Ride AND drive?

[Cathy Reynolds]

Anyone got any views on whether I could risk Benny with more driving (he has had some training when about 2/3 - he is now 6 and I have his old kit + access to a training rig) whilst Hannah is still a real novice at riding him. I have had contrary views - drivers say it's fine to combine the two, riding instructors suck their teeth and say he will get too strong.

I ITCH to drive him - I'd have to get some training (though I have ploughed and harrowed with a horse in harness in my time, I haven't actually 'driven') but we have a top UK driving centre only 10 miles away, a very active branch of the British Driving Society that are completely non-snobbish, and the owner of our livery yard drives - he has a young pony just starting out and a lovely coloured cob, too.

I have done some long reining with Benny which he is really good about - he is being a pain in the neck with napping when we leave the yard, even when on long reins, so I need to get him through this first but..........

[Silvia]

I know many people who ride and drive their horses and they seem to distinguish the two activities pretty well. I don't think it would be a problem for Hannah or Benny.

[liz--y]

go for it loads of people ride and drive

[floppy]

the haflinger i ride is a ride and drive horse. Only thing is she loves driving more than hacking or schooling...the schooling part is understadnble because she inst schooled much int he arena..everything is done out on hacks...
But she is a very sensible horse at the age of 6..she can be extremely lazy when out alone..and when you canter its a noraml canter...she has a lovely trot form being used for driving.
The only time you discover the power she has developed from doing alot of driving is when you hack out with her and her driving pal and when you go to the safe glalop stretches and give the horses there head and then they really run!!
i think it's wally that has a cob that is used for driving and i believe general riding too!

[Sharon H]

Go for it! The only thing is, if he gets quite fit driving, will the rider find him too much to ride?

[Miriam]

I have recently broke my pony into drive which means she is now a ride and drive pony. My young daughter (6) is just starting to handle her off the lead rein and she seems to behave very well still. I also used to exercise a ride and drive who was better at driving than riding. Whilst being rode he would spook at anything but whilst he was driven he was good. That however was just his nature.

[floppy]

i dont htin kthe horse would be too difficult to handle if you introduce driving..aslong as you keep up the general riding.
my haffie is a better drive than ride and rarely spooks! in fact tuesday was the first time she had spooked in for teh past few montsh..and it was only because a bicycle suddenly appeared behind her from nowhere...
i woudl ask wally!

[Gill]

Hi Cathy, I think you should definitely try it. You are lucky to have good sources of help at hand. My Highland mare has been broken to drive and when I first went to try her we had a quick spin. It was great fun! She is very enthusiastic, my poor daughter was nearly bounced off the back step of the buggy. Now I would like to learn to drive but need to find somewhere to do so. It seems a pity to waste that aspect of her training.

[Wally]

There is no reason on earth why a driving pony should be any stronger than a riding pony, shows thier ignorance!

Go for it, train him to drive, it's so much fun, My Haffy is ride and drive, Fat Cob is ride and drive, If he ever becomes strong while ridden I'll give him to the instructor that reckons it makes them strong!!

[Wally]

Here's a picture of my two stallions in harness. I assure you if they had been strong nobody could have stopped them!

[Wally]

This is how I spent my weekends earning a few quid. I used to drive this horse round Birmingham ring roads in the rush hour!! Yes, I know, I was off my tiny rocker!

[Silvia]

I love the picture of the two Haflingers! Very pretty horses.
And still there are so many people who say you can't drive a pair of stallions. You cartainly prove them wrong!

[Sarah]

Wow Wally, you certainly know a lot about turnout! Your crew just look simply fantastic!

[floppy]

wally, are both the haffie stallions yours???
i thought you only had one?
both beautiful anyway like the haffie i ride :)

[Miriam]

Wally they are beautiful. Even my son likes these two.

[Wally]

I only have the one now, he's 28. Stow belongs to a wife in Worcs now, he must be about 20 now! Still acts like a 4 year old! Strauss is semi retired but still up for a laugh, at his rider's expence.

Attached is Strauss when he was younger in singles.

[Hayleyb277]

I love the picture of the haffies Wally, my next door neighbours are BDS judges and Sharon successfully competes one of her ponies at dressage as well as driving the pony in singles and tandem. She uses ridden dressage to improve paces for driven dressage.

[floppy]

my haffie has a lovely trot from driving...not only by feel but when you watch her trot its brilliant!
it is her best gait. :) she couldnt care less for walk or canter :D

[Cathy Reynolds]

All right you've convinced me. Thanks. If we ever look one tenth as good as those Haffies Wally I shall be really chuffed! We met Polly the cob out pulling the trap the other day, and Hannah thought it looked really exciting. I have arranged for her to have her first ride in the trap as a birthday treat - a suprise for next month. Driving expert I was trying to remember the name of is John Parker. I cleaned every stitch of driving tack yesterday - took it to pieces to see what was what.

My brother in Durham desperately needs hay for his goats (no-one has any except on farms with F & M - I can't IMAGINE why he isn't too keen on that idea!) so I shall hire a Transit van, take up a load of hay and bring back the sulky.

[Sharon H]

Cor, lucky you! I'd give my right arm to live near John Parker. Definately don't waste any more time get going and happy driving:cool:

[patand3dogs]

I have a beautiful older Morgan, Alex Bay, and he was schooled in riding english/western and driving. I don't see any reason not to do it all with him. I ride Alex western and am about to begin to start with a cart we just purchased for him. My brother in law had a stroke last year and can't ride, so I thought he would enjoy being a passenger in the cart. We might even compete...just for fun of course.
Good Luck,

Pat Gardner

[Cathy Reynolds]

I had my first lesson in tacking up a driving pony this morning at the farm. So Hannah and I got our tack out this afternoon, worked out how to put it on Benny (not a murmur out of him!), so H put on hat and protector and walked by his side and we took him out on the road and track for 10 minutes on the reins. What a pony - he hadn't seen a pair of blinkers for three years (he is 6) - and he was as good as gold.

Now we have to start reining without a 'lead' - this should be fun!

[Gill]

Well done Cathy, not to mention Benny. I am hoping my six year old will be as good when we start her again. In the mean time I am having my lessons with another older pony and really enjoying it. Now that the hay is in we can go in the 11 acre field and practise turns etc.