wow driveing!

[Kanuma]

well today was interesting!
webt to my school show and there was a driveing display on! it was lovely, then at the end of it they brought out this little sec A and trap and let some of us have a go at driveing!
i got to have a go!!!! it was sooooooo much fun! im now sizeing up which of my lot would be suitable to be put in harness! ive already got a friend who will break it to harness for me!!(this might turnout to be an expensive new discipline!!!) arab in harness anyone??
i had so much fun on my little 10 min jaunt in the trap!!

[Miriam]

I hung up my driving jacket not so long ago and sold Rhi. Since then I have driven twice and have really enjoyed both times

[Esther.D]

Glad you enjoyed it! No reason why you can't drive an arab, but does need to be calm and predictable to be safe in harness, so needs to be a fairly sane and sensible arab :)

[Kanuma]

hmm maybe not then!! sane is not a word used in the same sentance as Rian!
might have the old welsh b broken to harness, he is predictable, and although he is old he still thinks he is 3!

[Wally]

Read Sally Walronds experiences of training her Arab Stallion to harness, if she can train him then you can train yours!

[Esther.D]

Thats true Wally, I had forgotten about Ali! I amend that to 'it is possible but might take a while and be a little *interesting* along the way' ;) :D He did come out as a top level driving horse in the end though despite being a little *interesting* to break to drive..

[Kanuma]

we are exploreing other options then rideing for the arab as we believe he may have severely damaged his pelvis, he is fine inhand but is in pain when ridden, dont want to haved him PTS but at the moment weve exausted almost every avenue with him. he is going to leahurst soon to have xrays of his pelvis and spine (looking specificly for kissing spine). we cant afford to have a field ornament that is as young as him so i was wondering if driveing would be an option?
does it put pressure on the pelvis or loins?

[Esther.D]

It should be alright Kanuma, as far as I can think...nothing in the nature of the twisting you get when a rider mounts or rides unbalanced. The hindquarters act as the 'engine' for impulsion just as in riding, and they are the 'brakes' when they sit back into the breeching going down hill. but that should not affect the pelvis at all.

'Breaking a horse to harness' by Sallie Walrond is a good starting point for info and I think it is in there she refers to working with Ali her arab stallion.

[Kanuma]

ive not got any form of experiance with driveing so i wont be brakeing him myself! a friend has offered to do it for me as she does it proffesionaly. she has offered to do it for free for us in return for helping her with her wedding carriage service if she ever needs us to! so i thought that would be better as she can teach me to drive properly at the same time!

[Esther.D]

I was just suggesting the book to give you an idea whether he might take to it or not? :) Sounds like a good arrangement with your friend :) You can always see how he goes with the initial stages and then play it by ear from there..

[Kanuma]

i will see if i can get hold of the book then!
we will probably start with him after we get his xrays done

[Esther.D]

You can generally get hold of it through the library, it is a classic on the subject and gives a step by step breakdown. It is aimed at people breaking their own, but I thought having a flick through to give you an idea of what is involved might help as you will know him better than your friend (I assume) and would be able to anticipate and forewarn her which sections he might have issues with :)

[Kanuma]

thanks will go and have a look for it!