Driving Tack Query

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cadno1

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Hi,
I am about to try breaking my 15 yr old 14 hh cob to harness. He is superb under saddle, and has the best nature in the world, and I've already introduced him to long reining, with no probs. His new 'training' is partly just to give us both a new 'project', as he loves learning, and interacting with humans. I'll probably never be able to afford an actual trap for him, but I hope he may be able to do small pulling jobs around the farm.
Because this is largely a training exercise, I don't want to spend a fortune on tack etc. over and above what is essential for his safety and comfort. I'm currently saving up for a training harness, but can anyone tell me, please, whether I absolutely have to have a driving bridle and bit? He goes well in a snaffle with cavesson at present, and - apart from obviously needing longer reins! - is there any reason why I shouldn't use his normal bit/bridle when training him for driving? I'd be v grateful for any thoughts on this - I'm going to get some books and stuff - but as above, I'm still saving up!
Thanks and all best
Karla
 
No reason at all why you need a driving bridle or bit, use what he is used to.
 
No reason why you can't. Blinkers are actually a relatively modern invention, theory is they came into prominance during a war when the good horses were taken to the battlefield. The public were left with the very young or badly broken horses so blinkers became the norm. They are very, very usful though and very rarely cause any problems. They help keep young horses straight and get spooky horses get past scary horse eating monsters or seeing the whip. However they are less common on the continent and there are more variants about now, such as winkers, popular is HDT drivers, which just stop the horses looking behind them, for example at the whip, but allow them to look down and see posts and the likes. So you'll be in good company driving in an open bridle!

Also driving bits are classes as driving bits because they have multiple settings for when one set of harness had to fit multiple horses, no reason why you can't drive in anything else, esp if its one harness for one horse!
 
Thanks so much for both replies - it really helps to get well-informed advice :-) I believe he'll be happier in his own stuff, plus I can now plan my budget just for the training harness, rather than trying to factor in a bridle/bit as well.
Thanks again
Best regards
Karla
 
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