Driving..

[Louisex]

I am seriously considering driving, i have driven my friends 11.2hh pony and it was fab but i dont know weather my 14.2 nf x welsh d will be right for the 'job'. she is quite brod and willing to do anything, and totaly bomb prof, BUT she does kick and occatonaly buck... do you think she is right for the job.. PM me please

 

[Ezme]

Depends when she kicks TBH, is it with something flapping behind her? if it is i'd be inclined to say maybe no to driving. For a single horse you can get a kicking strap but its better to school them out of it. The way you break horses to drive generally is a long process of desensitiseation, basicly longline/lunge adding each piece of harness as they get used to it. then pull a tire/log, then a light exersize vehical (very basic rough common way, i know there are others) so you'd pick up if she was going to kick too much. hard to tell without seeing her, contact your local LHHI (Light harness horse instructor, drivings eqiv of BHSI) and maybe get them to assess your horse

 

[Louisex]

its not so much flapping behind she just kicks out and also not so good to lunge

 

[Ezme]

Most horses will take to driving with enough patience and time theres a really interesting case in one of my sallie wallrond books about this part bred arab (he was 3/4 i think) that showed such potentail under harness but had SERIOUS issues with it all but she perserveared and he won lots after so it is possible. I think best course is to go to someone knowledgable and see what they think.

 

[Louisex]

yeah ok thanks for yu help

 

[Donkeymad]

Give it a try and see what happens. Our horse sometimes rears in carriage, but never bucks.Does he is just buck at any time or just whilst being ridden? You could always add a kicking strap if he kicks whilst in harness occasionally.

 

[rara007]

Give it ago- Pip used to buck very badly in harness, but we tried him with a kicking strap and he has hardly bucked ridden or driven since. NFXD should be a nice type for driving too.