Reintroducing a pony to driving

V

vivhewe

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My neddie is a ride and drive although he hasn't been driven for a few years, but I am possibly getting an exercise cart and so hopefully reintroducing him to driving. Does anyone have any pointers or tips?

Obviously common sense will get me a long way, but how long would you suggest long reining him for before I do yoke him? He has done it before so obviously might be really easy or need rebroken to it, but any information would be much appreciated!
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viv
 
Driving is THE most dangerous thing you can do with a horse. If you have a mishap. the chances of doing serious damage/death to all involved are much higher than with a ridden horse.

If you have not driven before, you NEED lessons. You also need good advice on the sort of cart and harness you are going to buy. There is some seriously dodgy driving kit about!

Long reining is definately needed, so that you have the horse on the voice and it knows your voice commands.

Never take anyones word for it that a horse has driven before. It might have been a total nutter when driven or had a bad experience. Re-break unless you are 110% sure that all is well.

My best advice to you would be to contact the British Driving Society who will put you in touch with an instructor.
 
Driving is certainly NOT the most dangerous thing you can do with a horse, otherwise the insurance would be higher, not lower for driving horses.

I do agree however that you should get some lessons before attempting to drive, and make sure you have an experienced person with you when you first use blinkers and put-to.
You may like to join the Carriage Driving Forum board for good help and advice, regarding all aspects of driving.

Driving Forum Board
 
*expects to be slated*

Or you can do the totally idiotic thing I did. I was told that it was rumoured that our Section A had been broken to drive around the time she was broken to ride butcouldn't have been driven for six years. As she is a total star I decided to get a cart. I got a book to read then went to my neighbours and helped them to put their pony to the cart to see where everything went. Then I went and got my pony, harnessed her up, reversed her between the shafts, she didn't object so I attached the cart. I went to her head and told her to walk on and then stop, she was fine so I got hubby to walk with her while I drove. When we got to the end of our drive, hubby told me the road was clear so I pulled out onto the road and he got in and off we went. She loved it!

I absolutely do NOT recommend that anyone else does this! I knew that she is a total angel on the road and 100% in every thing that I've ever asked her to do, so I had made some attempt at safety but it could have gone so wrong.

We have since had lessons with a Carriage Driving Instructor who was appalled at my stupidity - but who agreed that the harness fitted and was correct, that the carriage was appropriate for the horse and had been put to correctly and that the pony is an absolute diamond.


My advice is to get an Instructor to come out and assess your horse first!
 
Erm, statistics prove it is! Just ask the BDS!

The insurance loss adjusters work it out by how many driving accidents they record per year and driving is a miniority acctivity. Yet, they class non competetive driving (ie, a wander down the lane) as being as dangerous as hunting or eventing.
 
I have driven before, I've got a harness somewhere from many moons ago too, just a shame it will be too small, but I know what goes where etc. I do understand driving is ever so slightly risky but I'm sure it can't be any more dangerous than me driving around in my car
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Obviously lots of ground work is the main thing to do to begin with I think, then we can see where it goes from there
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We bought a how to drive kit, with carriage and harness, read the book, watched the DVD and away we went. Use common sence and play it by ear, you know your horse best, and you'llbe fine!
 
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