Driving question (probably numpty)

[Paint it Lucky]

Disclaimer: I know nothing about driving horses!

Just wondering, are driving horses taught to go forwards when a rein contact is taken up?

Just wondering because when my horse came to me he would always go faster as he felt you take up the reins (possibly a tension thing then but he still does it now so I am thinking more of a habit). And we expect he may have been driven as a youngster. But they could be completely unrelated, no idea really!

 

[Ezme]

Nope, driving horses are schooled the same way as ridden, rein means direction/stop, whip= legs. Sounds like he may have been driven my a sloppy driver who didn't make him wait when he picked up the reins!

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Ok thanks that makes sense. Do you think maybe when he felt the reins being picked up he anticipated that he would be asked to move soon so did it anyway? (He is good at anticipating). Do you normally take up a contact and then ask the horses to move? (Presumably!)

 

[Ezme]

yep. If you watch a driving turnout getting ready to move off, driver gettin up etc, you'll think the groom and driver have psychic connection as grooms move away with a nod rather than a word as the horses pick up on it. Also they my be asked to stand for a time so they dont start to walk off straight away. its a horrible habit a driving horse that wont stand!

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Thanks Ezme

 

[Donkeymad]

No, a driving horse should never move off on feeling the reins being taken up. The driver should be able to collect up the reins and the horse/s should wait until actively asked to move off.

 

[kickandshout]

Sorry to highjack this post but its another numpty driving question . . .and yes I'm on a very steep learning curve when it comes to driving Ive been around horses for years but riding only.
how do you balance a single horse two wheel exercise cart ??
it doesn't have a adjusting handle thingie (!)
i think this is the problem anyway as the shafts are coming out of the tugs if mt passenger moves or we hit a bump!
Ive tried shortening the traces and letting the tugs down a hole but its still happening
any suggestions ??

 

[cundlegreen]

What do you mean by coming out of the tugs?? You should have tug stops on your vehicle, and when the tugs butt up to them and stay centrally on the saddle when moving then your traces are tight enough. If you mean that the shafts just float in the tug without pressure downwards then you are balanced correctly.The balance will change when you are up on your own, and you may have to shift forwards or backwards. Hope this helps.

 

[kickandshout]

the shafts come out of the tugs so the vehicle is only attached by the traces.
yes vehicle has stops on but the tugs are not staying central on the saddle.

I'm thinking the traces aren't short enough !
will do more adjusting to the traces and see what happens

 

[cundlegreen]

Def too long, for gods sake shorten them before you have an accident!!! At least four holes I would think, maybe more. Check your breeching too, that nearly as important, especially if you've got hills near you. Breeching should come on tight when the tugs come in front of the saddle.

 

[kickandshout]

fortunately my learning curve is way steeper than the hills nearby

not that Ive ventured more than along my very flat quiet lane outside the yard.
we came apart mainly when we started off or hit uneven ground.

i think the breeching is OK but will be double checking everything this week.

 

[rara007]

TBH I wouldn't think it would be related. All ours stand well with or without cotact, and move off well without contact, some with

It seems slightly too far fetched that he was allowed to get away with bad manners driving as a youngster and now has that as a bad habit now, rather than somthing in his ridden career e has learnt he can get away with. Just IMO

And person whos shafts are falling out the tugs. OMG, mega ekk. Somthing very wrong their get an instructor to check everything over or PM a picture to someone on this thread. That sounds so scarily dangerous :/ Are the tugs sitting right infront of the tug stops, over the saddle pad? I'd get someone to check it out before you drive again...