What do you think of my potential leaders?

Lovely. Enjoyed watching - it's always lovely to see what other equestrians do. My husband said he'd be a bag of nerves if he had to do what you do :-)
 
I DID enjoy that drive with you, thank you so much for sharing. I haven't driven for over 40 years but used to own a ride and drive as a child in Lincs. when I'd go out for hours around Riseholme/Nettleham/Fiskerton with a friend, taking a picnic with us. She also had a ride and drive. Tremendous fun. Very happy days!
Yours make a super pair and it is obvious how tuned in they are and how much they enjoy their work. They are so well behaved, a credit to you - and well done Miller!
 
I've noticed before on your vids, is there a reason you don't wait for oncoming traffic when the parked cars are on your side of the road, ergo it is their right of way?
 
V impressed, but what really fascinated me was that it gave a real sense of being a proper horse's eye view of what it's like being out and about....no idea why it should be different from a normal headcam, but it is!
 
Thanks everyone. I can't believe how easily these two have taken to it. I knew I could rely on Bobby, but it's been astonishing to watch Miller fix his ears on me and listen and obey every word. He learned voice commands at backing 4-5 years ago, but he's a very clever pony to apply it - you can see in the video that he's not following the more experienced pony in turns and transitions - he's usually a fraction faster!

Can't recommend barefoot driving highly enough - much better traction. Wouldn't work if you're on stony tracks most of the time, and perhaps not for massive mileages. I regularly do 10-15 without a problem. Neither of those ponies have ever had a shoe on :)
 
ester said:
I've noticed before on your vids, is there a reason you don't wait for oncoming traffic when the parked cars are on your side of the road, ergo it is their right of way?
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The camera does not sometimes give the whole picture - I don't bulldoze my way through. There's some kind of indication from the other driver that he's letting me through. :)

Even in a car, the parked car priority situation is not quite so clear cut in our little town. The locals all give way or not based on whether there is a passing place part way, who's heading out of town, how determined / confident the other fellow looks etc. Add to this the safety factor, and yes, I definitely prefer to take the priority if it's offered, especially with a more novice pony - stopping in tight traffic introduces a much higher risk of dropping backwards, slewing sideways on a start, unsettling the pony etc. Most drivers aren't quite sure what to do when they meet a horse drawn vehicle, so I have found it is preferable to be very clear and purposeful in my own driving, to help others to 'treat me like a car'.

Imagine the scenario where I give way to the oncoming traffic in a marginal situation. The polite driver coming towards me would (eventually) enter the narrowed road, leaving me with no clear road ahead (if anything goes wrong, this is bad).
Any vehicle behind me will like likely try to overtake, straight into the oncoming car, with nowhere to go, or worse, try to overtake as I am pulling out from a standstill, despite my arm-indicator, and run straight into the off-side of my horse. I have no rear-view mirror, remember, and must focus on not clipping the corner of that parked car as we move off.
 
Loved that video...lovely ponies bless them :)
I know nothing about driving so please excuse my ignorance but can I ask the reason the less experienced pony was closer to the traffic? Does one "lead" better on the other side?? X
 
Good question SLH. The camber of the road means that the near side horse always has to work a little harder to keep the carriage running straight, so that role goes to the stronger of the two.

You're right that traffic-sensitivity would be a consideration. In this case, it was unlikely that Miller would be bothered by the traffic (as you can see, he doesn't flinch), but I didn't know that he would pull on as strongly as he does, so gave the harder job to Bobby, at least to start with.
 
pennyturner said:
Good question SLH. The camber of the road means that the near side horse always has to work a little harder to keep the carriage running straight, so that role goes to the stronger of the two.

You're right that traffic-sensitivity would be a consideration. In this case, it was unlikely that Miller would be bothered by the traffic (as you can see, he doesn't flinch), but I didn't know that he would pull on as strongly as he does, so gave the harder job to Bobby, at least to start with.
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Ahhh that makes sense...thank you :)
I'm fascinated with driving but not ever had the time to have a proper go. It looks like great fun!!
 
Sweet ponies again :) Harness wise do you think if the breeching was shorter then downwards transitions might be easier for them? The pole ran quite forwards at the junction which I don't think helped their straightness/immobility. Take care that you don't let the grey trundle on pushing the black out of his rhythm, we have that a bit with our recently broken pair- one (welsh C sort) likes to trundle on and put his head down and work, but when the other (PBA sort) matches it actually the forwards going one gets outpaced! Our first ever pair had that problem before we bought them (the two ponies on the right of my signature) and ultimately they never made a pair as it wasn't addressed quickly. The outpaced one lost his head for pairs work- fortunately two cracking singles and that gave us the opportunity to get into 4s! I know it's only 4th time out but soon you are going to want to make more use of the opportunities you have for transitions as you will be a bigger unit with the 4 so contact and pace changes will play a big part in safety. Our young boys first run on the roads last weekend ended up being 75% standing chatting to friends in cars :o
 
Thanks Rara. Have already shortened the breeching, lengthened martingales and let out Bobby's back strap a couple holes. This footage was just after fitting a 'proper' harness for the first time (got them going in a home-assembled set involving two awful old part-singles and some old stirrup leathers). It still wasn't quite adjusted correctly, but I was just happy it was the right size.

Paces are interesting for these two. Miller prefers to break to canter early (always does under saddle). Bobby will happily trot at 30mph, but they seem happy enough together. Good advice to watch out for one getting ahead. Biggest mistake I made in the transition from driving single to pair was to allow one to get ahead downhill, with his friend in the breeching. Poor Bobby just parked hard and made me start them off square again. A case of the pony training the driver!

I'm with you on the standing and chatting - although it does clog up the roads a bit. I do like a pony that can be relied upon to stand still.
 
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