My driving debut!

ester

ester

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For everyone's amusement.

I shall try to embed
[video=youtube;gBPvEDv24CE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBPvEDv24CE&feature=youtu.be[/video]

This is what happens on this forum, you make friends with someone and a few years down the line they hand you the reins to drive their pony, whom you've only ever driven a couple of times in a 20x40 arena and done about 5 cones (and I've only driven her other pony 3 times :p), in front of more people than you have ever ridden in front of- you can't see the grandstand in the video :eek3:!

I would like you to pay particular attention to the flying change in the slalom, and less attention to me not realising that number 8 wasn't a straight line out of the obstacle as it seemed it was when on the back!

And many thanks to British scurry and trials driving for letting me join in HC, proving their everyone can do it motto, and the person we hijacked to video!
 
Well done, very brave in front of all those people. My first couple of indoor trials caused a complete brain freeze, couldn't remember the course, probably wouldn't have known my own name if I'd been asked :)
 
I'm amused in a good way - that was great to watch! It makes me want to have a go :D

Out of interest (following your post on the weekend thread), what is the canter aid when driving? How do you differentiate between 'more trot' and 'canter'?
 
j1ffy said:
I'm amused in a good way - that was great to watch! It makes me want to have a go :D

Out of interest (following your post on the weekend thread), what is the canter aid when driving? How do you differentiate between 'more trot' and 'canter'?
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He should do it off the voice onto the lead he has the bend for :p He is pretty good at them especially considering he’s not naturally wanting to go at the fastest speed permitted! His canter should be direct off of ‘and canter’ and extended trot ‘and trot out’- and being my ‘half halt’ word to get attention.
 
j1ffy said:
I'm amused in a good way - that was great to watch! It makes me want to have a go :D

Out of interest (following your post on the weekend thread), what is the canter aid when driving? How do you differentiate between 'more trot' and 'canter'?
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Generally it is all word orientated so for him (rara will now correct me!) it is 'and canter' except that it is about contact too, the same as you'd do riding but I'm not tuned in to exactly how he needs to be (rara makes it look easy)- he is very light in the contact and he prefers a nice collected trot. If we were on a 20m circle and rara was coaching we'd be fine :D

more trot is 'trot out', said in a particular way because I've listened to rara plenty!
 
It's great fun to do, I would never have thought a few years ago I'd be in charge of the back of the carriage, definitely not up front and I am fairly good at putting-to now without double checking everything!
 
This looks amazing fun and I thought you did brilliantly in front of that crowd! And what a stonkingky gorgeous pony too.
 
ester said:
Generally it is all word orientated so for him (rara will now correct me!) it is 'and canter' except that it is about contact too, the same as you'd do riding but I'm not tuned in to exactly how he needs to be (rara makes it look easy)

more trot is 'trot out', said in a particular way because I've listened to rara plenty!
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I think every person and pony has their own language. Leo was always "Leo, and, trot," and big trot was "trot, h'up" although he knew that before I got him, it wasnt my choice. He knew left and right meant turn in that direction, but come round meant he was to keep turning until I said "straight on".

Its amazing just how many words they do know and respond to when you drive, and even more amazing how quickly they learn to read you and are already doing it as you are thinking the command never mind giving it!
 
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Wow, amazing!! That looked fantastically competent given you've only had a few goes with him before, seriously impressive.

And Cheeri's little flashy white legs....Love him
 
That’s so cool!

I was over I Surrey last weekend and went out with the carriages & shires, was a great way to have a nice pub crawl :p got a bit scary though when trotting at good pace down the road the outside shire (young one) snapped the girth and the hame on the collar :o
 
That was lovely to watch. Just loved the commentator very funny, and supportive. The pony is gorgeous, and so well behaved. Well done
 
Leo Walker said:
I think every person and pony has their own language. Leo was always "Leo, and, trot," and big trot was "trot, h'up" although he knew that before I got him, it wasnt my choice. He knew left and right meant turn in that direction, but come round meant he was to keep turning until I said "straight on".

Its amazing just how many words they do know and respond to when you drive, and even more amazing how quickly they learn to read you and are already doing it as you are thinking the command never mind giving it!
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Thankfully the new one is bilingual apparently ;), not that it will be an issue for me it is far too posh!

KK lol, I do enjoy it but always feel a bit safer under close supervision! It's been great to have the opportunity to do a bit knowing Rara though. It still surprises me how tight the carriages can actually turn. (ps I'm not pony shopping yet but a friend does have a very nice black welsh that currently has my name on it for first refusal ;) )
 
Well, there you go, I haven’t a clue about driving and wouldn’t say it’s something I’d want to watch, but that video was ace! Pony is gorgeous and that looked really good. And the commentary just topped it all off. She was great. Well done you for having a go!
 
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