It is more an individual horse reaction, than a breed reaction in choosing horses SUITABLE for driving. How does he react when frightened? His FIRST response? Shy, run, jump sideways? You need to be honest in answering, because that is what you will get in harness too. Usually carriages don’t go sideways well or stay upright behind a runway horse, parts break so vehicle is dragging sideways until it finally breaks free…eventually. Horse can be damaged, you can be damaged in the process.
TBS are not known for calm, clear thinking, patience when startled, with often exciting reactions. No, not all react that way, but enough do that the TB stereotype has a basis in fact.
Some other folks on COTH here have had or know TBs that drive successfully. I don’t know any that drove very long, problems/issues happened to end their driving careers.
I feel strongly that Driving horses need to be quite fearless, along with very confident in their Driver in protecting horse from scary stuff he will be facing out in front of a vehicle. Takes a very good minded animal to make a good Driving horse. Not all horses are suitable to drive, they don’t make the grade, washout of driving training. We have had about a 50% wash rate ourselves, but we are quite demanding of them in what we ask. Lives can be on the line at times, can’t have one who loses his mind in a crisis. We HAVE been there, survived because they listened, used their training, didn’t overreact.
Sorry about gloom and doom view, but Driving a horse is not “like TV” slap the reins on rump for a happy jog down the driveway. We just make it LOOK easy!! Not every horse with no other use will make a driving horse.
Finding a good Driving Trainer for a horse evaluation of suitability might be a good first step.
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