Drivers Ed
September 6, 2011
What potential pleasure drivers need to know before they show.
Drivers education is not just for cars anymore. Journal photo.
From The American Quarter Horse Journal
When looking for a pleasure driving prospect, first and foremost seek a quiet and sensible disposition.
Conformation styles may change, but the horse’s movement should described as a long, flat- kneed trot with a naturally level top lines.
The horse must have athletic hindquarters and be able to get up underneath himself when he works.
Size is important. The size of the stride should be “big,” but that does not mean every pleasure driving horse has to be over 16 hands. The horse just needs to have the right look.
Ideally it is best to break your horse to the cart early, as a yearling or early 2-year-old. But it is never too late.
Whether you want to ride off into the sunset along a dusty trail or down the rail, there are some essential handles that you first need to have on your horse. In this FREE report, Horse Training Fundamentals, AQHA Professional Horseman Ken McNabb walks you through his process of how to train a horse.
A good, solid foundation can be laid both mentally and physically for a young horse by teaching everything from voice commands to lead changes, all while driving and saving a lot of wear and tear on a youngster’s growing skeletal system. Than switching to riding is a minor change.
You can be amazed how well a driven colt will ride the first time or two!
If you have found your horse, it is time to get the equipment. First, you must decide the type of driving you will do (cross-country, show ring or competition). This will determine the style of cart needed.
Properly fitting equipment is a must in order to be safe and successful.
When hooking your horse up for the first time, employing the services of an experienced trainer can make things go much smoother. The first impressions are usually the lasting ones, so employing a good professional will be well worth the expense.
Long-lining and ground-driving your horse first can be helpful, but do not overdo it. Young horses will become bored and can develop bad habits.
There are three simple goals to achieve during line-driving:
- Forward motion.
- Whoa!
- Lateral control, turning left and right.
Once your horse can do this, you can move onto a cart.
Transitioning a riding horse to a cart horse:
When you are driving a horse, you are limited to just two aids: voice and hands. Voice influences motion and gait transitions. Hands provide lateral control — your hands have now become your legs.
Help your horse make the transition by being conscious of your hand when bending or turning while riding. Use a little more hand and less leg, so your horse becomes less dependent upon your legs. This is not saying “don’t ride with leg cues,” it is a matter of teaching your horse two different signals for the same maneuver.
In Horse Training Fundamentals, you’ll see that a strong foundation is key when training your horse, and you’ll learn exactly how to build this foundation with advice from AQHA Professional Horseman Ken McNabb.
All horses should be comfortable cantering in the cart. They know by voice commands what their gaits should be. Teaching your horse to come down from a canter to a trot is vital to recover from a break or to “fix” a bad step before it turns into a break.
Avoiding accidents is not always possible. But you can minimize your risks of pleasure driving accidents with these tips.
When your horse is hooked up to the cart:
- Never leave the horse unattended;
- Never unbridle the horse
- Never unhook the driving lines; and
- Never stand up in the cart.
Take time to properly prepare for a driving class. Most horses do other events, and often the driving receives the least priority in the practice ring. Make sure your horse is prepared for the situation you are about to drive you horse into, and you will have a much safer trip.
Comments
14 Comments on “Drivers Ed”
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September 6th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Good article. I have only trained minis to drive as I lack a full size horse cart and harness set up. Always wanted one, but oh the priorities of life…
Anyways, but ground driving is something I always employ in training a horse to ride. I usually do this around the age of one and two, so after they are solid in their lunging and other ground skills, but before riding time. Works very well for me, like the article says, they are better once you start riding.
Amber
(allaroundhorses.blogspot.com)
September 6th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
Love to drive. I would like to see more knowlegable judges in the class. Some think it’s a chariot race.
September 6th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
So nice to see driving get some recognition! Just wish the judges would understand it is “pleasure” driving and sometimes the class is won by the best road gait, even though they dont back, stand, or stay consistant in the bridle. Safety and obedience should come first! Love the driving and find so much teamwork and friendships between all the drivers! Hope to see more of you!
September 6th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
I love driving, but can’t figure out why we can’t use the whip for control like in CDE driving. The whip when used properly is an integral control mechanism, it’s like taking your legs away while riding.
September 6th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Great picture!!
September 6th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
Kevin Dukes driving Too Rainy To Sleep
September 7th, 2011 at 7:13 am
We have been breaking/training all of our horses to drive as 2 year olds. We drive them in the arena, up/down the roads and take them to shows. By the time we put a saddle on them and ride, it’s no big deal. But it’s never too late… I just started showing my 17 year old mare in driving this year. We spent the 1st 17 years showing, halter, pleasure and reining. I would love to see more shows with driving in them.
September 8th, 2011 at 8:43 am
Should I consider driving my 30 year pony?? He came with a history of being a “cart pony” in Mexico. I love the driving classes at the Fair in Maryland and it looks like another disipline I can enjoy.
September 8th, 2011 at 9:33 am
How about some articles on driving training, carts, harness, and show courses.
September 9th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Love the picture, shows how a contented driving horse should look!!!!
Kim, I have driven in 1 CDE and several AQHA and open shows, and I agree with you 100%. Also the safety issues are necessary for every one at all times…. and I am glad to see that AQHA is encouraging safety in its rules and this article. I notice that this class has an overcheck required, but, it is ineffective on the AQHA pleasure driving horse, and not attached correctly. The whip, which is very valuable for the reasons you stated, is not used.
Ps I am interested in a Utility Driving class.
Love the American Quarter Horse!!!!!!
October 26th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Carrying a whip in your right hand at all times is absolutely mandatory in open shows that abide by American Driving Society rules. As Kim pointed out,the whip actually takes the place of your legs and a well-trained driving horse responds accordingly. It is used as an aid in bending and straightening the horse,just as a rider’s legs are. This is especially important in driven dressage,which is very similar to the ridden discipline. Breeching on the harness is also a necessary part of equipment when driving involves any sort of hill work and a horse must understand how to hold a vehicle back and accept that aspect of his job. In open pleasure driving shows,over checks are taboo and even side checks are frowned upon,as cavessons or nosebands are mandatory. The American Driving Society is always a great source of further info for anyone interested in getting their horse started in harness.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:06 pm
I would also like to see the AQHA add a utility driving or reinsmanship class to it’s amateur division. They have horsemanship, equitation, and showmanship, why not the same equivalent for driving.
The Pinto organization has a class called “Disciplined Rail Driving”, where the horse and driver show at a walk, road gait, and park gait. The horse is also expected to back, stand for the exhibitor to get in and out of the cart, and do several pivots and turns as part of the class. These aren’t complicated things but a horse does need to be broke to do them.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:54 am
People need to remember that the AQHA pleasure driving class is shown as a fine harness class, similar to how saddlebreds and morgans are shown. That explains the style of driving. It may behoove AQHA to recognize classes held at CDE events just like they have recently added the dressage classes into the mix. But for those of us who enjoy showing as fine harness horses, we’d like to continue with those standards and expectations.
December 26th, 2012 at 1:41 am
I understand people liking fine harness horses, they are very pretty. If I wanted one, I would have bought a Saddlebred or Hackney. Maybe a Morgan. I have a Quarter Horse. I want a horse I can rototill the garden with, bring feed home from the feed store, pull out some cattle, go play on the weekends with, and drive to church. I wanted a versatile breed with a good mind. I would like a driving class to reflect the versatility of the Quarter Horse. If people want to belive they are showing fine harness horses, more power to them. Please, just make a place for the person who enjoys the versatility of the Quarter Horse. Maybe a country pleasure driving class and some Arena Driving Trials.