting carriage. Here is a link http://www.babolnamenes.hu/index.php/en/ click on tourism for some fab photos.
 
Leo Walker said:
At some point in the not to distant future I'm probably going to be in the market for another driving pony/horse. Leo is broken and its not looking hopefully for any real recovery. I'm absolutely gutted but trying to plan ahead to cheer myself up. I had a quick flick through some ads this morning and the number of potential driving ponies is mind boggling!

Given the choice to start from scratch what type/breed would you go for?

The only thing I definitely cant have is a mini as my yard just isnt set up for them. Must be ok with 2 big adults up, although its very flat where we live so no hills to worry about! I prefer something with a bit of spark to it, but I've been completely spoilt with Leo who will gallop round obstacles then 2 minutes later walk quietly with a total beginner. I'm not a huge fan of reams of hair, which makes it even more ridiculous that I end up with traditional cobs all the time, but that wouldnt be a deal breaker.

I want to do driving trials at a low level, drive out on the roads a couple of times a week and school a few times. Whatever I get needs to be sound and tough as I am fed up to the back teeth of ponies breaking despite being treated like million pound racehorses!
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What happened to Leo? I thought you were coming along really well with him.

Just don't get conned like my friend did
There unscrupulous out there in driving and riding when they sell a horse or pony.

Friend; experienced in driving many years with qualifications. Wanted a driving pony within their budget, I posted on H&H saying they were finding it hard to find a driving pony, when a member here gave me the link to a pretty little buckskin pony.

I past the info on to the person who pondered and then said her and her sister would like to go see him, they ask me to drive them as they don't drive. So we planed a day and drove to Shrewsbury area, and found the address.


A pretty little buckskin pony was already in the stable, so the girls went to see him groomed him handled him etc. I stayed on the outside so as not to get in the way, as they were giving him the once over and harnessing him up. They took him in the school and the owner and yard owner led him in, the owner stayed on the side with me and the home owner( experienced driver) drove him round with my friend as passenger.


After friend drove him and seemed to get on well, I thought he was a little quiet for such a young pony 3 1/2, I also thought bit young to have been broken in, in the August and been out competing and them selling him in the February.


Won't bore you with the long version but my friends decided to have him and left a deposit for him and arranged transport back down south. They did not want him vetted so he joined us, friend drove him a few times, and he felt quite feisty, and then one time bolted coming round the corner and carriage tipped over and harness broke. She paid and replaced the broken bits on my carriage and gave pony time off to get over it. About a month later she asked me and her sister to pull the carriage round a 20 m circle with pony in middle, to get him used to it again. He was not happy, but then chilled so she asked us to pull the carriage behind him while she led him ( we were 2 horse length off him) and he just panicked. Up shot is he will never drive again as he ran in the carriage. Owner said they were selling because of a knee op, I don't think so personally I think he may have been on a calmer or something as he was so chilled up north.

Young girl got physio in to check pony to see if any damage done, and physio said there was old scar tissue damage where the loin strap went and said most likely an old accident. No one can be 100% sure it was from loin strap or shafts, but I have my views.

So now she is left with a nice little welsh B 12.2hh who cannot be driven. She should have had vetted and blood test done but refused to as they said it would cost to much on top of the pony value. (silly I know)


I found this pony but may not be what you are after. https://rehoming.worldhorsewelfare.org/horseprofile/21
 
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I don't know your budget but I was asked yesterday if I'd be interested in a 14.2 hh grey Connie, ride and drive for £4,000. (Out of my league atm). Person who asked me is international level driver who was teaching a friend. P.M me if you want her details.
 
Can you make time to pop across to YHL (I think it's on this weekend)? There is a Rescue Village there to which various charities bring equines which are ready to rehome. My foster pony Lucky Charm was rehomed from there in 2013. You could have a good chat with them even if nothing catches your eye on the day :).
 
millikins said:
I don't know your budget but I was asked yesterday if I'd be interested in a 14.2 hh grey Connie, ride and drive for £4,000. (Out of my league atm). Person who asked me is international level driver who was teaching a friend. P.M me if you want her details.
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Budget is currently £0. I fully intend to spend more than my usual meat money this time round but it still wont be 4k.
 
