In the next few years I’ll be having to make a switch from competitive hunters and eq horses to something else as my knee won’t hold much more…as hinted to me by my knee surgeon.
Has anyone made the switch? What’s it like?
I’m going to start driving lessons with a friend that teaches saddlebred lessons this winter to get my feel for driving.
Its absolutely common place for ex riders to take up driving.
I’ve not “made a switch” rather I’ve got particular interest in eventing, point to pointing and horse driving trials.
I don’t and never will, consider driving to be a poor alternative to riding. Its different and IMO neither better nor worse.
Its to be appreciated that when it comes to driving there’s absolute no benefit whatsoever to having been a rider first. Rein handling is (or rather should be 
) entirely different. You ask with your hands and demand or tell with your voice.
The driving horse is schooled differently, tends to be of different type and disposition and conformation.
Often riders spend a lot of time sitting in the carriage trying to put their leg on to get the horse to turn or transition … I’ve bruised knees to prove that
The people involved with driving are entirely different.
Suggest you go to a good experienced driving instructor to maximise the experience and to broaden the opportunity and potential to achieve the maximum with the new sport of driving.
It will feel very strange at first. Having all that horse out in front of you, rather than under you as you sit on a cushion 5’ away from the horse’s head, your legs and body essentially idle while your arms are held out and up much like a dressage rider, but a big-ass, uber long whip upright in the hand while also holding a weighter set of reins with LOTS of bight wrapped around your ankles --at the same time dealing with that overwhelming sensation of “not quite being in control” as all that horsepower is striding out in front of you. 
Better that you start out with a pony first – rather like a junior rider. Suffice to say, however, that OMG feeling diminishes as you become more proficient in learning how to handle a horse merely with your hands and voice…and then you are captured by how much fun driving truely is!
There is a whole other world of equestrianism in driving – one that can range from extremely social, to delightfully private. 
It is also a more individualistic sport – allowing you to express yourself in dress, driving mode, and style of horse/carriage. It’s certainly not a one-size-fits-all discipline – you can pick and chose what aspects you like about driving - singles to pairs to tandems to multiples, ponies to horses, sporting or family, pleasure/competition – and go from there. And then there is the fun of collecting carriages to go with your new sport – antiques or modern, 2 or 4 wheel, public auctions or private sales.
Quite nice to have so many choices in one sport, isn’t it.
Your Saddlebred friend may be a place to start but remember there is a whole world of driving that is very different from the breed ring. In the breed ring, they tend to go only in the ring and only around and around. In Driven Dressage, you learn to do all the dressage movements in an arena, similar to ridden dressage. In Pleasure showing, you have ring classes like flat classes in the Hunters and cones with is our equivalent to over fences, except that going from the blue oxer to the red vertical, you go from yellow cones to yellow cones, usually 20 pair set a specific distance from your wheels. In CDEs, you are doing a sport fashioned after eventing with a dressage phase, marathon and cones. And there is alway recreational driving, just heading down a trail or road, enjoying the company of your horse.
A long distance friend used to come to this area to show Morgans. They did driving, but it was pleasure, not carriage. I would always sneak her away for a trail drive through the Biltmore Estate, or Dupont State Forest. Blew her mind.
all I can say is learn you “driving” hands. For me driving isn’t so easy:winkgrin::winkgrin::no:
Hiya, that’d be me! (And many others here.)
The first thing to ascertain is what kind of driving you want to do - and what the nomenclature for it is on Planet Driving.
“Just for fun, tooting around the neighborhood, no showing” is usually called (over here - not in the UK) Recreational Driving.
“Pleasure Driving” is American Driving Society pleasure shows, which are run like an H/J show, with different divisions/classes that all run back to back in a ring or 2. Pleasure Driving is my preference, since I found out real quick that I’m majorly chicken and don’t like to go too fast! :lol:
“Combined Driving” is Eventing with a cart. Dressage, then Marathon (XC), then Cones (Stadium). Governed by the American Driving Society.
“Breed show ring driving” is what the ASB, Morgan, QH, Arab, etc. folks do, and as you know, they pretty much all fall under USEF except the QH. The divisions and classes in the breed show ring have very different harness and vehicle requirements from the ADS shows, so you need to read the USEF rule book for that breed rather than the “Driving” rules.
I do both ADS and breed show ring type driving, and have to know allllll the rules, or at least know which set I’m meant to be abiding by on any given day. It gets a little :uhoh: at times!
