Any other drivers out there?

Diamond_Jubilee · Well Schooled

Any other drivers out there?

Dalriada · Yearling

I've driven in the past and done decently in both breed classes, pleasure driving and combined driving. However I prefer riding over driving. I work with Clydesdales and Percherons on the ground and help out at some shows as well.

I breed Hackney Horses and Sport Ponies (Welsh X Hackney Horse cross).

Diamond_Jubilee · Well Schooled

I also like to ride but I think I'm changing a little and almost perfer to drive a little more...of course I have to really trust the pony I'm driving. I just find it harder to drive as I always take another person with me and sometimes its hard to co-ordinate going out...as when I want to ride I just put the saddle on and go...
Of course I have seen your ponies around at the sport pony shows (I'm Alison) and I just love Apple! She is the cutest thing and she will be an amazing driving pony when shes all grown up!
See you at the Royal!

Dalriada · Yearling

For some reason I don't feel the same control driving as I do riding, so I prefer to ride. I have to really trust a horse or pony now in order to drive - been in too many train wrecks or near train wrecks for my taste. I don't bounce any more.

I had you figured out by the photo of Roger - he's very disctinctive.

Thank you for the kind comments about Apple. She's going to be a very special individual (not that she isn't already). Being a plain colour she has to turn on the charm to look cute and boy-o-boy can she trot. She wowed even me at Milton, I couldn't trot any faster and she was still picking up stride length.

Her pure Hackney Horse sisters are all elegant driving animals so I know she will have it in her. I might just have to learn to "like" driving if I end up keeping her.

Diamond_Jubilee · Well Schooled

I also must agree with you about having to really trust an animal before I start to drive them. Thats why I ride them for about a year before I drive them, and take them to plenty of shows before I even think of hooking them (I also do all the ground driving etc for at least a year, but in Rogers case I started him early and did all of the ground work for 2 years before I drove him).
I really felt uncomfortable driving at first. Its really been the last few months that I really starting enjoying to drive. Roger even likes driving more as he is much more relaxed driving when we go out back (not that he's ever bad, but he looks a lot more when I ride him).
I can't wait to see Apple drive. I bet she will be a super good girl!!
Talk to you later....

spirithorse · Advanced

Oh I used to do some team driving, nothing competitive. I really like pulling contests.

Diamond_Jubilee · Well Schooled

Thats neat SpiritHorse! By team driving do you mean draft horses? I also love to watch the heavy horse pulls at local fairs...I just saw the one at Markham Fair this past year. Its amazing on what they can pull and boy do they know their jobs!

spirithorse · Advanced

Fer Shure......Belgians.......oh boy.....................

SoftTouchTraining · Well Schooled

I work for Klaus Biesenthal at Bell Oaks Farm. He has the champion CDE German Riding Pony Makuba (now retired). I've gotten to groom at some of the CDEs and had a blast, especially in Marathon. I also have a Morgan/Quarter horse gelding who I drive for fun.

Diamond_Jubilee · Well Schooled

Very cool STT. I know Makuba and have also heard of Klaus as I think he broke the father of the cob that I show. CDE's are so much fun, though I really enjoy the pleasure classes (I'm sure its from my hunter background!). Marathon day is a blast though...Nothing like going full out in a hazard!

justice · Grand Prix

I like field work and logging with my neighbour's team, non-competitive. There are days every spring when the old boys get out and harness up with all their old horses and antique equipment just for fun. THAT is something to see. They get grand ideas about putting 10 or better up to a hitch and it gets silly sometimes (had up to 38 last year) but safe enough (these are OLD school good ol' boys that know their stuff, as do the horses), the fields get managed, all have a grand time, even the horses : )

SoftTouchTraining · Well Schooled

Diamond_Jubilee, Thanks. I love marathon. I've thought about doing some showing my my gelding, but when I look at what it costs and add that in with all my other showing I can't afford it. But I do love driving. Have you ever been to the Iron Horse at Caledonia, IL?

Diamond_Jubilee · Well Schooled

Yes, this was our first year at Iron Horse. What an amazing show! We won our division (prelim pair pony) and had a blast! It was a long drive for us and going through Chicago really sucked :( It was about a 14hr trip but we also go to north carolina to train and thats a 18hr trip, so we are kind of used to it....It really is a bummer that driving is so expensive but we do really enjoy it and its really nice that the both of us can be involved in showing, versus just one person riding.

SoftTouchTraining · Well Schooled

Chicago is a pain to get through, but isn't it amazing the distance we'll travel to do stuff with our horses! Congrats on your win! If you saw the German Riding Pony Markus, that one was also trained by Klaus and had been ridden by me. He was just sold last year and the new trainer seems to be having a blast with him. I'll have to make sure I make it to the Iron Horse next year to watch.

