Everything Driving

[Glitter's fun]

Have messaged you.

Thank you. Now in conversation with the Kingussie contact on that list. Very excited (mental age aprox. 7!)

 

[Glitter's fun]

Been watching this.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi789uupPj5AhUZQEEAHVcbBPgQ-4ACegQICxAH&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrRKnPXCOys&usg=AOvVaw0UcpoRsnT-bxPtvFf_IKVY

Its from "Way Out West with Sandra and Tim"

 

[rabatsa]

The best video for harnessing and putting to ect is Between the Shafts

https://www.marycultercarriages.co.uk/videos.htm

Sorry Goldie's mum but there are several things that make me cringe on the link that you have put.

 

[Glitter's fun]

The best video for harnessing and putting to ect is Between the Shafts

https://www.marycultercarriages.co.uk/videos.htm

Sorry Goldie's mum but there are several things that make me cringe on the link that you have put.

Don't be sorry, please explain what she does wrong. Thank you.

 

[rabatsa]

Firstly no contol of the horse, it is loose when she is putting the collars on, not even a rope around its neck.

A lot of harness just dropped onto the floor, the traces once buckled to the collar and the reins later in the video clip. The fit of the harness left a lot to be desired especially the height of the breeching.

I would have fastened the girth before putting the crupper round the dock to prevent the saddle from hitting the floor if the horse moved.

There was no talk of balance/fit of a two wheel vehicle and its floor should be parallel to the floor.

A good instructor should be able to take you through all of this.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Firstly no contol of the horse, it is loose when she is putting the collars on, not even a rope around its neck.

A lot of harness just dropped onto the floor, the traces once buckled to the collar and the reins later in the video clip. The fit of the harness left a lot to be desired especially the height of the breeching.

I would have fastened the girth before putting the crupper round the dock to prevent the saddle from hitting the floor if the horse moved.

There was no talk of balance/fit of a two wheel vehicle and its floor should be parallel to the floor.

A good instructor should be able to take you through all of this.

Thank you, your input is much appreciated.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Regards instruction - Its looking as if I'll need a week off & book a B&B somewhere, I keep getting less & less fussy about how near home it needs to be. I'm up to looking at places 6 hours away atm. Have contacted three places now who didn't re-start after Covid (retired/decided it didn't pay well enough/decided the insurance was too high). Did have a conversation with a gentleman I met who said his grandad was a Gypsy & there was nothing to it & he'll show me. He had a couple of drams in him & I get the impression that after a couple more he'd be a competent fighter pilot too. Otherwise still looking.

 

[Borderreiver]

I hope you find someone soon. Have you watched Barry Hook at Horse drawn promotions on you tube? He does some great videos but some find his methods controversial. I think the thing with driving is always to stay safe. So for instance always keep your reins off the ground. On the other hand most of my driving is done on fields and tracks by myself. This is near my home on places I walk and know well but some would disapprove!

 

[Glitter's fun]

I hope you find someone soon. Have you watched Barry Hook at Horse drawn promotions on you tube? He does some great videos but some find his methods controversial. I think the thing with driving is always to stay safe. So for instance always keep your reins off the ground. On the other hand most of my driving is done on fields and tracks by myself. This is near my home on places I walk and know well but some would disapprove!View attachment 98893

Lovely picture.
No I haven't seen Barry Hook but will look now, thank you. Just trying to learn the harness bits at the moment, so I don't get completely tangled when I start for real! Definitely going to take proper lessons before I even look for a carriage ( or dray probably, so suitable for farm work), so not planning anything unsafe. Have already got 3 volunteer grooms although whether they'll stick at it when the monsoon season begins will be another matter!

 

[Tarragon]

I taught my 16 year old riding pony to go in harness; he took to it remarkably well. It had been a long time ambition of mine, but it wasn't until I liveried on a farm that I felt safe enough to start. Everywhere else was unsuitable, as either steep hill in both directions as soon as you leave the yard or the road too busy!
I did join the BDS for a year, and did a couple of drives, but felt it really wasn't for me and my pony as I thought they wanted to go faster and further than we could manage. I joined the Christmas drive and found myself with a carriage with 4 horses behind me and felt like I was driving a mini beside a juggernaut!
On the plus side, there is something really special about trotting around the lanes on a summer evening.
On the downside, you really need to have a groom with you who is both horsey and in my case, slight, as the driving seat is snug! My trailer could either take a pony or a carriage but not both and I couldn't justify up-grading. and finally, the roads are getting busier and the traffic less tolerant, so you really do have to have somewhere safe to drive.

