Too old to drive?

[clippycloppy]

Hi wanted to get everyone's opinion.

Have a 11.2 section a which we rescued some 4 years ago. He is an absolute star pony who we have successfully shown inhand and ridden.

He is your typical welshie and we struggle to maintain a waist line unless he is in work. As he was a rescue I did not get him with any job in mind and while I have two small children they are both on the lead rein at the moment and though we hack him out and have done local shows he is not a lead rein pony, his movement is big and he just can't get to grips with going at a steady pace.

We have loaned him out which wasn't a huge success as they didn't look after him in a manner you would wish and it is a nightmare finding someone who is reliable to excersise from home

To cut a long story short at 15yrs in 2013 would he be too old to break to drive now. I have broken a few ponies to drive however they have always been much younger and I am by no means an expert.

I would value your opinions

[jacksprat]

i dont see why not. we are breaking our fell to drive, he will be 12 next time. it may be a whole new career for him

[sunny1]

I think it's a great idea, he would probably love it, great exercise for him and great fun for you.

[Deleted]

We've just broken our dartmoor pony to drive after being a show pony most of his life hes 13 soon. Make sure you have plenty of pub stops on your driving routes

[penduk]

It will add interest to his life.

[rightrein92]

Our section a was broken as a 3 year old before we bought her and was a ridden pony for her old owners she was ten when we got her we introduced her back into driving and she loves it as competes happily in driving trials and pleasure drives xx

[klouisem]

Our Welsh A is 21 in June and we hope to bring him back in to driven work soon. He's soooo strong when long reining though he might be too naughty to drive because he isn't afraid to buck or take off! He hates being lunged and isn't keen on being ridden but loved being driven years ago and loves being long reined. Maybe introduce a joint supplement into his feed to help him feeling stiff at all. We use equine america MSM FAB stuff, gave my boy a new lease of life.

[clippycloppy]

Thanks for all your thoughts.

I am encouraged that this is the way to go as we wouldn't sell him but does need a job while my two children become better riders and get to a level when they could ride him.

I do long reining which he does well so fingers crossed he progresses if and when the weather improves!

[madmichelled]

this post anwersed my question really chuffed that ponies can be broken to drive later in life succesfully ive 2 a s that will be outgrown in next couple of years and so was wondering about it ...... mind you kids saw scurry racing at show and said that would be fun!!! i might draw the line at thAT tho lol goood luck with the driving

[debzx18]

We decided to give my boy a try at driving at the age of 26! He loved the new lease of life and was proud as punch wearing his harness I've hopefully added a pic

[jenn]

We are planning to try to train our 23 year old to drive, when we hopefully move, she hasnt been ridden for some time as its too dangerous on the roads here

She thinks shes 2 at times, so we thought we would try.

jenn

[zoonie]

I think it's a great idea and how wonderful for your children to have the opportunity to learn to drive too The British Young Drivers are always encouraging newcomers, have great fun at their camps and training clinics and compete all over the country (and abroad!)

[muffinino]

I used to work with scurry ponies and there are quite a few that used to be children's riding ponies - some of the drivers have scurries that used to be their riding ponies or games ponies. I know that some of them have been in their 30s and still competing at HOYS etc, so go for it