Gutted - pony has disgraced himself...

[Jericho]

My little 4 1/2 yr old gypsy cob who is as placid and easy going as they come has just come home after 8 weeks being broken to drive. I went up at 5 weeks to bring him home as they were so pleased with him and thought he would be no problem at all. Unfortunately he had a nappy moment when we went for a test drive and started broncing between the shafts, fell over, broke the cart, scared us all except himself. He seemed totally unfazed and we walked back putting the incident down to a moment of teenage tantrums and nappiness. The trainer who is a very well respected trainer would not let me take him home and has continued to work with him for the last 3 weeks, all was going well but I got a phone call yesterday to say he did exactly the same thing for no obvious reason - just had a moment of "I have had enough - get this thing off me!"

The trainer said that I, being a novice driver, should not attempt to drive him and that I should spend 6 months hacking him out again and putting him through lots of difficult situations, and maybe reconsider but he felt that he wouldnt trust him not to try it again. All credit to the trainer that he has worked hard with him and has kept him for the extra 3 weeks free of charge and had two carts trashed now.

I am absolutely gutted, I bought him to drive as its something I always wanted to do and he is a little too small for me to ride really and have just spent well over £500 having him broken and £400 on harness, all for nothing. I know I know - thats horses for you but OH is most displeased (its his money as I dont work and this was my birthday present) and I suppose at least the pony showed his worst with the trainer rather than me when potentially it could have been a lot worse but argghhhhhhhhhhhh!

 

[caberston]

Massively bad luck what are you thinking you're going to do with him now?

 

[Bikerchickone]

Oh no! Poor you, that sounds horrible! Not sure what to suggest but is he a mature 4 year old? Would he benefit from being 'turned away' from driving to think about it and then restarted? Sounds like the trainer is being very reasonable and hopefully knows his stuff. Have you had him checked over for injury or soreness, although I guess this is unlikely if he doesn't do it every time. Is the equipment used always the same? Could anything different be causing discomfort? Lots to think about, but really hope you work it out. x

 

[Jesstickle]

I know nothing about driving so won't offer advice but you have my sympathy. Bleddy horses!

 

[Abbeygale]

Maybe you could give him a couple of easy months until the weather improves a little then start hacking him out. When my boy went away to be broken in, he came home and I was then ill so he had nearly 3 months of chilling in the field. I think it was the best thing that could have happened for him. He seemed to grow up quite a bit for having a break. And he was not an easy breaker - 12 weeks being broken - and the majority of those were getting him lunging sensibly and then being on the lunge with a rider! Lol

So maybe give him a little break, hack him or long rein him and then look again at driving him next summer. All is not lost - it sounds a bit like he may be having a little baby wobbler moment, but obvs get teeth / tack / back checked etc

Don't despair just yet!!

 

[flirtygerty]

Please look on the bright side, your pony has character, don't give up, I have a ride and drive and at 9yrs old still works himself, when he is moody we do little and often sometimes walking alongside the exercise cart sometimes one in the cart and one leading,from another horse or on foot
The more your pony is worked between the shafts the better it will be, just take precautions and keep yourself safe, ours just tends to back up now, I qiute often just long rein him in harness if my OH isn't available.
Persevere and keep us updated Happy Birthday by the way

 

[devilwoman]

Hi, don't dispare, the my mare was once a delinquent it the cart too and took myself and my husband through a post and rail fence, tipped the cart upside down and done a runner with it dragging behind her, we were beginning to think she'd never be able to be driven but now, 1 year on she's absolutely brilliant we can take her ANYWHERE and is she is a pleasure to drive, so hang in there, let him mature a bit and maybe he'll take to it ;

 

[katastrophykat]

If you do want to try him back in harness, lots of longreining alongside your hacking out- I would usually suggest fake shafts, (shafts with a strap on the end to go over your shoulders) but if he's chucking himself over I wouldn't do that as you're likely to get injured. Get him fully checked for any niggling pain but I personally wouldn't put him back too. Just out of curiosity, did your trainer not suggest a more experienced horse to start you off? I'm a novice driver, have just done my first year HDT but it took me a year and a half to find my D, as I needed an experienced horse to help me out when I messed up- which I do! Ru just sighs and does it right, or waits for me to sort myself out and off we go again. I wouldn't expect a novice horse to do that.

 

[Jericho]

Thanks all, I think maybe a couple of months off and then lots of hacking and long reining. It's definitely a napping issue, I am sure it's not pain related. I guess it was going to be a bit of a risk me being quite a novice (i used to drive regularly - every week- other peoples horses but never had my own so I know what to do but just not a lot of solid ongoing experience). Such a shame as he is such a lovable chap and like a big dog. When I got him I wanted a good companion pony who I could hack out and have a bit of fun with alongside my other mare and I particulary liked him as a potential driving pony which was what made me ultimately go for him. Oh well, horses - who'd have 'em!

 

[Bikerchickone]

All of us!!! We're all mad! Good luck with whatever you decide to do, hope it works out.