[drivingpairs] accidents waiting to happen

I was away for a week, so sorry if I come late with my comments, and I do not 
say this to flame anybody (so I cut out all names, as that's unimportant), 
but just as a note of caution: Folks, please, does this not call for a 
mishap? We have a mare that had a couple of wrecks (! why? what went wrong 
then?) , plus a greenbroke gelding, both not driven much lately plus a helper 
without knowledge! Ok so they are "just" ponies as I learned later (or even 
mini's I don't remember), but that's the point, minis and ponies need to be 
treated with just as much respect and training as horses. I am glad that it 
all turned out not too bad, but this sure sounds like a blue print for 
disaster in the waiting.


> " I had a bit of a mishap with my green driving pair, age 4 & 5,
> (gelding and mare).  The mare had a couple of unfortunate wrecks
> last year when trying to drive single, so she was hitched with her 24 year
> old dam who did a great job with helping her to settle down.  As the old
> mare had a foal this year and is on maternity leave, I have procured a nice
> matching gelding(greenbroke though) who up to this point has been
> very sensible and quieter than the mare.  I have not had much time to drive
> them.... today was my first opportunity to take them out in about 3 
> weeks....
  I brought along a young man 
> who has just asked to do some part time work around the farm until he findsa 
> "real" job.  He's not a horseman, but I sure was glad to have him along 
> today. (this was his first carriage ride....moan).....

" I could neither stop
nor steer"

" Any advice before I try this again?"

Yes, next time: 1. Make sure that old horse is safe before hitching with a 
green one. 2. When hitching a green horse have experienced help with you. 3. 
If you can neither stop nor steer them, they are not trained enough to be 
driven and / or you do not use the proper equipment (bits) and / or you were 
too slow in your reaction and not thinking enough ahead. 4. Since the mare 
has had a few wrecks before, and now another one, perhaps you should take a 
close look at your training program, procedures, knowledge? Perhaps you are a 
bit too careless? Maybe take some lessons?  5. Treat your minis as if they 
were 15 hand horses, and don't do anything with them, which you would not 
feel safe to do with big horses.  

Please be carefull out there. Again, I don't want to flame, no blame attached 
here, just let's all learn from this, please. Driving is a dangerous sport, 
even with minis, your helmet will not always be able to protect you, good 
training and proper safety procedures are a much better safety policy and a 
MUST around driving horses.
Hardy



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