Is Anyone's Horse Ride & Drive - How Do They Cope

[devilwoman]

As title really, my rising 4 mare was broken to drive in summer and drives approx once a week, she is absolutely perfect, never puts a foot wrong even through heaviest of traffic etc (although leafs and ice lolly wrappers are scary !! )

She has been sat on and walked lightly a couple of times by my lightweight teenage son, tomorrow she is starting weekly lessons with my RI to begin moving her schooling forward, my RI is very small and lightweight and is a very sympathetic rider so she will only be progressed slowly and at her own rate.

What i'm wondering is how they cope with the two different disciplines, it is confussing for them with the different carriage for driving to riding and in harness she can trot super fast (when on soft ground) without breaking into canter, whereas in riding she'll be wanted to break nicely into canter without running into it.

 

[Aoibhin]

never been an issue with the ride/drives i exersize, they are all brilliant & much more responsive to voice aids than any of the ridden horses ive been on.

 

[LisW]

All of our ponies both ride & drive. I drive & others ride them. They have no problems at all going between the two. They are very responsive to voice aids when riding as well as going well off the leg.

 

[Toffee44]

My old cob rode and drove was obv happier in harness but he still was a good hack etc.

Some people say you shouldnt canter a driving horse but he did.

My new girl Samba only ever drove and I have broken her to ride. She can canter on the lunge and has had a small canter on a hack so we are getting there. I wont be driving her now. I think shes too much of a nice riding pony and would rather concentrate on that. Plus im happier riding than driving. My boyfriends cob doesnt care what he does ride or drive as long as he doesnt have to trot for long lol.