Diamond_Jubilee · Well Schooled

I hope to go back to Iron Horse (though my fiance said even before we got there that there was no way we were going back- all because of the drive!). Once we got there we fell in love of course! It was also amazing because of all of the 4 in hands there trying to qualify for WEG. I did hear that they wernt too sure if they were going to have the show every year or every other year. We shall see what happens...
We also might take a year off next year as we are getting married in August and we are going to be buying a farm in the next year or two...we need to save our pennies and you know how much showing costs! I think we might just do Bromont next year as its a Canadian show so we dont need to get health papers or convert our money. We shall see what next year brings...

draftdriver · Yearling

I drive working draft horses. Unfortunately, I lost one of my team at the end of September. I'm slowly teaching my small Standard donkey how to drive, too.

Diamond_Jubilee · Well Schooled

Thats too bad draftdriver...sorry to hear that. Its great that youre teaching your donkey to drive! We just had a competition in Illinois last year and there was a pair of mules doing combined driving. It was so cool to watch! I have seen a few donkeys do pleasure driving as well, but only at a few select shows...Good luck!

Lynda · Foal

My husband and i drive some of our New Forest Ponies. Hope to get out to some pleasure and combined events this coming year. It has been about 10 years since we last showed any of them.

Diamond_Jubilee · Well Schooled

Very good Lynda! I've met you at some of the OCDA meetings. My boyfriend was the one always telling you and your husband to drive a pair in the shows!! Hope to see you out there next year!

Lynda · Foal

Well, we have a mare well started now and have a full brother that David wants to drive. They would make a great pair, time will tell if we can get them hitched together or not.

Horse Nut · Foal

Maybe you can answer my question Diamond. I'm from southern ontario and was wondering if you need a membership each for the OCDA, TCCA

Horse Nut · Foal

Maybe you can answer my question Diamond. I'm from southern Ontario and was wondering if you need a membership from each club (OCDA, TCCA, and COPDA) to compete at each clubs shows or is there an all inclusive membership (Drive Ontario). The reason I'm asking, is that I want to expose my pony to all different types of shows and venues.

Diamond_Jubilee · Well Schooled

You need to get a membership for whatever club you plan on showing with (they dont have just one fee for all memberships, though that is a great idea, and I think they have tried to do something like that before but it didnt work out). This means you will probably end up with 20 memberships like I have! You will also need an equine canada membership to show at ocda shows or pay a small fee each time you show with them. I'm not too sure if you need EC for tri county or copda....
Hope this answers your questions!

Ashley of Ashvale · Foal

I have driven a few times and have driven a Morgan Mare at a fair. I hope to continue with the driving and maybe get a Hackney Roadster in the future ;)

Ap · Yearling

I used to drive as a second job, giving historical tours in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. I really like driving. I have a young horse (going on 4) that I want to teach to drive. He's a good, steady guy, who is more inclined to look at things, than jump away. There's an elderly man in town who has agreed to help me train Teddy. I hope to start his training soon. The snow is pretty deep, here. I'm just now teaching him to lunge. I don't have a round pen, but have a naturally "boundaried" area on the farm that works as a round pen. I'm taking him very slow, as I'm no trainer. Thank God he's a great guy.

Margaret · Foal

I have been driving since the early 90's, love it. I do not compete purely recreational. If you are new to driving find a mentor or join a driving group or club so that you can start right. Have fun and be safe, there is a lot of stuff to it but once you are hooked (excuse the pun) I'm sure you will love it.

Margaret

northwestern ontario

deb · Well Schooled

Hi

I have 3 stbs. They are all race horses, my five year old I started as a yearling and he has only one start due to some pretty serious health issues. He was bought to event but first to be a race horse. My 8 year old has been racing since he was 3, and is a super pacer, but also can trot so well that we have been working on switching him to the trot to start over as a maiden. My 9 year old has also been racing since he was 3, and is actually a trotter who is so solid he was almost knocked down one start and he trotted as soon as his feet hit the ground again.

All three have been worked under saddle, the 5 and 8 year old the longest, as I have only had the 9 year old trotter for a few months and we have just started him under saddle. All three horses love riding more than racing actually. Che the youngest will make an awesome eventer, or just dressage if I decide to go that route, and Tattoo can jump the moon at will. Steel the oldest horse would make some kid a great lg pony for riding or competitive driving as he is fast, but solid and very, very handy with a very clean showy gait. Steel is still hot from being badly treat before I owned him, but every day he gets back to his 'true self', as his nature is quiet and sensible. Tattoo is hot and not for the faint of heart for driving, and actually a much quieter riding horse. Che is my forever horse, and will be with us until one of us dies!!! He drives like a dream, but will only go for my husband or myself, as he can kick like a rented mule if crossed!! lol lol

I drive everyday, as we jog everyday. I train some of the fast miles, but my husband who is a race driver by trade drives more of the fast miles (if you knew Tattoo you would know why!!! ) I have driven a buggy with a team for a guy I worked for-- years ago-- it was a blast, as well I drove sleigh in the winter for the same guy. Both the teams I drove were awesome, the first team was heavy drafts, the second was 1/4 horse/morgan/shire sire crosses-- a matched set of brothers that were fun and smart.

If asked though I still prefer to ride than drive, I feel closer to the horse when I ride, but driving is fun too either pleasure, or the stb race horses. The power you feel sitting behind my big horse Che at about 12-1300 lbs at speed is pretty awesome, but riding him colected and really reaching for ground is pretty awesome too.

take care

deb mcdaid