Breaking to drive

[yewtree]

From the day I had Willow I've always thought about breaking her in to ride and drive, but I wasn't sure whether she was too young to start breaking her to drive.

Has anyone broke their horses to drive? Do you have any tips/advice etc?

Also, does anyone have any reccys of people who break to drive? We are in the West Midlands and if she went away I'd like her to be as local as possible so I could visit her as much as possible

She's 18 months old now and I'm going to start long reining her from her headcollar this weekend. She's very very good on the roads, often giving the older horses a lead past scary objects/vehicles etc if she's out on an inhand hack with them. She's been taught to walk/trot up inhand to and respond to your voice commands from the day I had her as she was completely unhandled.

[brigitte]

I have a four in hand team - all welsh a ponies and currently a 19 month old highland stallion. All welsh were 'home trained' and I intend to train Elliot - the Highland - for riding and driving too. For groundwork and long reining 18 months is fine if you take it slowly and accept that they can only give so much - not only physically but also mentally. For actually pulling the carriage I would wait till your mare is 3 or 3.5 years old and even then, going very gradually.
I think I have posted some posts here on driving - in the driving chapter - you might be able to find them. If not, please ask and I'll try to answer.

[brigitte]

ps. maybe this belongs under 'driving chit chat' no ?