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Post by globetrotter on Oct 11, 2011 11:24:54 GMT
Contact the British Driving Society and see if there is someone experienced in training to drive both you and your pony that is in your area. I am sure you will find that" someone" and happy driving
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Post by zoonie on Oct 11, 2011 13:26:23 GMT
The BHDTA have a list of UKcc coaches on their website who will also be able to help. Where abouts are you? When I'm breaking youngsters I like to do lots of long lining, in harness and blinkers, in all sorts of situations. I stop and chat to neighbours and teach them rein back. I get them used to the lines being around their legs and feet and I get them used to being touched all over with a whip. I then rope in a friend to pull something behind like a wheely bin - they make a great noise! We also take the youngsters out behind the carriage when exercising other horses and when they are pretty much bored with all of this we start them pulling a tyre - you need to make a swingle tree to do this but it's fairly easy. Once they are happy pulling a tyre over various surfaces - concrete, stones etc - we progress to a light pallet then if they are totally comfortable and not before, we introduce them to shafts and then the carriage. There is a lot of this you can do yourself at home to make the job easier and it will help you when learning to drive. I suggest you have a few lessons yourself as it does feel a bit different from riding but the basic principles are exactly the same.
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Post by zoonie on Oct 12, 2011 12:11:57 GMT
Some people use half cup blinker for obstacle driving as it allows the horse to have more vision but still not see wht's behind. You can also get ground view blinkers that are cut away more at the bottom front edge. I think it's a good idea to go out with your friend to get some experience of what it's like
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2011 12:25:10 GMT
Many years ago I fancied driving my ponies, I tried .... but never felt in control so needless to say I didn't continue, I have broken ponies to ride all my life.
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Post by louisegelly on Oct 13, 2011 13:29:25 GMT
Where abouts in the northwest? I have broken a old pony of mine to drive and I also have 2 otheres that drive now. If your close by I could maybe help, I 'm not saying I'm a expert but have a good idea.
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Post by daisychain1 on Oct 13, 2011 23:58:11 GMT
The closest trainer to us is based in bolton and thats a good 2hours away. If this trainer is Margaret Brocky she is well worth a 4hr round trip. She has loads of knowledge and gives you lots of confidence.
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Post by penduk on Oct 14, 2011 18:15:18 GMT
The drawback with Margaret Brockie is that she is so busy finding a day to suit you both could be a problem. however she is definately worth the round trip.
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Post by Sam on Oct 14, 2011 19:29:29 GMT
If you are long reinging, get someone to walk alongside you shaking a bucket or something so he gets used to noise behind him, then i would get him to start pulling a heavy tyre just to feel weight behind him and long rein him like that , this is stuff you can do at home, if you are happy with that then get an old excercise cart and try him in that. Good luck
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Post by brigitte on Oct 17, 2011 8:48:20 GMT
the halfblinkers are often used in marathon driving to allow horses to better judge the obstacles. This said, driving training is like riding : you need to 'cut' the lessons in small parts and proceed in small steps, making sure that the previous 'chapter' has been accepted. Unfortunately, I think that you have less 'place for error' than with riding. If something goes wrong in driving it goes VERY wrong and generally the horse is then ruined for a future driving career. I always start with longeing and teaching voice commands - walk, trot, lope and most of all : halt and wait. A driving horse needs to learn patience, if anything. At the same time I spend a lot of time with the horse walking him in trafic - or riding if he's already ridden. It won't do miracles but it gives a clear impression of how he will react. When I'm satisfied with the response to voice commands I gradually introduce the driving harness - first without traits. Once you also have the traits on I teach the horse to accept that they can bang against his hind legs or even at the inside - which is very usefull if you don't want your horse to explode the first time he steps over one. At the same time I also gradually go from longeing to long reining, starting first with circles and then guiding in straight lines. I also introduce the whip at the same time - which is used to give 'hints', not to go faster ! I gradually add strange objects in the training area (use our imagination...it's easy) and see how the horse reacts. I also try to make noises myself but beware...you need to be able to assess what he can take. Don't rush, don't make mistakes. Next step is to have a friend put his weight on the traits to 'imitate' weight behind the horse and imitate 'the carriage'. I do not like to work with tyres or other 'objects' - and if you do DO NOT do it alone. You will need to fix something to make sure that you can get the horse free of the 'object' right away if he panics. If this goes well, we go long reining with full harness and blinkers (meanwhile introduced - mind you, some horses do'nt like them...especially if they have been ridden before) in the streets. If that's ok and the horse is calm, responsive to your vocal commands...I put him to the excercise cart. Sorry but no 'old exercise cart' - it should be in perfect working order and never represent a danger to either horse or driver. It should also be of correct size for the horse - too heavy and he will be discouraged... Personally I like to put my horses first in a team next to a 'veteran' horse but I must admit that some people prefer starting single right away - and of course you also need to have a veteran horse. I start driving in the paddock - secure environment - but if I see all goes well (you need at least 2 helpers!) I go out on a short trip. Well, guess that's about it in short. Good luck...
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Post by brigitte on Nov 3, 2011 18:45:04 GMT
sorry, there was so little reaction to my post that I then forgot to follow up. I hope things work out fine for your and your pony. Driving, when done correctly, can be very rewarding. I am in no way a specialist (well, I do have a four in hand welsh a team) but if you have additional questions I will gladly try to find a 'satisfactory' answer... Slow and easy is the key to succes - horses don't learn when they are scared and time should not be an issue.
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