How many people drive their horses/ponies?

[ShariN]

OK,,, So how many people drive their horse's and ponys?
What kind of carts and or carriages do you use? Favorite harness?

Right now my mini mare Maggie is trained to cart and scaled down draft work.
Her daughter has just started her training but weather is slowing it down a lot.
My Fjord mare is trained to drive but I sadly do not have a cart big enough for her.
Will have to post pictures later as I am not at my computer.

Have a Zilco Harness for Maggie....and a Draft leather working harness.
I have a Draft Collar and Hames for my Fjord but have yet to put it on her.
If I became rich.. I would want a California soft collar for Maggie and Theia and would love a Traditional Norwegian Harness for my fjord.:D

[old_woman]

What is a California Soft collar? Pictures or URLS? I have driven a good deal in the past and have always though it is something I could do when I can no longer get my leg over ... http://www.cosgan.de/images/more/bigs/c020.gif

[iloveshearer]

...

[ShariN]

The California Soft collar was an invention of a wonderful young lady named Breanna for he mini mare she drives CDE in the VSE division.

It is different than the Euro collar because it truely fits a miniature horse's shape and size.

These are the folks that Breanna has them make them for mini horses...but there is a waiting list.
http://www.tanglewood-farms.com/Index_files/page0010.htm

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid211/p7b440535e2bb5fb049a32a904e14be42/ed949660.jpg

[ShariN]

Maggie pictures....
She is a fading Liverschestnut hence her color change...and you will see different wheels on the same cart.:D

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/Bergere/maggiebrandyincart1sept06.jpg

http://hometown.aol.com/autumnhaus/images/bmaggiecartfrontviewgoodmarch05.jpg

http://hometown.aol.com/autumnhaus/images/maggieincartgoodmay05.jpg

My fjord mare just before I bought her
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/Bergere/dustenaidriving.jpg

[Alfies-slave]

I drive my Clydesdale pair ( I have a 3 yyo Clydesdale in training.) My trad cob drives, so does my son's shetlad!

Harness, you can't beat Zilco! I hate cleaning leather, I won't ever have another leather harness. Guess it is different where you are, in England you spend most of winter with a pile of soggy, muddy leather!

Carts, Bennington! You can't beat the quality. They cost more than most but they are worth it.

I think it is best to buy the best that you can afford. Whatever it is fit and safety should be the top of the list.

[Libbyo]

My 14.2 black irish cob drives, and Im looking out for a fjord to drive as well.

Libbyo :)

[jinglejoys]

Presuming Mules are allowed in:D ? This is Blue in her Saddlechariot


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jinglejoys/cid_001e01c702cbb9e4e1707a1a8351you.jpg

That softcollor looks like a Broller.John Rollings used to drive his little mule Pepper in one.

[ShariN]

I

Harness, you can't beat Zilco! I hate cleaning leather, I won't ever have another leather harness. Guess it is different where you are, in England you spend most of winter with a pile of soggy, muddy leather!

.

Ha!.... Don't you know we have water lines on our socks we get sooo wet!!
NW Oregon is very wet, rather like the most wet area of the UK. As per Hubby and his UK born Mum.;)

I prefer the Zilco in this clime but they do not make work harnesses.... while they are well oiled I normally only use them when I know it will not rain.:D

Jinglejoys...could you PM me on how much your saddle Chariot cost? Would love to get some idea because I would really like to get one at some point.

[jinglejoys]

"Jinglejoys...could you PM me on how much your saddle Chariot cost? Would love to get some idea because I would really like to get one at some point."
Have done ShariN :D
http://naturaldriving.co.uk/content_home.php
this is Simon's Website which he's just updated

[Libbyo]

That is so cool. Im going to email the guy to enquire about the cost. Looks great fun too!

Libbyo :)

[ShariN]

I have emailed him twice in the last two weeks and have not heard a peep.
Let me know if you hear from him.

[Wally]

I am in the middle of making my show harness for next years Private Driving shows.

I decided to make it a bit fancy, and am now regretting it as I have a lot of fancy stiching to do! I should have gone for plain and simple. Did you know that there is over £200 worth of brass work on a set of Shetland pairs harness, not including bits! That's why harness is expensive!

