Nearly any horse can make a good driving horse under the right circumstances. It cannot be emphasized enough, however, that if you are not an experienced driver, you must solicit the help and supervision of an experienced harness trainer before beginning your horse’s training. The Carriage Association of America maintains listings of driving trainers and instructors on its website here.
AgeHorses can be started in the lines as young as two years old. At this age, horses are too young to bear the weight of a rider as their joints are still developing and can be damaged by heavy weight or work. Pulling a cart on a flat area is considerably less physically stressful than carrying a rider. However, overworking a two-year-old in any capacity, including driving, can lead to soundness problems later in life, so avoid hills or long workouts for the younger horse.
In her book, Breaking a Horse to Harness, British Driving Society instructor and carriage driving judge Sallie Walrond suggests breaking a horse to cart and harness as a two-year-old, then allowing him to grow up for another year before beginning serious training as a three-year-old.
TrainingThough the actual harness training should be done with hands-on help from a professional, there are several elements you can work on with your horse to ensure he has a solid foundation before you attempt to hitch him to a cart for the first time.
Working your horse in the long lines (or ground driving) is ideal preparation for driving. The horse will get used to wearing the harness and responding to rein aids before he ever sees a cart.
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Leslie Potter is a graduate of William Woods University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Equestrian Science with a concentration in saddle seat riding and a minor in Journalism/Mass Communications. She is currently a writer and photographer in Lexington, Ky. Potter worked as a barn manager and riding instructor and was a freelance reporter and photographer for the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar and Saddle Horse Report before moving to Lexington to join Horse Illustrated as Web Editor from 2008 to 2019. Her current equestrian pursuits include being a grown-up lesson kid at an eventing barn and trail riding with her senior Morgan gelding, Snoopy.
I trained and drive my mini and it's very rewarding. Highly recommended.
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