Ride and Drive Anyone??

[Gwenllian]

I have a heavyweight Cob mare, who I'm sure would make a lovely Ride and Drive.Any one any idea where to start looking for someone to break her to harness (if I DID decide to, that is) and if there's anything I can do, to make a start, that would help?? Any ideas anyone.

[Wally]

Hopwood Harness Horses used to be in Worcs. Don't know if they are still there. They were VERY professional and produced really good driving horses.

Get in touch with the BDS, Barford, Warwickshire. I think Jenny Dillon is still the Secretary, she will give you a list of trainers in your area.

Rod Ousbey in Stratford used to train horses, and make carts. I think he still has a harness sales room. You could get him to put an ad. in his window.

Caroline Dale-Leach runs courses, she may know somebody, she's in Matlock, Derbys. Very accomplished carriage driver..she taught me. Her harness room competes with the Royal Mews.

It's a start anyway.

[Cathy Reynolds]

You can do some ground work starting with longreining, especially out on the roads, so you DRIVE the horse rather than ride. You could try dragging a tyre - but I wouldn't advise it until fully tacked up. Then you'll need some tack - you can pick up webbing tack quite reasonably. I'd advise the Sallie Walrond books (there are little paperbacks if you can't run to the proper books - though these are brill. - I take them to bed at night - there are two - one about the horse and one about driving!). Learning to hold the reins takes time, it's just HARD. I brought a set of spare riding reins home, tied them onto a dog stairguard set up near my chair in the living room and practised (you use a baking spoon as a whip!). First time I actually managed to turn my hand (Wally will know what I mean!) and Benny changed direction I actually whooped!

You could send the cob off for training (I wouldn't have dared even start if there wasn't someone on our livery yard who (a) drives and (b) is training a youngster - so I slavishly copy and ask for advice) but this is expensive.

Try the BDS site - and there is a really good magazine called Carriage Driving you can order, too. Contact me off the board at reynolmc@waitrose.com with a snail-mail address and I'll send you a couple of copies. There are loads of carriage driving websites that you can find from these mags.