Trying a driving horse. Scary.

[Libbyo]

This week, in my quest to find a forward going driving horse I went out to a yard advertising two such 14.2's.

Got there really nice beasties.

I cannot now belive my own stupidity.

I let the guy tack one up and put to his carriage, hopped on and off we went. Horse was a bit silly, but we went anyway. His yard is on an A road, but he assured me they were very bomproof on the roads.

He trotted down the road, , we swapped and I drove. Pony was very nosy, very forward etc. This seamed good. we got to a junction to turn right. Horse would not stand still. Turned right up the lane now a country road. Horse was jigging by now being silly. Would not respond to my voice at all. Told the guy I was not interested so we turned back. Horse spooked on the way back, but it was OK.

Once back the guy tells me he has not done much driving before and just goes with the flow!

I took the horse into the indoor school, and started to make it work properly. It did know how, just couldnt be bothered.

He said he was oating it up because he wanted it to burn energy. He also told me to make it go foerwards he was cantering it up the hills on the A road!

I left the yard, when he tokld me neither horse had any passports etc.

I am so lucky to be around today. It could have been even more dangerous than it was.

Ive never thought to ask the sellers credientials before trying a horse! Will now though. On the pluss side. I realised I can cope with a much more forward horse than I thought!

Where do people look for properly broken competitive driving horses?

Lesson learned.

Libbyo :)

[Wally]

Where do people look for properly broken competitive driving horses?


Where do people go to look for proper RIDING horses. 'Tis the same problem.

[Libbyo]

Riding wise I suposer Ive just been lucky then! Am going to ask around at the carriage fair in Ardingly tomorrow. Any one else going?

Libbyo :)

[Alfies-slave]

The most scary test drives I have had have been on the troting lane at Appleby fair!

Anyway, when you are trying a driving horse start off by making sure you harness it up. You can tell a lot from simply putting the harness on. Look for indications that the horse is used to it! If it goes "oooh, whats this" proceed with caution.

Watch the owner drive he horse first. If they say its bombproof, watch THEM drive it through heavy trafic etc. DON'T put yourself in to an unknown situation with an unknown horse. Check that any equipment is up to the job and fits.

The types who sell driving horses fallin to two main types... those who do everything by the book and those whos survival defys all reason! I know people who have spent 2 hours breaking a horse to drive before selling it as a driving horse.

Have a good look at its legs. Look for signs of use. The areas of main concern with driving horses are legs and shoulders.

[Libbyo]

He was a cat 2 blokey! GRRRR

[lisae]

Oh you are so right with your two types!

I remember years ago before I had bought my own horse, watching my sister's father inlaw harness a pony he had just bought at an auction, this pony just came off the delivery trailer, and said gent had pulled an old harness out of the barn and tied it together with baling string - rotten baling string at that- and told everyone that to train a horse to drive all you had to do was point it down the lane and keep it going forward full tilt!

Off he went down the lane in a cloud of dust and somehow both he and the equine survived....