For every day mucking about I make all my own harness, it gets dunked in buckets of water, scrubbed and oiled, and seems not to mind too much. I have some Zilco that Kina used, and will be Winnie and Essie's in the fulness of time. I do like leather harness, even for trainaing.

[Rowena]

I would LOVE to have one like your Fjord mare is being driven in ShariN!
How many hands is she, and does one need a certain kind of cart for size of horse?

Jinglejoys: your horse chariot is really far-out! :D I would love to know what that feels like to drive in...
is there a risk of falling out the back door at a swift take off?

[ShariN]

Wally...would love to see pictures of the harness you are making!!

Rowena,
That is a homemade version of the Easy Entry cart. Dustenai is a solid 13.3 hands tall.
When contacting a cart seller..you would just let them know what breed/height and so on your pony is...and they should be able to match you with the correct length shafts and wheel height.

[Sarah-B]

I drive Crofter, he is a 14.3HH Connemara X - this was us in the summer:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c83/Saxon-Clydie/Horses/DrivingCrofter.jpg

We drive a Randall gig and our harness is old but serviceable leather. We went for a short drive this afternoon - haven't driven in a while) and the harness was all green and mouldy!! :eek:

Gave it a wipe over and attached our festive brass harness bells and off we went - got soaked we did!!

Will have to give the harness a good clean :o

I'd like a four wheeled vehicle so the whole family can fit in and a Brollar or Empathy Collar would be nice too....

[Wally]

Andrew pants has a brollar, he uses it for the RDA cart and his 4 wheeler, not a bad design. He seems to get on well with his.

[jinglejoys]

I would LOVE to have one like your Fjord mare is being driven in ShariN!
How many hands is she, and does one need a certain kind of cart for size of horse?

Jinglejoys: your horse chariot is really far-out! :D I would love to know what that feels like to drive in...
is there a risk of falling out the back door at a swift take off?

No more than you would when riding:D and if you are that worried you can always hold on to the handle hoop in front (Personally I just grip with my knees its an instinctive reaction.

I love that fiord too that mane is to die for!!:D

[Wally]

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f177/sprimble/Kina.jpg
Here's Kina, our Fjord off on a jaunt, with a vet student we had for the summer.


http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f177/sprimble/IMG_3969.jpg
And Andrew and Charles on a racing start. The power here was so much that they snapped a pin on the sprung pole. I had to send of to get a new one. Anyone not firmly sitting in the vehicle would have been out the back door. The back stepper, courtesy of Esther .D, knew just what to expect from two pocket rockets. But he had grab handles to hold, not the horse's mouths.






When driving Andrew Pants and Charles Buttons Esq. Grip all you like you'll go out the back door on a racing start! or you end up jabbing them in the mouth un expectedly.

Being an old fart, driving wise, and having driven about the place a fair bit, how does one maintain control while holding on to a handle while driving?

[ShariN]

Wally... one handed! One hand on the reins and one hand on the handle!
Have been teaching Maggie to drive with me holding the reins in one hand...so do able but takes lots of practice.:D

Your Fjord is Lovely! Do not see Fjords with uncropped manes much. And looks like you have a nice quiet area to drive!
What carts and carriages do you like?

Sarah Crofter is pretty!

[Wally]

I teach and recommend coachman rein handling, which requires the main control to come from the left hand, supported by the right. But in moments of, "full speed ahead", you need both hands to steer, and control, especially in traffic.

If you need to use the whip to keep the horses straight, or distract them, and you already have the reins in your left hand, what else are you left to hold on with if you have no backrest?

I drive tandem and unicorn too, which involves 4 reins in your left hand, whip in the right, plus right hand support, I only have two hands and nothing spare to grab on with.

It is far easier and demonstrated over 100's of years, that if you press down with your feet, you lighten your hands and stabilise your position.

We have a Beiinington for the bigger guys, a Highgate for the smaller ones for exercise and messing about, a Driving Bug, for the smaller ones, a Randall , whicj is the RDA cart, and a Hartland for pairs , singles and multiples as a 4 wheeler.

