jewel
Well-Known Member
what is the best age to break to drive? are they better of being broken to riding first? what sort of cost are involved in it i.e cart, harness and the breaking.
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driving?
- Thread starter jewel
- Start date
pixiebee
Well-Known Member
2 and up as far as im aware for very light work. could be wrong though!!
Ezme
Well-Known Member
We've always broken to drive first. Makes riding so much easier, they already know all the voice commands so if they get confused by the leg you already have it. If you saw the 4yr olds post i think most of why jakey is such a superstar is because he drove first. We tend to do ours at 3, then a particularly long slow fitteneing programme and that winter off (mainly becuase all our horses have the winter off as its a seasonal national trust property) as with driving your on hard ground/roads you want to take extra care in the early years and it will pay off later, driving horses legs are often much stronger than pure ridden horses as their toughened.
You can pay as much or as little as you want for harness but ALWAYS get the best you can afford. A good set of leather harness with last 30years+ bar the odd strap and fit a variety of horses (unless you used a full collar which has to be made to fit) There are alot of very smart exersize vehicals about at the moment and so great new classes, have a look on http://www.carriagelink.com/ for some prices. Ideally if you don't know much about driving and want a horse you already own broken send him away for teh prelim as a v small accident early on and ruin them and as you can imagin a small accident with a riding horses is a big one with a driving horse when you add in harness and vehicals.
Contact the British Driving Society, they have a list of instructors, may of which will take on horses.
You can pay as much or as little as you want for harness but ALWAYS get the best you can afford. A good set of leather harness with last 30years+ bar the odd strap and fit a variety of horses (unless you used a full collar which has to be made to fit) There are alot of very smart exersize vehicals about at the moment and so great new classes, have a look on http://www.carriagelink.com/ for some prices. Ideally if you don't know much about driving and want a horse you already own broken send him away for teh prelim as a v small accident early on and ruin them and as you can imagin a small accident with a riding horses is a big one with a driving horse when you add in harness and vehicals.
Contact the British Driving Society, they have a list of instructors, may of which will take on horses.
pixiebee
Well-Known Member
costs wise, i got a budget exercise trap from ebay new at 350 quid, i choose the tedex zilco harness over the much cheaper versions due to comfort and safety at 270 quid, as for breaking, i did it mylsef with books, interner and telephone advice!
Ezme
Well-Known Member
Tedex is a great harness, alot of top HDT driver use it. Just look out for the cheap synthetics and dodgy leather. So many accidents. Luckilly it is easy to see if harness or vehical is unsound, just remember to have a good look!
D
Donkeymad
Guest
Tedex are very good harnesses, well worth the money. Carts can vary enormously in price, but you must be careful as there are some pretty awful vehicles out there. There is a great bloke I know who breaks to harness, very nice ways, involves the owner.He broke one of mine a few years ago. His price then was £100 per week (that includes all the livery fees) and he normally takes four weeks, more or less dependant on the horses ability/needs.
If you want his details, would like some advice in general (hubby had been driving for over 21 years) or want a try, give me a call!
If you want his details, would like some advice in general (hubby had been driving for over 21 years) or want a try, give me a call!