Saddlebred peeps are great to learn long-lining from. Learn that before you start driving - it’s the best way to “learn your driving hands” as 3OTTB excellently puts it!
If you’re interested in ADS-style driving, you might want to check out the Gayla Driving Center, which I believe is near you.
Sorry about your kneeses. 
I got invalided out of H/J myself so I know how you feel. Driving is very different. Others here may differ, but it just doesn’t quite have the same thrill to it for me personally.
Good luck and have a blast!
have fun
I am a H/HE/E “R” judge --used to train and teach --had a big business at one point 90 horses–
About 8 years ago I got married ,for the first time ,decided to give up my business and judge full time.
I married into a big family --now have grandchildren – soooooo how do I involve everyone in the horses withour breaking the bank!!
I was judging for Chris Rami in Mason City Iowa and she had a Haflinger–I fell in love-how wonderful are they!!! I fell in love with the small draft. Started on the mission to find the right pair at the right $. Three years later Ron and I bought Bob and Bill 5 year old half brothers-14 hands-about 900 lbs. They are wonderful.
Now , I hate to admit it we did some really wrong things.
Even if you are a great rider and horseman it is a whole new world out there.
Take your time do some investgation-- we were just plain lucky to have purchased the saints of the world-- they are very patient with us —learning about harnessing. Buying a forecart with the wrong legnth tongue–oh my that was exciting!
Enjoy have fun and take lessons!! Remember when you take lessons use your HUNTER sense. Research your instructor !!! Just because they say they are good a driving and teaching doesn’t mean squat! I am always amazed at how gulliable we are when we get out of whatever prof. box we are in!
Paddy
“the recreational driver”
I caught the driving bug, working for a barn whose owner was into combined driving, and pleasure show driving…I went from cleaning stalls to cleaning harness, and grooming the driving horses, and riding next to the whip at shows and events…I finally got my meadowbrook, and harness and trained my x show hunter to drive and had a great time just driving around the neighborhood, and up to Fair hill to do a picnic drive with other friends that were riding…going from riding to driving was easy for me, and I miss it…don’t have a driving horse at this time…
i switched from riding (fox hunting and some fun riding) to driving- after breaking both knees and after 7 months in a walker- returning to ride with 0 confidence- just couldnt get it back- and my knees are shot cant be fixed have to be replaced so probably shouldnt really be doing alot of riding.
A retired doctor taught me the basics of driving- in 7 handy lessons- nice thing is each lesson we switched out to a differnt type of cart/carriage so taht I could see what I liked.
i quickly bought a 2 wheel meadowbrook- i have a nice full percheron- dapple grey- who is a nice plug and a good place to learn. Once i get totally bored- I think I will try out combined driving with my Friesian Mare. She was broke to drive as a 2 year old so Im sure it will come back to her- she has much more go and sparkle though so Ill leave it until I am done plunking around the local rodes with my big guy…
Thanks for all the great advice, sorry I couldn’t reply sooner as my internet at home is out and I had an IHSA show all weekend. (My knee allowed me 1 good fences class a day, sunday I won that class:-) )
How is the driving scene in Western Europe specifically the Netherlands? I know the fresians and such but I am looking at some Masters programs there and wanted to know the options there.
Geeze, if you go train in the Netherlands you can give us ALL clinics when you get back home. :lol: They are GOOD over there!!! And they mostly drive WBs so an HP should feel right at home!
I bet Thomas will be able to give you some names of folks to train with in the Netherlands - Renae as well. I don’t really follow competitive/intl. driving that much any more so can’t be of help in that regard.
[QUOTE=War Admiral;2717574]
Geeze, if you go train in the Netherlands you can give us ALL clinics when you get back home. :lol: They are GOOD over there!!! And they mostly drive WBs so an HP should feel right at home!
I bet Thomas will be able to give you some names of folks to train with in the Netherlands - Renae as well. I don’t really follow competitive/intl. driving that much any more so can’t be of help in that regard.[/QUOTE]
I’m originally from the netherlands, born and then moved because of my dad’s job. That’s my main reason for wanting to go back there, plus all the rest of my family is still there!
Some good and bad things about driving:
I don’t feel as “close” to the horse when I’m driving…I feel like and employer vs. a partner.
You can only give a verbal pat vs. a touch to the neck.
You can bring along friends for company, no horse riding knowledge is needed.
You finish just as clean or dirty as when you started.
If they spook, you can brace your feet on the floor and since you’re in the center of the set-up, it’s not very dramatic.
