First drive out on our own tonight!

benson21

benson21

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So, its all happening now! Tonight me and my OH are going on our first drive out on our own, and if it all goes wel, donoan is coming home on Sunday! So, i will be taking the camera tonight!
And then on Sunday, we are going to our first driving clinic, to be assessed, so we can then join a driving club. Its also to have a practice around the course that we are doing on our first competition, on May 12th.
So, its all happening! Really getting into it all now!!:D:D:D
 
Its good fun!! And really quite relaxing after a day at work to go off round the countryside! I am completely addicted now!!
 
Great news !
I did my driving assessment at home someone from the driving club came and watched us harness up then I drove in the schooling field then we drove out .
I was so nervous but it was fine I really glad it's going well and you now have all summer to really set to and get some miles under your belt .
 
I've been enjoying reading your progress, well done! I couldn't resist a comment here though as my pony is away being trained too and will be back in a couple of weeks. I'm right there with you. I've been having lessons and hope to drive my boy myself for the first time next week.
I think the first drive at home is going to be the scariest, but I absolutely love it all so far.
 
benson21 said:
So, its all happening now! Tonight me and my OH are going on our first drive out on our own, and if it all goes wel, donoan is coming home on Sunday! So, i will be taking the camera tonight!
And then on Sunday, we are going to our first driving clinic, to be assessed, so we can then join a driving club. Its also to have a practice around the course that we are doing on our first competition, on May 12th.
So, its all happening! Really getting into it all now!!:D:D:D
Click to expand...

Gr8 news.

I never thought I would get into driving, but after my beloved mare was PTS before xmas, I need another venture away from western which was her thing.

I have just paid for a harness ( on way to me) a shettie one for my welsh section A.

Its also a way to get hubby off my back about the pony not earning her keep. I think she will take to it after the first few wrinkles.:)
 
Well, it didnt happen:(:( Instuctor couldnt get back to the yard in time, so had to postpone it......until tonight!! So, last night, beautiful sunshine, and today, its p1$$ing hard!!!
 
:D how do you driving peeps cope with traffic while out on the roads? I'm only asking as my daughter's pony was broken to drive and did quite a bit before we bought him as a riding pony, he's for sale but if we can't find a nice home for him I'm toying with the idea of re-starting him to drive, I have a harness that was fitted to him but we've never 'bitten the bullet' & tried. It's the traffic that worries me (he's fantastic ridden in traffic but I'M a worry wart) x
 
I had a really tragic accident 3 years ago on the road, so I have the biggest fear of roadwork. But, slowly slowly, I am getting there. Donovan is kind of used to traffic, I have done a fair bit of long reining with him out on the road, and he is just not bothered.
 
Traffice was the thing that I found most concerning when learning .
I drive over 16 hh horses so the horse plus the larger carriage a horse pulls is quite a big thing .
Firstly you have to have confidence in the horses training when you say stand it must then you know when you stop in a junction and the groom goes into the road to look the horse standing you need to be happy with your rein/whip handling before you go out .
The carriage shaft length and the harness must be well fitted for the job it's doing ( I started in competion type carriages with turn tables so we set the shafts a bit longer so the horse is a bit more out in front which is a bit easier when you are learning ) .
Your groom / backstepper needs to be well trained and understand their roll.
I was very lucky I had a marvellous school master for my first and a groom at that time who had driven a lot and worked for a competitive driver so I had great help on the ground.
When things go wrong driven it can go majorly wrong very fast so it's all about good training for the horse and driver planning ahead and reading the situations you are in properly.
Miles driven is the key you get to the stage when you just have to put the miles in and gain experiance it's a bit like when you first start driving a car .
It great fun but driving on the road does take concentration from the driver.
 
Goldenstar said:
benson21 I will check in tonight after my night out to see how it went , I hope the rain stops .
Click to expand...

So do I!!! Last thing I want to do is get wet!! Tommorrow we have got to fix the extension to the trailer, so hopefully a dry day then as well!
 
It's nice here today 12.15 I am off for a driving session .i am going to see if the schooling field is dry enough if it is I'll try some of the dreaded cones.
 
Oodles of luck! I just started reading HHO posts way back after you'd just had your tragic accident so I'm really proud of you for being able to do this. Did you sort out the storage of your Bennington in the end? (sorry if I missed the update - I was probably distracted with Tessy's foal :p)
 
Unfortunately, the storage problem is still ongoing! I have the choice of keeping it in the trailer, but then I think I am going to struggle getting it out on my own, or chaining it up to a stable inside the barn, where it will be more visable. Not sure which we are doing yet!
 
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