Does anyone drive without a groom?

S

shelley8697

New Member
Aug 12, 2008
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North Somerset
I have been driving on and off for 5 years, but always struggled with a groom so was limited on where and when I could drive.

Does anyone drive alone?

I have thought of downsizing for safety reasons from a large Sec D to a Sec A or shetland, so if anything did go wrong I could cope on my own?????
 
I know people who drive alone but I personally would never do it or suggest that it was a good idea. I think too much of my pony to risk anything happening to him and when things go wrong with a horse and carriage they go quite dramatically wrong - it's not like someone falling off a horse and the horse trotting happily back to the yard.
My pony is 15, I have had him for eight years and he is VERY well mannered and well trained and I never drive out alone, only in the school - at home I have someone on hand to be at his head while I get in and I always shout for them before I get out.
If for any reason he spooked or got a fright with anything at all (and they do - even the very calmest, best behaved ponies get startled occasionally) it could end up a disaster and my pony ruined, and all because I thought I could do it alone.
I have seen people cobble together all sorts of rigs to hold the horse while they put to including pillar posts (probably the safest but need to be wide enough for the carriage!) - one guy I knew drove a pair on his own but he was a bit wild and had enormous confidence that it would never happen to him. It did enventually - he put together two pairs of ponies and they ended up over a hedge in a field! - four ponies ruined!!
Depending on what type of driving you do it should be possible to encourage someone to go out with you - no-one wants to accompany me when I'm schooling (boring) but for exercise round the roads I have quite a few options. A friend of mine offered free livery in return for help while driving. Have you tried an ad in the local feed/tack shops? All that's required really is someone who is a bit horsey who is fit enough to jump in and out of your carriage. Or you could try posting on your local driving club's website or the BHDTA website - they have a forum for just such things. Good luck finding someone - I'm sure it will be easier than finding another pony. :eek:)
 
If I have no backstepper/groom, i tend to long line which is great fun ecpecially using cones, and good practice in steering when walking in a straight line but being to one side of your pony. It is also a great way of keeping fit when you trot a figure of eight! :D
 
I am with Zoonie. I always have someone on hand when I am schooling, and ALWAYS have a groom when out on the road.

I have driven a friends horses alone, well, I say alone, she was in the same field baling, so if I needed help she could be there in a jiffy.

I would never drive a multiple alone, and am such a wuss in the showring, if I have a tandem I take two grooms into the ring.
 
There is also the question of balance and weight. Driving a hefty 15.3hh up hill and down dale requires ballast on the back otherwise we'd be ack over tock before one could say jack robs etc. especially in a 4 wheeler. Yes O.K. could put a bag of cement on the back but it doesn't keep the wheels down if going whoopee round a corner! end up with more than whoopee and why frighten the life out of and ruin a thoroughly fabulous driving nag just because can't get a groom. No groom no drive, groom available drive. R
 
Hell, when I was young, I used to take my Welsh A out alone in her trap, driving in the woodlands! My mum didn't have a clue! She thought "we're going driving" meant I was taking someone with me!! I only ever put my trap over once...................:eek::eek:

Once I got older and more 'sensible' (matter of opinion!) I nearly always drove with a groom, or a 'collared' passenger... it was anyone I could 'nab' sometimes!

Occasionally, I'd go alone, usually if I was doing 'holiday maker drives' (I used to do riding and driving for people staying at our friend's farm cottages on holiday). I used to drive up the lanes to collect them, alone.

I would NOT want to drive on UK roads AT ALL now, I don't think! :eek: Never without a groom or passenger.

I once had 5 firemen with me on my Welsh D's big cart.....!! THAT was fun! :D
 
I can't beat that kis, the best I can do is two policemen. :D :D

It was at the Royal Show, they needed to get the the gate for the start of the show drive and were running, I had a couple of fancy grooms steps on the back of my Phaeton, so told them to jump on and hold tight :D

How about that for a police escort?

You can just make out the step on the left, below the rear light

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Thanks for all your input, We have a small farm track that goes in a loop around our yard That I was thinking about driving solo, but I wouldn't go on the roads alone.... don't like hacking much anymore because of the traffic!!!

We have a school to driving in too, but finding a groom/passenger is going to be tuff work.......:confused:
 
This is them, they are a pair of Haflinger stallions, father and son.

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This fellow is Merkisayre Jackson, a 37 inch Shetland.

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Wow, now that I look closer it's clear that they are much bigger. They are fanastic!

It's great to see the Shetland too.... I would love a turnout like that, it's a credit to you to see such imaculate set of turnouts and to see a fit and well muscled shettie.

Have you found it difficult to get together you shetland turnout?
 
It isn't hard to find two Shetlands who will work happily together.

Andy and Charlie used to be a pair, but a bit enthusiastic.

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They are half brothers.

However I decided they'd be better in a tandem, and they work much, much better in a tendem than ever they do in a pair.

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But I have put together many, many Shetland pairs and combinations without any bother at all.


The washer women
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Froggie and Norman
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Whiffy and Rinky Dink
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Andrew and Whiff.
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Froggie and whiff.

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Rinky Dink and Nemo
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Rinky Dink, Whiffy and Andrew

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Yup, they were, father and son, and every inch gentlemen.

Sadly both dead now, dear boys, both of them.
 
We drive our psir of 32" Minis to a Hartland MiniSport. I've got a photo of them with it somewhere but here's them with the previous carriage.

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I drive Maggie alone....mostly because she is a miniature horse and I do not want her to lug more than me and her cart.
Have had her a long time and we know each other well.
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At some point.. I hope to pair Maggie up with her daughter. Then I could have more than me in a carriage.
 
A fit pair of Shetlands are like a fit pair of any other breed of horse. 25 miles, once fit wouldn't be a problem for them.

We have a Hartland Shetland sport too, it's a great little vehicle, and light enough for a 42 inch stocky fellow to pull by himself with 2 adults and 2 kids.

this is it set up for a pair, we take it to exercise cart classes and have done okay in the ring with it.
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