Driving to riding??

[Skye08]

I was wondering if anyone has had any similar experiences with having to try and make your horse perform aswell ridden as he does driven?? Shads has a certain "sparkle" when in the cart and i want to be able to capture it when he is being ridden. Yesterday me and my friend (who is a riding instructor) were trying to teach him to relax as he is rather tense (all my fault i am afraid) and i really want him to be good under saddle as well as under harness... if you know what i mean?

[ANN H]

When I got Misty 3 1/2 years ago she had been a driving horse but was advertised as a ride/drive. It was only when I'd had her for a few weeks that I'd realised she'd been ridden VERY little. From what different people have said to me, its notoriously difficult to re-educate a driving horse to be ridden. Its taken me three years, some heartache and a very good instructor! Obviously other people may have had an easier time of it with their horses, but this is just my experience. She may not be the most perfectly schooled horse in the world, but I wouldn't part with her for anything.