Everything Driving

[Glitter's fun]

Talk to me about driving please!
I'm a more or less total beginner. Had a short go - enough to know I will probably enjoy it but otherwise totally clueless.
The plan, so far as there is one, is to take a course of lessons & then hope that gives me enough contacts to source a ride & drive pony & a carriage. Not much of a plan I admit.
If you tell me anything at all about your driving experiences, you could pretty much guarantee it would be something I don't know already!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Speak to the likes of rara007, rabatsa and scruffyponies on here, all v knowledgeable

 

[LittleLegs&Co]

Where-abouts are you based Goldie's mum? Best bet would be to speak to a local trainer and get along to some local events - driving folk are always frindly and welcoming and happy to answer questions
Any idea what sort of driving you want to do? (Just for fun, showing, driving trials/indoor driving trials, scurry.....etc etc?)

 

[Glitter's fun]

Where-abouts are you based Goldie's mum? Best bet would be to speak to a local trainer and get along to some local events - driving folk are always frindly and welcoming and happy to answer questions
Any idea what sort of driving you want to do? (Just for fun, showing, driving trials/indoor driving trials, scurry.....etc etc?)

Thanks for the reply. I'm in Scotland,on one of the small islands beyond the back of beyond! The only trainer I've found so far is in Aviemore, which is doable but quite a long trip. I did hear of someone near Oban (nearer to me) but I think she might have moved/retired as I'm struggling to get in touch with her.
I want to do the farm shop rounds locally. We sell produce from our croft , all within about 5 miles of home , at the moment using a diesel truck, and I'd also just do "hacks" on the local tracks. There are some very quiet single track roads and farm tracks on my doorstep. You do meet farm traffic though and sometimes groups of cyclists so I'd need a pony that's seen a bit of life.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Speak to the likes of rara007, rabatsa and scruffyponies on here, all v knowledgeable

Ok if you don't think that's cheeky, here goes
@rara007 @rabatsa @scruffyponies
Help/ideas/advice please and you should blame Fuzzy Furry !

 

[Peglo]

Is there any driving clubs near you? I joined one and helped out a lady with her cob as a teenager and it was brilliant. I’m also on an island and unfortunately there isn’t a driving club up here anymore but even if you put out an advert to help out with someone local who drives might be a good way to start learning.

 

[rabatsa]

The only person I know up that way is Jane Isaac. She is heavily involved with RDA carriage driving as well as doing driving trials. You could get her contact details via Argyll RDA carriage driving group.

 

[ester]

Ok if you don't think that's cheeky, here goes
@rara007 @rabatsa @scruffyponies
Help/ideas/advice please and you should blame Fuzzy Furry !

unfortunately tags don't alert people to comments here so don't worry if they ignore you

 

[rabatsa]

It came up as an alert by the search bar.

 

[ester]

ooh!

 

[rabatsa]

@ester

See if it works for you.

 

[Glitter's fun]

@Goldie's mum

 

[Glitter's fun]

Doesn't seem to work on yourself!

 

[rabatsa]

@Goldie's mum

 

[ester]

No, and I do have 'mentions you' selected in settings.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Can't see anything - just an alert to say you replied to the thread. Maybe it depends how you set your profile up?

The only person I know up that way is Jane Isaac. She is heavily involved with RDA carriage driving as well as doing driving trials. You could get her contact details via Argyll RDA carriage driving group.

She's the person I'd been told about but I think she may have retired. The RDA driving moved from Benderloch a few years ago & the FB page doesn't get updated any more.

 

[rabatsa]

Can't see anything - just an alert to say you replied to the thread. Maybe it depends how you set your profile up?

She's the person I'd been told about but I think she may have retired. The RDA driving moved from Benderloch a few years ago & the FB page doesn't get updated any more.

Ok. I know that she ran a RDA carriage driving holiday when Patsy lost her venue near Stirling.

 

[Borderreiver]

My homebred Highland became my driving pony. He was schooled in Biggar. We never looked back and enjoyed lots of driven hacking off road. Sadly he was pts this year but I was very lucky to be allowed to buy a good replacement! This my current fell pony who I adore and we are building our relationship. I don’t compete but like to get out on our tracks. I drive alone which is not supposed to be correct but it works for us. I love pony driving and I hope you do too.

 

[katastrophykat]

Jane Issac is a great point of contact, Sanchia May, who owns Riding and Harness Stuff is in Aberdeen and should be able to point you towards the ‘real’ northerners!

 

[LittleLegs&Co]

Thanks for the reply. I'm in Scotland,on one of the small islands beyond the back of beyond! The only trainer I've found so far is in Aviemore, which is doable but quite a long trip. I did hear of someone near Oban (nearer to me) but I think she might have moved/retired as I'm struggling to get in touch with her.
I want to do the farm shop rounds locally. We sell produce from our croft , all within about 5 miles of home , at the moment using a diesel truck, and I'd also just do "hacks" on the local tracks. There are some very quiet single track roads and farm tracks on my doorstep. You do meet farm traffic though and sometimes groups of cyclists so I'd need a pony that's seen a bit of life.