You get to watch other horses act stupid and bug their eyes out (schaudenfreud, I know).
You can wear funny hats.
Carriages and carts are relatively cheap, so is harness…you can buy several.
The view never changes if you sit too low (and the gas’ll kill you).
You know your horse’s digestion is working well.
The driving fraternity is very friendly and welcoming of beginners.
Driving shows are friendly and not many kids shrieking.
Wine is usually involved with driving.
You can use cute ponies that’d be too small for you to ride.
It’s easy…well, it is.
[QUOTE=SmplySweet1021;2717489]
Thanks for all the great advice, sorry I couldn’t reply sooner as my internet at home is out and I had an IHSA show all weekend. (My knee allowed me 1 good fences class a day, sunday I won that class:-) )
How is the driving scene in Western Europe specifically the Netherlands? I know the fresians and such but I am looking at some Masters programs there and wanted to know the options there.[/QUOTE] I’d suggest that a good place to start for help would be
Han Gankema: I’ve pm’d you his email address.
I’ve got to say too that a lot of what Trakehner describes is exactly the opposite of my personal experience and I just don’t recognise it at all as being driving as I know it.
[QUOTE=Thomas_1;2718125]
I’ve got to say too that a lot of what Trakehner describes is exactly the opposite of my personal experience and I just don’t recognise it at all as being driving as I know it.[/QUOTE]
Really?? Apart from the cost of harness & vehicles - which for me is BY FAR the major expense - I thought ol’ Trak was spot on!
I didn’t say I disagreed with it all, and here’s the stuff I have different opinion on.
[QUOTE=Trakehner;2717949]
Some good and bad things about driving:
I don’t feel as “close” to the horse when I’m driving…I feel like and employer vs. a partner.[/QUOTE] You have to be much more in tune with the horse’s body language. You can’t feel him beneath you and you need to focus your attention on him more closely and using other senses.
You can bring along friends for company, no horse riding knowledge is needed.
Depends on what sort of driving you do. If you go cross country with more than one horse, you need folks with a modicum of fitness and horse sense with you on the vehicle.
You finish just as clean or dirty as when you started.
clearly the poster has never seen my crew come back from a spin cross-country and through mud and water etc etc and with muck splattering up through the grill of the cross country vehicle.
If they spook, you can brace your feet on the floor and since you’re in the center of the set-up, it’s not very dramatic.
I posted at length on this topic recently…
[I]So incident happens with a riding horse and maybe its a spook and scoot … you fall off and it tanks off having “lost its brain” - the worst that will happen to the horse is it might get its leg through its rein and the rein might snap or its saddle might twist round and under it. the horse might if it gets a leg caught and the reins don’t snap … fall down or it might be in a total blind panic and run into something. But 99 times out of 100 the horse just does a short gallop and then regains its mind and just stops and no real long lasting harm done.
Accidents with a driving horse by their nature just aren’t like that and intrinsically are potentially always much more serious - lets say you have the spook and scoot. Remember when the horse does that he’s just being a flight and fright animal and he’s looking after himself as he momentarily “loses his brain”. He’s not thinking “oh and I’ve a carriage behind me”, so the carriage might hit a pothole or a ditch as the horse spooks and scoots or a bit of harness fails and the carriage tips or the carriage gets caught on something and then a bit of harness fails - the very event in itself puts on a “command” to the horse that you don’t want: all of a sudden something breaks and slackens and puts pressure elsewhere so there’s a command and then the spook and scoot occurs … but as the horse begins its run away lets say the carriage tips the driver falls out - When a rider falls off he merely risks being hit by a hoof and an awkward fall on the hard ground. The driver in addition to that also has the vehicle to contend with. He hits the deck and then gets smacked with or run over by a great heavy carriage. And trust me, they hurt and do SERIOUS damage!
So the driver has intrinsic higher risk of more serious injury.
So the horse is now off on its flight and fright response and because the carriage is being dragged with a failed harness slapping and flapping and staying with the horse, then the horse’s mind stays switched into its flight and fright mode and what would be a spook and scoot or short burst with a riding horse continues on as the horse gallops. The carriage continues often smashing into things - all of which further terrifies the horse and it cannot switch its mind back to “nothing to fear” mode. [/I]
Carriages and carts are relatively cheap, so is harness…you can buy several.
No way. Anyone who thinks you can do driving cheaper than riding, or that its an inexpensive hobby, is absolutely kidding themselves and others
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