I have just commissioned a 4 wheel private driving vehicle for pairs and teams, it is a wooden, varnished waggonette, that won't be ready until Feb. looking forward to getting it......hope I wil have had enough time to finish my posh harness by then.

This is the first day we put the unicorn together, Andrew Pants in the Lead, Whiffy and Rinky Dink in the wheel.

[ShariN]

<LOL> Wally... can't help you then...other than maybe and anchor off the back until you get sorted out. Must be super firey!!

Oh....would I ever love more carts and carriages!! Will have to look some of those up because I have never heard of them. You have so many more options on carts and carriages. By the time we pay the shipping fees & Etc... on some of the nicely made British ones the price is through the roof. Sigh ~ ~

Neat picture! I plan to drive my mini's Tandem once Theia gets some more ground training on her and a bit of time in the cart on her own. At the rate I am going on the trainig...will be next winter by the time I get to that point.

[ShariN]

<smacking forehead!!> I used to use a Marathon Seat belt when my son was younger to keep him safely in the cart and know of adults that use it during CDE.
Wally, I bet a Marathon seat belt would keep you in place.;)

[Wally]

No more than you would when riding and if you are that worried you can always hold on to the handle hoop in front (Personally I just grip with my knees its an instinctive reaction.
Posted by Jinglejoys.

I do not have any bother if the horses take off suddenly or shy as I have my feet firmly planted and a back rest, leaving me both hands free at all times.

[Esther.D]

I used to use a leadrope round my waist and held by the groom when competing as it can be a bit alarming when they behave like Wally's are above over very rough ground ;) or just when the going is so rough and you are going so fast you are likely to get literally bounced out :eek: but other than that I'm with Wally on the tried and tested method :)

[Esther.D]

Oh and on the driving subject here is Polo this summer, photo courtesy of Wally, aged 20 and in his first private driving class (exercise cart class)....we were 4th as he got overexcited and wouldn't stand still :o but we did win the cones to make up for it :D (club driving trials were our thing, he is the surviving half of my competition pair)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c84/EstherD/polo-2-at-viking1.jpg

[jinglejoys]

I don't use the handle either but some people like to know its there.I don't need a backrest either (Funny I don't need one when I'm riding too:D )
Never heard of a Marathon seat belt .I thought the point of the groom was they could get out of the cart in a hurry (providing they weren't thrown out first) so presuming the seat belt is like a car one how do you get to move that fast? (Hate car seat belts!!!:) )

[Esther.D]

The groom holds one end of the belt, it is not fastened :) They are used by almost all competition drivers these days

I can see where with a handle on the saddlechariot you wouldn't need a backrest, but on a normal vehicle you certainly do!

[jinglejoys]

Hmm I do love that little palamino coloured fella with a PROPER mane and tail :D
I had a lovely roan Connamara and spent ages working on his main and tail at school then while I was in a class riding (under sufferance)someone elses pony they "Tidied" up his mane to plaiting length (Horrid) I was so angry:eek:

[Wally]

The goorm is not allowed to get down on the marathon and hazards, if he does you are eliminated.

As Esther says, when you are driving like the Devil himself you need a backrest otherwise you could end up givine the ponies a nast jab in the mouth.

[ShariN]

Esther, love the photo.:D Nice shetland you have there and looks like he is a joy to drive!

[joey_olop]

I would like to but every time Blackie goes near a cart he thinks its some kind of demon, may have to re-think it :D

[jinglejoys]

I know that Wally I was just referring to the emergancies the groom is there to prevent.
Don't have any problems with jabbing in the mouth because I'm secure on my seat also,as I say just grip with your knees:D (But bitless also prevents this, I try to drive as I would ride and I hope I never jab my ridden Hinny in the mouth--poor Sarah-lee would never forgive me bless her)

[Wally]

Esther, love the photo. Nice shetland you have there and looks like he is a joy to drive!


That's not what Esther was saying to him in the line up waiting for the judge.