 

[Tarragon]

 

[scruffyponies]

I would add nimble to your groom requirements. Some carriages are really quite difficult to get on and off, and when you really need them, the groom may need to dismount or mount a moving, or even jack-knifing carriage to attend to a restive horse.

 

[honetpot]

I had our old pony broken to drive when the children outgrew him. I didn't buy anything until I knew he was going to take to it, and he was really good, but I was just not confident in traffic. Even when I took him out early on a Sunday morning cars would get up our bum, and one almost clipped his nose overtaking.
One of my best memories is him turning around among the fair ground rides in our town Michaelmas Fair, they weren't running,and then standing outside Woolies waiting for his pic'n'mix.

 

[Smogul]

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.

Jane has moved from there but is still involved with SCDA and RDA. Look at SCDA website too for contacts. There is a Have A Go day at Seacliffe near North Berwick in a couple of weeks time if you could possibly make it.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Lessons now arranged but not started yet due to needing to book accommodation nearby. Doing some reading in the meantime & got a couple of questions if you don't mind.
Do ride & drive use the same bridle with different reins? Do driving horses ride with blinkers? Do they ride & drive in the same bit?
Thank you.

 

[Goldenstar]

I used different bits and bridles for mine .
Under saddle I treated my driving horses just like my others .
When you first ride out driving horses without blinkers they are funny one kept stopping and looking at things , another who had more extensive riding experience when young was delighted to be out and about ridden he loved to see a saddle coming towards his stable .
Enjoy your training .

 

[Borderreiver]

Most people ride and drive with different bridles. A few drive without blinkers if trained that way from the start. You would not ride with blinkers.
Bits are an interesting one. If your horse is happy in his riding but then you can use it to drive as well. There is no need for a traditional bit like a Liverpool. My pony has a peewee bit and seems happy in it after a few false starts with other types. If you watch Barry Hook on you tube he drives all in a rubber snaffle.

 

[LittleLegs&Co]

Lessons now arranged but not started yet due to needing to book accommodation nearby. Doing some reading in the meantime & got a couple of questions if you don't mind.
Do ride & drive use the same bridle with different reins? Do driving horses ride with blinkers? Do they ride & drive in the same bit?
Thank you.

I think most have separate riding and driving bridles, but there's no reason you couldn't ride with blinkers, and you can drive in an open bridle (no blinkers), as long as you consider this with the horse's training

Yes you can use the same bit, or different ? There are 'traditional' driving bits - I.e. Liverpool or butterfly type bits for example, which give the option of leverage - but you can have almost any mouthpiece type with these and many people drive on the gentlest setting anyway. I currently use a butterfly with a lozenge double jointed mouthpiece. I have driven with a normal eggbut too - just wouldn't be considered correct in the showring. Whatever your horse is most comfortable in really and their training

Brilliant that you've got lessons booked ??

 

[Rosemary28]

Lessons now arranged but not started yet due to needing to book accommodation nearby. Doing some reading in the meantime & got a couple of questions if you don't mind.
Do ride & drive use the same bridle with different reins? Do driving horses ride with blinkers? Do they ride & drive in the same bit?
Thank you.

My pony drives better in a military elbow but has always been ridden in a snaffle.

Good luck with the lessons, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

 

[scruffyponies]

Most drive better in an unjointed bit, since the rein action is different, but your ridden horse will usually accept his normal bit just fine. A pair need slightly different cheek pieces to avoid them pinching due to the inside rein going out at an angle.

You can drive a horse without blinkers. You might get away with it for years, but blinkers are for SAFETY, and should always be used. Protects their eye from the lash, but more importantly prevents panic being made worse by them seeing the vehicle chasing after them.

