Well we finally did find someone willing to teach my kid this weekend. She is a student of one of the bigger name trainers and we met her quite by accident. I was at a warmblood inspection with one on my foals and she was at the inspection with her driving mare to be mare book inspected. (Her driving horse is a gelding, she just acquired his sister and the mares breeder had never bothered to get the horse registered…so she was taking care of that). The site host knew she was a local driver and we were looking for a driving instructor and pointed us her way.
“I don’t understand why the focus need to necessarily be on juniors or young drivers. I think it should be on drivers of all ages. Just because someone doesn’t pick up driving as a teenager, doesn’t mean that they won’t do it later on in life.”
this was said a couple different ways by different posters. I don’t think driving should necessarily cater to or focus on young drivers…my beef was that after calling many local instructors pretty much all of them were of the mind that they simply refuse to teach kids.
I’m sorry I didn’t get to read all replies but here’s my $.02.
I started driving as a younger person. I first started when I was 16. I’ve got to say that it was merely because the horse I bought was a very green broke to ride Morgan with pretty extensive driving training. The people that sold her to me were VERY kind and offered to teach me how to drive for free. Up until then I really had no interest in driving. I mean I thought it looked cool but never really had a “drive”(no pun intended) to go do it. I think that was mostly simply because there was no one around who did.
The only other “youngster” that I’ve ever heard of wanting to get into driving also got in the same way as me. He had a very kind neighbor who offered to teach him. I don’t even know if the kid ever actually did start driving.
I’m now 26 and I think that driving is an EXCELLENT thing to know not only for just the older folks but for younger folks as well. When I broke my back in a riding accident I was able to still get my horsey fix with driving. During my first pregnancy I was able to get my horsey fix through driving without putting my unborn baby in as much danger as riding would have caused. Not only that but as a mother with one two year old and a soon-to-be-here-if-all-goes-well infant driving is an excellent way for me to take my children with me. I don’t have to worry about finding baby sitters just to spend horse time. I can take them with me.
I think there are some big problems that keep everyone but especially the young away from driving.
Availability
In this country there just aren’t that many instructors within easy reach of people. In my area the only way you learn how to drive is to hopefully get in touch with one of only a handful of people who know how to. I don’t know of any instructors around here so it’s either trailering your horse for hours, or hopefully one of those handful of people who do know how to drive will take pity on you and teach you how. Thankfully most of the very few drivers I know of around here are incredibly kind and will help you out for free, just for the love of sharing their passion.
Cost
I was lucky the only reason I got my cart was because my grandmother, while on her death bed, mentioned she felt terrible for putting down my love of horses all those years and that my parents should buy me a cart with the inheritance she was giving them. Other then that there is no way I would have had as beautiful a cart as I did at 18 and I probably still wouldn’t have one now. Not to mention the cost of the harness and a special trailer/truck combo that will allow transportation of a horse and cart. That I still do not have.
I think what would help driving most is just to get people out there and involved and yes I do think it’s a good idea to make sure you appeal driving to all ages. I can’t even begin to tell you how many older riders I know who have given up riding due to health issues that would stop them from riding but shouldn’t effect driving in any way shape or form. If they are never really exposed to it they don’t even think of driving as an option to get their horsey fix.
Why involve the younger crowd?
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Because they are the future of driving.
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A few people who take up driving as young people will take up this sport and run with it. It will become their passion and they will be the next generation of elite leaders, trainers and teamsters. They will develop a six sense that learning to drive at forty, I will never have. In my area of driving (drafts), we do have such people. People who learned the sport from their parents and grandparents. They are light years ahead of the rest of us and represent a vast amount of knowledge, tradition and know how. Not only about driving but about the sport, the horses, the carts, the wagons, the history. We want these people and we want to expand this population of drivers, as they are amazing sources for us all to learn by. We all know people like this and as adults, they bring so much information and knowledge. You don’t just learn to drive and that is that. It takes years to truly be an expert and then…there is always something to learn. There is a reason why most medical schools don’t take many middle aged people into their programs. It is the same reason as to why it is good to engage younger people and hook them. By the time they have been driving for thirty years (and are 50), their level of competence will far exceed what my level is (at almost 50).
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Youth have a level of enthusiasm that is contagious.
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I think mixed groups of people are fun. In the draft world, it is often families, with extra friends that show. I see these families showing groups of horses as a way to train work ethic, animal ethics, values, attention to detail and teamwork. Bringing young people into the world of driving benefits everyone :winkgrin:
Wonderful responses here, it’s great to see all sides. I’ve been gone all weekend.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas_1 View Post
The OP talked about getting “lucked” into finding mentors and I personally think that’s a curious approach or expectation.
A mentor is “just” a wise or trusted counsellor or teacher who can encourage, coach and support on a one to one basis.
The part where it’s lucky is when you live in one of the many places in the U.S. where there may only BE one or two drivers in the entire state. Finding one of them and then having that person be not only someone you respect and wish to learn from but be willing to teach you as well is, indeed, “lucky.”
Hobbyhorse was correct when she explained how I lucked into a driving mentor. I’m in California, we do not have the numbers that the East coast has. I don’t even know how I meet Ann and Diane but my mare and I wouldn’t be where we are today. Both of these women have influenced me greatly and I thank both of them for all their help.
So, Diana… come on up to Oregon! Maybe Fancy and Apollo would make a pair!
I realize I didn’t really address Diana’s question, sorry… if you do come up with something I would be more than willing to help!
Oh, don’t joke about that! I don’t know if Fancy is large enough for Apollo but what a pair they would make! They move so similarly. Oh, and I should mention…Fancy was hitched today! 