Oh wow, that sounds amazing! I'm afraid I'm a relative 'southerner' ? so not that familiar with people up your way - see some others have made some suggestions though. Have a look on some of the carriage driving facebook groups for contacts, and forums like the British Carriagedriving one might be helpful for general questions and finding people nearer you. I'm sure if you wanted a 'holiday' you could find a trainer elsewhere in the UK to give you an intensive crash course in the basics? (Driving, harness etc)
Pony wise, it's amazing how many 'types' take so well to driving. You're doing the right thing asking advice and trying to find some good contacts, so I'm sure you'll find something perfect. Welcome to the world of carriagedriving ??

 

[Jeni the dragon]

The only person I know up that way is Jane Isaac. She is heavily involved with RDA carriage driving as well as doing driving trials. You could get her contact details via Argyll RDA carriage driving group.

Jane is lovely and would have been an excellent contact, but has moved to the Borders!

 

[millikins]

The Indoor Driving Trials (they have a website) have an entries secretary based at Aberdeen, long way from Oban I realise but might be able to help you.

 

[Goldenstar]

I learnt to drive while I was injured .
I was so lucky to just fall on the perfect horse he was a fantastic kind horse who I loved .
I drove for a few years and then gave up , while I enjoyed the actual driving the stuff that went around it , the carriage care and maintenance the difficulties with transport the fact that driving out alone is unsafe was a pain .i hated that you could not easily at that time get lessons lots of planning there was no where near that I could get to easily and the whole process was like getting ready for a three day event .Finding safe and sound horses is also a mayor difficulty.
I gave up when I could ride again .
I did not realise how much my enjoyment of solitude and being focused in my own mind was bound up in riding and training my horses .The whole thing of having to have a second experienced person made it difficult .

I sold everything except the remaining horse who had been repurposed by then and have never regretted it for a nano second .

 

[Glitter's fun]

My homebred Highland became my driving pony. He was schooled in Biggar. We never looked back and enjoyed lots of driven hacking off road. Sadly he was pts this year but I was very lucky to be allowed to buy a good replacement! This my current fell pony who I adore and we are building our relationship. I don’t compete but like to get out on our tracks. I drive alone which is not supposed to be correct but it works for us. I love pony driving and I hope you do too.

Sorry for your loss.
Can I ask whether he took a long time to get the hang of driving & whether you were a novice yourself when you started driving him?
Wondering if that's one pony option I should follow up. The person in Biggar doesn't teach I suppose?

 

[Glitter's fun]

Sanchia May, who owns Riding and Harness Stuff is in Aberdeen and should be able to point you towards the ‘real’ northerners!

Thank you, I'll get in touch with her. Cast a wide net & see what gets caught..

 

[Glitter's fun]

Oh wow, that sounds amazing! I'm afraid I'm a relative 'southerner' ? so not that familiar with people up your way - see some others have made some suggestions though. Have a look on some of the carriage driving facebook groups for contacts, and forums like the British Carriagedriving one might be helpful for general questions and finding people nearer you. I'm sure if you wanted a 'holiday' you could find a trainer elsewhere in the UK to give you an intensive crash course in the basics? (Driving, harness etc)
Pony wise, it's amazing how many 'types' take so well to driving. You're doing the right thing asking advice and trying to find some good contacts, so I'm sure you'll find something perfect. Welcome to the world of carriagedriving ??

Thank you. The Aviemore place does a 5 day course that covers harness, safety, basic beginners' driving. I was hoping for something local enough to be doable more regularly but if nothing turns up a week in B&B in Aviemore is plan B. (Although I'm tempted by a place in Wiltshire too, which seems to lean towards more agricultural driving & logging.)
Regards ponies, I'm picturing piebald and hairy because that's what I'm seeing advertised, although native would be fine. I want him to be big enough for a small adult to ride too because i want to do a bit of sheep herding myself and I have 2 friends already lined up to ride him if I was ill. He needs to live out 24/7 on a rocky hillside with two highland fillies and a billion midges.

ETA ooo I just found this in Wales too. I'm going to need so many holidays.. (16) Hitch In Farm Working Horses | Facebook

 

[scruffyponies]

BDS have a 'Highland' area. Not sure how close they get to you OP, but I can PM their contact details if you're interested.

Everyone's journey into driving is different. For me it was a 13 year old welsh part-bred. He wasn't broken to drive and very, very difficult under saddle. 3 very different people who took one look at him and told me I should drive him (stud owner, old gypsy and ex-school teacher). It was a way I could take the babies out with me on Saturday and give their dad some space. Freshly broken pony, governess cart and two babes under 2... sounds like the first 10 minutes of casualty, doesn't it?!

I am eternally grateful to the late Dennis walmsley for taking me out with his shetland to give me some safety basics and a taster.

 

[Borderreiver]

Sorry for your loss.
Can I ask whether he took a long time to get the hang of driving & whether you were a novice yourself when you started driving him?
Wondering if that's one pony option I should follow up. The person in Biggar doesn't teach I suppose?

It’s Andrew May in Biggar. I was fairly novice with driving and had lessons with him using experienced horses every weekend when I went to visit. My pony took about seven weeks to train. I had done lots of preparatory work at home with him before that. Andrew gave us both great confidence and as we live a long way from there I had a few lessons with others when the pony came home.

 

[Glitter's fun]

BDS have a 'Highland' area. Not sure how close they get to you OP, but I can PM their contact details if you're interested.

Yes please, that would be very helpful, thank you.

 

[scruffyponies]

Yes please, that would be very helpful, thank you.

Have messaged you.