Incidentally (controversially?) I believe it is an essential safety measure to get driving ponies used to canter and gallop in harness. Better that you know they are fine with it, than finding out in an emergency that they are not.
Also useful for getting through roadworks... darn lights are always set for the time it takes a car!

 

[ester]

Driving bridles are quite different to what you’d want to ride in. The seacliff ladies are lovely we’ve been parked next to them a couple of times

 

[Glitter's fun]

Today's dim beginner question.
The rein handling methods. Do they feel different to the horse at the bit end?

Where I'm coming from is I'll be learning one handed/coachman rein handling but most of the driving ponies I see for sale look as if they're being driven 2-handed in the videos. Would a pony be taught one or the other? Would you long rein in Coachman style if that's how you'll be driving?

 

[scruffyponies]

Today's dim beginner question.
The rein handling methods. Do they feel different to the horse at the bit end?

Where I'm coming from is I'll be learning one handed/coachman rein handling but most of the driving ponies I see for sale look as if they're being driven 2-handed in the videos. Would a pony be taught one or the other? Would you long rein in Coachman style if that's how you'll be driving?

I would say yes, definiely, but mainly because coachman style stabilizes your hand, so once you have the hang of it. The horse prefers it, and your aid is more subtle.
I wouldn't worry about going from one to the other. I start all mine long-reining in two hands, and have been known to switch to two-handed pronto when things get, erm, 'interesting'.

 

[Glitter's fun]

I would say yes, definiely, but mainly because coachman style stabilizes your hand, so once you have the hang of it. The horse prefers it, and your aid is more subtle.
I wouldn't worry about going from one to the other. I start all mine long-reining in two hands, and have been known to switch to two-handed pronto when things get, erm, 'interesting'.

Very interesting, thank you.

 

[lottiepony]

Just wanted to say hope you enjoy it.
I broke my Shetland to harness last year as my riding horse was out of action and my sister is useless at bringing my nieces to ride regularly! I'm terrible in that I can't do things by halves so got stuck in straight away and soon ended up with a lovely 4 wheeled carriage. I have met a lovely lot of new people through driving and can honestly say they are the friendliest bunch. Happy to help in any which way and very encouraging. It's not cheap (but then what is with horses) but as long as what you've got is safe then you can crack on. We've done indoor trials, showing and even driven Trec! I personally wouldn't drive without a groom so that can be a tie if no one is available to help.
With Frank only being 10hh I can fit him and my carriage in my Ifor 510 trailer so that's a plus point of a tiny pony lol!
I had driven before many years ago with the RDA and done their assessments so wasn't a total newbie and at that point broke another pony I had to drive. I think it has been a good 12 year break.
Since starting this time I have done a British Carriage driving assessment (so we could complete as part of Indoor Carriage Driving) and I've done the first BDS assessment. I think they do help less experienced people feel more confident about what you're doing. I'm lucky in that a very good instructor is based in the same village and has excellent facilities. I love lessons (driving and riding) but I also love just going out round the village.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Just wanted to say hope you enjoy it.
I broke my Shetland to harness last year as my riding horse was out of action and my sister is useless at bringing my nieces to ride regularly! I'm terrible in that I can't do things by halves so got stuck in straight away and soon ended up with a lovely 4 wheeled carriage. I have met a lovely lot of new people through driving and can honestly say they are the friendliest bunch. Happy to help in any which way and very encouraging. It's not cheap (but then what is with horses) but as long as what you've got is safe then you can crack on. We've done indoor trials, showing and even driven Trec! I personally wouldn't drive without a groom so that can be a tie if no one is available to help.
With Frank only being 10hh I can fit him and my carriage in my Ifor 510 trailer so that's a plus point of a tiny pony lol!
I had driven before many years ago with the RDA and done their assessments so wasn't a total newbie and at that point broke another pony I had to drive. I think it has been a good 12 year break.
Since starting this time I have done a British Carriage driving assessment (so we could complete as part of Indoor Carriage Driving) and I've done the first BDS assessment. I think they do help less experienced people feel more confident about what you're doing. I'm lucky in that a very good instructor is based in the same village and has excellent facilities. I love lessons (driving and riding) but I also love just going out round the village.

View attachment 99709

Thank you. That's very encouraging.
And Frank is lovely!