She could have cared less about the whole ordeal. I thought the only thing that she might balk a little at the breeching but nope. Ann and Pam were walking beside her and Liz was next to me (I was in the cart driving her!) and they couldn’t keep up with her walk. She just had this relaxed, forward, marching walk. So Fancy is finally a driving horse! I reached my goal of hitching her before the Frank clinic.
Sorry for the off-topic, Fancy was just so easy for her first hitch, it didn’t seem real. So my excitement just hit!
I guess I don’t have anything productive to say here. I’m too excited, give me a couple of days…
I hadn’t kept up with this thread but read a lot of it this morning. A few thoughts:
I went to 3 CDE/DT this spring in the SE. Attendance was up at all of them. They were all full.
CCC just completed their Fall Pleasure Driving and Dressage Show. We had 48 turnouts, down just 3 from last year. We are unrecognized but one ADS official said we were the largerst Pleasure Show in the SE.
CCC offers Jr memberships for $5 as a way to encourage young folks to come to club events and get envolved. We will help connect a Jr with a driver for our trace paces and pleasure drives if they don’t have a horse to drive themselves.
We basically follow the “if you build it, they will come”. We offer many different activities from just driving to clinics to pleasure shows to ADT to HDT. We have members who never take a lesson and never show and some that do advanced. We welcome Jrs and any new drivers.
I’m not quite as young as your target demographic, but at 34, I think I’m younger than average for drivers. My previous instructor also has three children as students, but the oldest is 14, which is a little younger than the range you’re asking about. I took about 2 months of CDE-oriented driving lessons, but had to stop because I found a new job that is too far away. 
I’d be interested in getting back into it, but it’s very difficult to find an instructor who has a horse available. I just picked up a part-lease, and have 3 horses I get to ride regularly, but none of them know how to drive. Even if their owners were willing to let them learn how to drive, as a greenie, I have no business driving an inexperienced horse.
I tried to volunteer at my local CDE last month (to judge obstacles, or just go-fer), but didn’t hear back from the volunteer coordinator. I have no idea of how to get involved as a groom or gator.
The ADA, and our local driving associations, do not have any trainer/instructor listings.
I do vaulting, which has the opposite demographic shift - almost all youngsters. I’ve been able to convince several adults, both at my club, and around the country, to give it a try, and we now have a class of 8 adult vaulters. However, it’s very inexpensive to get involved in it, so it’s easier for people to give it a try if they are interested.
I also just went to a side-saddle clinic last month, for my first time trying it. Several other participants also had the opportunity to give it a go. If I can find a side-saddle that fits me and the horses I ride, I’d love to get into it, and I believe they got several other new enthusiasts.
I don’t know how realistic it would be for people to get an opportunity to try driving, at least as a passenger, but making it easier for people to find instructors would be a step in the right direction, IMHO.
I have a young crowd interested and driving
Hi
I teach Carriage Driving to all ages. I have students rangin in age from 8- 50 years of age. I use my well trained Shetland Ponies in my lesson program. Students use my ponies, harness and carts for their lessons. They also use them for showing.
This year we got some of the local riding clubs to put in Classes for Driving. We had Jr. Working Pleasure Driving, Adult and Junior and an Obstacle Class for all. Now which class do you think was most popular with the kids? Obstacles of course! I ride in the cart with all beginners and with children till they learn properly. We work in the ring. For cross country I do not let the children drive alone. For showing, an adult must be in the cart with them until they reach 14. I also prepare Students for arena driving events.
I have a Mother/Son who take lessons together using two different ponies. They love their time together. I also have a Father and Daughter just starting their lessons.
I am in the Mid Hudson Valley of NY. Let me know if you want to join our group for lessons.
I have had people take their vacations here and come daily for lessons. We have great motels in the area.
A young girl (well, at 22, she’s young to me) at my barn has a lovely Percheron mare who she wants to drive and not just ride. I’m giving her driving lessons and she doing wonderfully, she’s a real natural (she’s an excellent gutsy rider, so that really wasn’t a surprise…plus she loves her mare and really wants to make this work!) Her horse was trained, she thinks, by the Amish. So ground driving her mare was next, she also was a natural…I think the Amish may have done a little bit of harness work with her.
We hitched her for the first time last week and we were working all around the farm, down the driveway and in the field last night. The mare was an absolute champion. She still isn’t tickled with the britching, but she’s putting up with it as any good Perchie will. My new whip has already driven her parents in my surrey using my horse (of course I was along) and is looking forward to driving family and her boyfriend in the training cart (actually a big Pioneer draft-size forecart…not elegant but sure is industrial!).
So, I agree, it’s great when younger people get involved in driving…but the difference of an interested person seeking you out vs. the too common, “entertain me!” is very different. I know I’ve sure had the entertain-me’s along for a drive…what a waste that was for horse and me.
If they’re interested, great! But don’t look for them to recruit. We were at a big carriage drive this weekend and a friend had his Perchie mares pulling a “circus wagon”…I introduced my new student to him and he invited her to drive the pair of his girls after the big drive. So, we finished and off she ran to drive the pair. Driving people are friendly and generous with their time and animals…if people are actually interested.
I contacted my local driving clubs, and one of them referred me to a CDE/breed show instructor who has schoolhorses, and is in a good location for me. We’re planning to do our first lesson together next week. I’m sure a regular horse/carriage will have a very different turning radius than the mini and small pony I drove before, so it’ll take a little getting used to.
Trakhehner, I don’t think pushing people to try driving if they aren’t interested is a good idea, obviously, but some people might not think of trying unless someone suggests it. I think they can quickly become passionate about it if given the opportunity.
