RE Miniatures and Shetlands

[Morning Star Farm]

Wow, exploring all the great links you gave me, I discovered that a regional group I'm already a member of through Eventing, also has a driving division! Who knew! (well, plenty of people but not me, LOL). So now I know some local people to get in touch with for some education - thank you!

Oh that is amazing!! I knew there were some events up there, but how wonderful that you are already a member of the group.

I'm thinking what I should do first, is volunteer at some driving events and see the competitors, approach the ones who treat their horses as I would (probably all of them, from what I know of my regional organization) get involved by volunteering as a groom or navigator in CDE events.

That is a perfect plan! They always need volunteers at those events, especially for the marathon phase. They have to have people checking that the obstacles are done in the right order. Sometimes they stay at the same obstacle and sometimes they drive around.

Question for you: How different is it to train a horse or pony for driving as opposed to riding? I've started quite a few youngsters to be riding horses, first longing and then ground driving, but as soon as they know how to go forward, turn and halt from bit signals, and are used to lines around their quarters, I left that and got on their backs. For actually teaching them driving, what do you do next? Some Western trainers I know, make them drag around a tire attached to the saddle horn, just to get them used to not being upset about a heavy weight kicking up dust behind them. Seems helpful but not the safest way to go.

It is very similar. For driving training, instead of getting on their backs, you would introduce them to the cart. Most of mine go straight from ground driving, and all that you described, to being introduced to the cart.
I would never use a tire, just never would. A cart should not be similar to pulling a tire!! Lol If you would like to take an extra step there though, you can use training shafts which can be homemade with PVC. You can let them be separate from each other and attach one on either side of the harness or use a cross bar in the back if you want them to hear something else dragging. But I only do that if I know I have a horse who is going to test having something on either side and I'd rather have them do that in training shafts than my cart.

 

[littledog]

specially for the marathon phase. They have to have people checking that the obstacles are done in the right order.

Sounds similar to being a jump judge for CC in Eventing, which I've done many times, always fun and educational. I've also been a scribe for Eventing Dressage judges, and always learned a TON, whether scribing at lower or higher levels than I was competing at. What the judges ask you to write on the test sheet is often much more tactful than what they say! What an education!

hough, you can use training shafts which can be homemade with PVC. You can let them be separate from each other and attach one on either side of the harness or use a cross bar in the back if you want them to hear something else dragging.

Thank you, that seems like a really good "in-between" training stage for someone like me who will probably be training a young pony, after I get as much education as I can and take lessons from experienced people and their experienced driving ponies or horses.

 

[Morning Star Farm]

Sounds similar to being a jump judge for CC in Eventing, which I've done many times, always fun and educational. I've also been a scribe for Eventing Dressage judges, and always learned a TON, whether scribing at lower or higher levels than I was competing at. What the judges ask you to write on the test sheet is often much more tactful than what they say! What an education!

Yes!! They are called scribes! I couldn't think of the term earlier.
That must have been quite a learning experience. I can imagine what judges can say about some! Lol

You will have to keep us posted on how it goes when you are ready to start with driving!

 

[Morning Star Farm]

It's been awhile since I have posted so I will just start with a few pictures!

If you remember my CDE prospect Gaston, he is ground driving now and our first CDE will be in May. @littledog How is your CDE journey coming along?

Fancy and Kirk are enjoying pasture life.

I've had a few more additions over the summer as well, some long awaited, but more on them in another post! No more new additions coming any time soon though. I have enough lol.

 

[Peaches Lee]

What cute little ponies! The first black one is just adorable.

 

[littledog]

If you remember my CDE prospect Gaston, he is ground driving now and our first CDE will be in May. @littledog How is your CDE journey coming along?

Just little by little, since I'm not financially in a position to do more than learn, for now. I did join the ADA so have access to learning opportunities, and so far I've done a webinar on how to scribe for all three phases of CDEs - learned a ton about what's required and how they're judged. I have yet to put it into practice, though, but I hope to when CDEs in our area start up again in the Spring. I also found out about a local place that will be doing driving clinics and fun-level CDEs in Spring, and I'll definitely participate in those.

This fall I moved my two horses to a new barn, and I've been able to do so much more with them. They have better-quality hay, better turnout. The former place just had an outdoor dressage arena, but here we have an indoor, two outdoors one with jumps and the other one huge enough to do driving in, a trail system right off the property, two round pens and a trail obstacle course. My 28-year-old retired eventer who has Cushing's is enjoying having more interesting in-hand things to do than just longeing, and my perpetual-project OTTB is finally making some progress since having an indoor allows us to ride 4-5 days a week.
The board is slightly more expensive, but not only are the riding amenities totally worth it, the premium-quality hay means I'm spending almost the same amount less for grain, and my horses are healthier and happier.

 

[Morning Star Farm]

 

[Morning Star Farm]

Happy New Year everyone!

 

[Morning Star Farm]

Just little by little, since I'm not financially in a position to do more than learn, for now. I did join the ADA so have access to learning opportunities, and so far I've done a webinar on how to scribe for all three phases of CDEs - learned a ton about what's required and how they're judged. I have yet to put it into practice, though, but I hope to when CDEs in our area start up again in the Spring. I also found out about a local place that will be doing driving clinics and fun-level CDEs in Spring, and I'll definitely participate in those.

Sorry I never got a chance to respond. That is wonderful though! I hope you enjoy doing them! I'm sure the spring events will be nice.
I just attended a CAA Conference last weekend and it was amazing. Such a wonderful group of people. I'm going to be attending some clinics next month too, one with Boyd Exell.
I was also finally able to find an affordable marathon cart too! Can't wait to get it!