RE Miniatures and Shetlands

[Buckingham Palace]

Thank you, She is very special!

More pictures!

View attachment 3177525
View attachment 3177529
View attachment 3177533
View attachment 3177534
View attachment 3177535

They are amazing. So cute to see them run around.

 

[littledog]

And finally....my CDE Prospect! MRS Everyone's Favorite Guy (Gaston)
3yr old dark bay Shetland gelding

How do you determine suitability for CDE among those you breed, and among ponies and minis more generally? Temperament, paces, conformation?
I'm an experienced Eventer, whose glory days are probably behind me (as hard as that is to admit) who'd like to get into CDE in my senior years. Please advise me!

 

[Morning Star Farm]

They are amazing. So cute to see them run around.

They are very entertaining!

How do you determine suitability for CDE among those you breed, and among ponies and minis more generally? Temperament, paces, conformation?
I'm an experienced Eventer, whose glory days are probably behind me (as hard as that is to admit) who'd like to get into CDE in my senior years. Please advise me!

Oh I think you would love CDE. As you know, it is 3 day eventing in driving form. So you would look for everything you look for in an eventer. You want a big mover for dressage, and a confident, lead type horse is going to be the best for everything, but especially the marathon, and you want strength and speed for marathon and cones.
While I have a beautiful country horse, I needed something with more confidence for the marathon and cones. When I saw Gaston's pictures and videos, CDE was the first thing that came to mind. He is a naturally huge mover and a beautiful halter horse. Being a halter horse was important because I knew he would have the strength to work hard and the ability to bridle for a nice headset. He was also totally green beyond basic handling which is the easiest to work with as you don't have to work through any past mis-training or handling. The only time I would get a trained horse is IF the horse is with a really good trainer and you will be working with the trainer to learn what the horse is accustomed to.
The one thing I couldn't tell from the pictures and videos was his disposition. From my talks with his owner, I thought he would be good though and when he arrived, I could tell he would be perfect. He leads the others and goes cautiously but confidently through everything. He went right down and through the creek in the pasture, and explored all around the pasture. Curiosity is a great trait as well. My country horse is not curious at all which is why he does not enjoy driving outside of a flat field or arena. You need a horse who wants to be out, seeing new things and really enjoying going out to explore.
I hope this helps! If you have any other questions, please let me know. When you are ready, I would love to help you find the perfect horse. I know of quite a few farms not far from you that usually always have great prospects.

 

[Morning Star Farm]

Sunday Funday while we had some cooler weather!

There are two bays, pintos and palominos in case you thought you were seeing double!

 

[Buckingham Palace]

Sunday Funday while we had some cooler weather!

There are two bays, pintos and palominos in case you thought you were seeing double!

They look too cute frolicking about.

 

[littledog]

He went right down and through the creek in the pasture, and explored all around the pasture. Curiosity is a great trait as well. My country horse is not curious at all which is why he does not enjoy driving outside of a flat field or arena. You need a horse who wants to be out, seeing new things and really enjoying going out to explore.
I hope this helps! If you have any other questions, please let me know. When you are ready, I would love to help you find the perfect horse. I know of quite a few farms not far from you that usually always have great prospects.

Thank you for your whole response, you're very helpful.
This part of yours I quoted, is so exactly what I look for in an Event horse, and what I loved the most about my now 28-y-o retired Eventer and trail/camping companion. Curiosity, willingness to explore and try new things - if in doubt about something new, going forward was always his right answer - of course obedience is important, but that's part of your horse trusting you, and it's just as important to trust your horse, to help you make smart decisions, that's what partnership is all about. My boy definitely had enough of an independent attitude to save me from my own mistakes on the CC course, many times.

I have a couple more questions about CDE. From what I've read, the FEI requires horses to be at least 48", but aren't there lower-level CDE competitions open to smaller ponies or minis? If so, can you point me to those organizations?
I would love your help finding the perfect CDE horse or pony for me when the time comes, and also a driving training place who can teach me. That won't be for a while though, because my horse budget is currently at its limit with my retired elderly boy and his cushings medication, and my 24-y-o OTTB mare, still sound for the low levels with maintenance, but getting older.
I'm the type who keeps my oldies forever - after all, they won me tons of ribbons in their youth, made my life with horses everything I wanted it to be, and taught me so much. They deserve a comfortable retirement.

 

[Morning Star Farm]

Curiosity, willingness to explore and try new things - if in doubt about something new, going forward was always his right answer - of course obedience is important, but that's part of your horse trusting you, and it's just as important to trust your horse, to help you make smart decisions, that's what partnership is all about. My boy definitely had enough of an independent attitude to save me from my own mistakes on the CC course, many times.

Yes!! There is no room for timidity in a marathon or cross country horse. Even with trust, they still need curiosity and confidence to really enjoy it.

From what I've read, the FEI requires horses to be at least 48", but aren't there lower-level CDE competitions open to smaller ponies or minis? If so, can you point me to those organizations?

Correct! FEI only has large ponies. You would have to go to USEF events. They have the VSE (Very Small Equine) division and Small Pony Division in addition to the other larger ponies and horses.
The small pony division has the most opportunities. VSE's are limited in what events they can take part in.
https://www.usef.org/compete/disciplines/combined-driving
ADS (American Driving Society) is an affiliate of USEF and hosts most of the CDE shows in North America.
https://www.americandrivingsociety.org/

I would love your help finding the perfect CDE horse or pony for me when the time comes, and also a driving training place who can teach me. That won't be for a while though, because my horse budget is currently at its limit with my retired elderly boy and his cushings medication, and my 24-y-o OTTB mare, still sound for the low levels with maintenance, but getting older.
I'm the type who keeps my oldies forever - after all, they won me tons of ribbons in their youth, made my life with horses everything I wanted it to be, and taught me so much. They deserve a comfortable retirement.

I'd be happy to help when you are ready!!
I understand that. I think it is wonderful that you do give them a retirement home! The older horses are not always easy to care for but they have certainly earned it.

 

[littledog]

ADS (American Driving Society) is an affiliate of USEF and hosts most of the CDE shows in North America.
https://www.americandrivingsociety.org/

Thank you, this is exactly what I wanted to find out!

 

[Morning Star Farm]

Thank you, this is exactly what I wanted to find out!

I am glad that was helpful!
https://www.carriageassociationofamerica.com/events/
The Carriage Association of America (CAA) has quite a few events too, including educational clinics and workshops.

 

[littledog]

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!
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.
Then take some driving lessons (I've done a bit of driving, but only experienced horses and ponies with their owners next to me, telling me what to do.)
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.