Considering we were supposed to be the most experienced, our horses were being a bit bouncy. My pair thought it was a race, Polo thought it was a race too, but backwards, and Whiffy, who actually got a faster cone time than Polo got elimintated for being an opinionated ratbag at the start. She did behave for the show bit though and came second.

[jinglejoys]

Wally there's someone on the "other disciplins" site asking for starting out advice.

[ShariN]

That's not what Esther was saying to him in the line up waiting for the judge.



:D OK... should of said.... he looks very nice in that picture and a joy to drive in that moment of time.:D

Am sure all of us have talked to our horses, about becoming nice fur rugs and horse roasts..when they misbehave.;)

[jinglejoys]

Salami is a popular word with my lot--they usually get the message....and ignore me completely:D

[Rowena]

My oh my, but you chaps certainly turn out beautifully in harness!!! :D

These pictures are so inspiring...
Wally: that little pair of black and white ponies racing off to a good start are more than adorable.

There is not a single example I would not like to emulate.
Very,very inspirational...

Do you think ponies are easier to drive than horses (less to handle)?
Or is that rather like beginner riders imagining than the smaller the horse size the easier to ride...:rolleyes:

[Esther.D]

Polo is a complete sweetheart generally to drive and was driving beautifully but as Wally says....I was not happy with him in the line-up :rolleyes: ...the excitement got to his head and he was bouncing and going backwards at speed! :o They don't get more sensible as they get older :D

It took a long time to make him so nice to drive - many hours of schooling and work went into him, but they paid off as he is so easy now (except for the backwards moments.......:rolleyes: ) but in no way a plod..

I broke him to drive myself when he was 7 and have driven him ever since....he is now 20, after that many years you get to know each other pretty well ;)

[Esther.D]

They are different to drive than horses that is probably the best way to put it Rowena. As for harder/easier it depends on the individual - I have driven difficult Shetlands and easy horses and vice-versa. Also their behaviour under saddle isn't necessarily the same as driven - I have known horses daft under saddle be good in harness and the opposite.

[ShariN]

Think the small ones are less threating to many people. They are easier to harness...as their harness is much lighter.

Only reason I haven't harnessed up my Fjord to drag logs is that leather work harness is a good 50lbs! Even on a 13.3 hand Fjord.. I can't do it myself any more.

The mini's work Harness is maybe 5lbs at most and the Zilco even less. I can also fit many more mini carts in my Garage. Did I ever tell you my Garage is a nice Carriage house now.:D

Even Maggie, as well trained as she is in harness...she can get bouncy when she wants to get going. She loves her job and just can't understand why I take so longgggg.:rolleyes: Since I have trained her and we have been together so long...she knows how much she is allowed to push it before she gets in trouble. Checky wee thing she is...but lots of fun!


Esther, Polo sounds like a really nice gelding...very pretty too.
From the pictures is doesn't look like you have to worry about cars much. Bet that is very nice!!

[jinglejoys]

Is modern working Harness that heavy ShariN? The Sweh Harness I've seen looks lighter as its made with modern materials although I admit I've not had a lift of it as I'm not "into" logging:D just like looking at harness ideas

[jinglejoys]

Sorry thats meant to read Swedish Harness (Must get these letters stuck back on the keyboard!:D )

[Rowena]

Only reason I haven't harnessed up my Fjord to drag logs is that leather work harness is a good 50lbs! Even on a 13.3 hand Fjord.. I can't do it myself any more.


Crikey!
I never even considered that (major) detail...

Is the harness all connected (as would a bridle) in one piece?

How on earth does anybody manage this kind of 'tacking-up' on a regular basis?:eek:

How do the rest of you manage?

[Esther.D]

Work harness is heavy, but 'ordinary' harness isn't. The collar or breastcollar, bridle and reins are separate but everything else is attached together. I started driving at 13 and didn't have a problem even then, even when driving horses so I think it is a problem specific to work harnesses with heavy pads, full collars and often chain traces. I used to carry mine 2.5 miles to the ponies field and back either on foot or on a bike!