Tiddlypom said:
Can you make time to pop across to YHL (I think it's on this weekend)? There is a Rescue Village there to which various charities bring equines which are ready to rehome. My foster pony Lucky Charm was rehomed from there in 2013. You could have a good chat with them even if nothing catches your eye on the day :).
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I find out about Leo today, so either I dont need another pony quite yet, or I'll be hiding in my room sobbing. Good idea though. I think a few of the rescue charities have rehoming centres near me, so I'll prob pop along for a visit if/when I need to
 
ILuvCowparsely said:
What happened to Leo? I thought you were coming along really well with him.

Just don't get conned like my friend did
There unscrupulous out there in driving and riding when they sell a horse or pony.

Friend; experienced in driving many years with qualifications. Wanted a driving pony within their budget, I posted on H&H saying they were finding it hard to find a driving pony, when a member here gave me the link to a pretty little buckskin pony.

I past the info on to the person who pondered and then said her and her sister would like to go see him, they ask me to drive them as they don't drive. So we planed a day and drove to Shrewsbury area, and found the address.


A pretty little buckskin pony was already in the stable, so the girls went to see him groomed him handled him etc. I stayed on the outside so as not to get in the way, as they were giving him the once over and harnessing him up. They took him in the school and the owner and yard owner led him in, the owner stayed on the side with me and the home owner( experienced driver) drove him round with my friend as passenger.


After friend drove him and seemed to get on well, I thought he was a little quiet for such a young pony 3 1/2, I also thought bit young to have been broken in, in the August and been out competing and them selling him in the February.


Won't bore you with the long version but my friends decided to have him and left a deposit for him and arranged transport back down south. They did not want him vetted so he joined us, friend drove him a few times, and he felt quite feisty, and then one time bolted coming round the corner and carriage tipped over and harness broke. She paid and replaced the broken bits on my carriage and gave pony time off to get over it. About a month later she asked me and her sister to pull the carriage round a 20 m circle with pony in middle, to get him used to it again. He was not happy, but then chilled so she asked us to pull the carriage behind him while she led him ( we were 2 horse length off him) and he just panicked. Up shot is he will never drive again as he ran in the carriage. Owner said they were selling because of a knee op, I don't think so personally I think he may have been on a calmer or something as he was so chilled up north.

Young girl got physio in to check pony to see if any damage done, and physio said there was old scar tissue damage where the loin strap went and said most likely an old accident. No one can be 100% sure it was from loin strap or shafts, but I have my views.

So now she is left with a nice little welsh B 12.2hh who cannot be driven. She should have had vetted and blood test done but refused to as they said it would cost to much on top of the pony value. (silly I know)


I found this pony but may not be what you are after. https://rehoming.worldhorsewelfare.org/horseprofile/21
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Hope Leo is ok
 
I would say anything that fits the desired size and temperament, breed is not that important.
We have had belgians for pleasuredriving and now do combined driving (competitions) with a Danish warmblood. Before that we competed with my old eventing horse, a small holsteiner.
I have a friend who drives Dartmoor and does well with them both for competitons and pleasure. Her son can drive them too. But maybe too small for you?
Hackney are great but often too hot, unless you are very experienced. Same goes for many of the Dutch warmbloods.

I'd go for any good sized pony with the right temperament.

Good luck with it all.
 
Because I am so physically knackered I have to have a lot of help. My OH would not be impressed if something Belgian sized appeared :lol: I love dartmoors but they are just that bit too small. Im fat and my OH and part time back step is a 6ft3 bloke, and the beauty of driving is I dont have to worry about being too heavy. I think if I went section A/dartmoor sort of size that for the amount and type of work I do, it would be pushing it.
 
Wasn't suggesting belgian, just saying that pretty much any horse can do the job :D
I think the important thing is to find one that fits you and your preferences. And a crossbreed will often be cheaper than a purebred, at least where I live, so more horse for less money.

Maybe fjord horses would be worth a look? They do come in a sporty type, if you are not a fan of the heavier "old type" fjord :)
 
For the record I have a sports pony with Hackney blood in him. He's hard work, spooky and sharp but absolutely gorgeous. His mother (Welsh DxHackneyx KWPN) was absolutely mental.
 
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