Drove him again last night....but...

benson21

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 December 2009
Messages
2,861
Visit site
I feel my confidence has had a little dent!! My instructor didnt drive him first, so I had to deal with his freshness myself. He was very very forward going, and running through my hands. In the end we adjusted his bit so there was a bit more curb action which brought him back to me abit.
After the lesson as we went to leave we took the turn to the gate too sharply so I needed to turn him away and go again, at that he had a temper tantrum and reared right up!! :eek::mad::eek: Just what I didnt need!! So I absolutely roared at him, and he went on as quiet as a lamb!!:o
So now I have very little voice, a very sore back where he pulled a bit, and a little dent in my ever growing confidence!
I think I just need to go and do it all again!!:rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
You had problems, but you sorted them. You know what to do RE his bit if he's fresh, you know not to take turns too tightly and you know that roaring at him gets him to behave. The session ended on a good note. :)
 
Best that you got it done now rather than when you got him home.
The feeling of a fresh driving horse is a bit ekkkk even when you are used to it but you get used to handling it and will develop systems to cope with it.
On the turning one tip that helped me was being taught to drive the outside of any curve or turn the natural focus is on the inside it really helped me and I work really hard on the all the time at controlling the were the outside of the line is ,its a big help with obstical driving .
Do you have a field at home you can drive him in before you venture out I would also consider lunging him before driving as well when you have him home.
I don't remember if he's broken to ride but my groom would ride my horse then he had a couple of hours resting before I drove him sometimes ( I had a broken leg when i was learning ).
The good thing you have learnt that it goes wrong and you cope with it because stuff will go wrong.
Driving can hurt the back I am often very sore after a HDT but you do develop driving muscles in time , another thing to watch ( which may not affect you as you are driving a pony ) is the carrying the whip can give you tennis elbow any pain in this area get it treated fast I did not and ended not being able to drive for four months.
Don't dwell on it just digest it and move on this you need to push on while you have the trainers support .
 
Thanks for the positiveness!! ( if thats a word!!) I had confidence issues when I was riding, and I really dont want them creeping back in to my driving!!
 
You dealt with the problems and overcame them. You both will settle down when driving is routine for you. Keep up with the good work.
 
Just a tiny blip - everyone has them and you acted correctly - he listened, so a brilliant result. It's the challenges that you overcome like this that will build your confidence higher, as you will know that you can deal with the naughty behaviour as you have done just that :)
 
Top