[Skye08]

i drive shads in miriams harness, miriams liverpool bit lol and when its on the road miriams exercise cart (FANKS MIM) :p

[ShariN]

Is modern working Harness that heavy ShariN? The Sweh Harness I've seen looks lighter as its made with modern materials although I admit I've not had a lift of it as I'm not "into" logging:D just like looking at harness ideas

Yes, they are that heavy, here is a picture of what that work harness looks like. Not my ponies though. Hames and all the harness are attached and no way to put only in pieces. Collar and bridle are the only single pieces. So it is different than pleasure harness.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/Bergere/team1.jpg

Now I used to be able to handle this kind of harness when younger and wasn't a gimp at the time...but now it is just too much.

[Esther.D]

Goodness that looks even heavier than the work harnesses I was thinking of :eek: I can see why you struggle with that!

[Wally]

I take back what I said about my show harness, compared to that mine will look positively boring and plain!

The racing start that my two did is not a good thing to emulate as the power they produced in that split second surge broke a metal pin in the sprung pole! We finished the round with the pole un secured, thankfully with no ill effects!

Shetlands are less intimidating, I suppose, folk who are learning to drive seem to feel more at ease driving Andy than they would Kina, but, if anything she is far less likely to play you up.

Charlie is not a novice drive at all, the last time I let someone drive him, who was improving her skills, having been driving for just over a year, managed to do the short side of the school with him on his hind legs! Not something I have managed yet. Esther.D I'd quite like it if you'd see if you can drive him or whether I have made a one man pony like your chap!

Andy and Charlie, in pairs, are not an easy combination either, they have the combined pulling power, and I mean in your hands, as some big 16hh horses I have ridden. ....and they can keep that up, mile after mile, this is where your foot rest and back rest come in, as you have to counterbalance two keen nags hauling on you with your body weight sometimes.

[Miriam]

I dont have any pics of Rhi driving since I lost my pics but a friend (and her new owner) does.


At the moment I have to fix her cart (which is now stuck at the back of the barn behind the bales of hay after my YO ran over the shaft with his tractor


My new horse Peter does not drive but hopefully when the summer comes round I'll start to break him in again as concentrating on his dressage at the moment

[Miriam]

i drive shads in miriams harness, miriams liverpool bit lol and when its on the road miriams exercise cart (FANKS MIM) :p

Must get that cart fixed. Wonder if Neil has remembered that he is supposed to be unbending the shaft he bent :mad:

[Dinsarsio]

I drive a welsh cob who is a big lad and wears a full size English leather harness.He drives a Bennington Gig in the summer and a phase three two wheeler in the forest and in the winter.It is amazing how much better it goes in the forest as opposed to the roads.He is very steady and very safe.
I also drive my little sec a pony in a little exercise cart and a little leather harness.We have modified the trap a little.He isn`t as steady as the cob but is safe and very quick.He loves his driving and hates being ridden although is very good with the little ones doing lead rein.

25875 This was us on sunday doing a
xmas drive in the forest.Abbiegirl
is the co pilot:)
I had lost the beard and sions antlers
had gone but he still had a red nose

[ShariN]

Ouch Miriam....if he is smart he would be fixing your shaft! Maybe you need to leave little notes all over the place reminding him.:D
Do you have an older photo?

Dinsarsio, you have one nice looking Cob! Love the santa outfits!!! Bet it is very pretty driving in the woods.

[Wally]

Judging by that video of him driving, he looks as if he could pull a house down, complete with Santa et al in the cart. He's not small is he?

[Miriam]

Ouch Miriam....if he is smart he would be fixing your shaft! Maybe you need to leave little notes all over the place reminding him.:D
Do you have an older photo?

.



Managed to find one but I'm not so sure how to downsize it :(


Hahaha it took him a month or so to even confess he did it. it was not until I mentioned it to him that he said "Oh I think that was me". I dont think what he realises is that he has now damaged the shaft and it will leave it weak

[Esther.D]

tried to attach some photos of Rhi I had for you miriam, and found they were already here : http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47129

old ones but they do show what Rhi is like :)

[Miriam]

Thanks Esther. I did wonder if you still had some of her. I do miss driving sometimes :D