Driving question- could the pony stop going downhill??

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mayangold

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Hi,
We are looking for a carriage for our 13.1 native type pony. The question is would she be able to stop a two wheeled Bennington gig going down a steep hill with two people on it?

We live on top of a hill and there are steep hills in all directions.
I've been told brakes on carriages are not a good thing as the pony needs to be able to stop the carriage on its own.
Also the bigger the wheels the easier it is for the pony to pull as the wheels go over stones easier.
That two wheeled are better than four as it cant jackknife if the pony goes backwards.

I appreciate the pony needs to learn to sit into the breaching to slow down/stop and we are working on that. But how much is too much?

Any thoughts?
 
Nowt wrong with having and using brakes. Depends on how steep the hill, how heavy carriage plus passengers. Always take it steady and WALK only, if necessary, the groom can get off and walk.
 
Having driven a fair variety I personally would always choose 4 wheels over 2. A much smoother ride, can take more passengers/picnics and you don't have to panic too much about balancing like you do a 2 wheeler.

Brakes are always ideal and its better to have them and not need them than vice versa. Yes your horse should be trained to hold the carriage back without it but occasionally there are situations where you'll need it.
 
I have done some hefty hills in a two-wheeler in my time, as long as you go steady and support the pony, and put the training in so they know their job, you should be fine. If really steep then the passenger may need to dismount and walk down, especially initially.
4 wheelers are indeed more comfortable and no balance etc but 2 wheelers are much safer for beginners in my opinion, and you can have a lot of fun once it is set up - you will soon get to know how to fine balance it as you meet hills.
 
Four wheelers would be my choice .
I have not driven ponies much myself but horses can certainly stop a carriage on the breeching but using the brakes is kinder to them .
 
Brakes and four wheelers are best for hills IMO. 'Back in the day' they'd have coped though too, they'd just have gone slower.
 
We have a few 1 in 5 hills around and I usually get out while we go down the steepest bit, though he can manage them fine, it just gives him a bit of an easier life, I have a 2 wheeler, I lost my nerve a bit with the 4 wheeler after I managed to turn it over and I would prefer a 2 wheeler with a novice horse though the four wheeler was a nicer ride.
 
Depends on the pony as much as the carriage. I have a 12.3 who will happily hold back a heavy victorian governess cart in trot with 2 adults and a couple of kids on board - he's unusual, but the Bennington you describe should be perfectly OK for most ponies who have been taught how to use their breeching.
Personally I think brakes cause more problems than they solve, as most people use them incorrectly, causing the horse to baulk.
 
You defiantly need to use brakes well , and not all the time so the horse understands the breeching really well.
 
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