do they really need to be ridden first

[funkyboots]

if merry does'nt really get to a side that my daughter can ride but hopefully (with lots of human contact etc) be driven instead?

i spoke to a nieghbour and she does weddings with horses etc and says they need riding first but when i was a kid (no cheeky comments) a local irish farmer allways had a driving pony to get around as he did'nt drive a car and i can't imagine him riding a 12hh first.
considering that she'll probably be long riened first anyway and lunged to voice commands..whats the problem?

[black crow]

Ive known a few ponies who were never ridden before being driven. As long as they are bitted and are used to all the varying pieces of tack it isnt usually a problem at all. It is always handy for them to feel a bit of weight due to the nature of driving, but carrying a rider isnt always necessary

[lilholley]

I don't have any experience with driving but from a common sense point of view I can't see any problem with not riding her first? I suppose, if she was broken to ride first there would be some steps you could skip, but make sure you do everything thouroughly and I think she'd be fine :)

[funkyboots]

my little girl will sit on anything and shes never done 'proper' lessons so i would'nt be surprised if she'll be my wieght...lol. i'm just chuffed she has the gene.haha...i was the same..we're not top riders but my dad,gramps and great gramps all worked and broke horses for ploughing and farmwork.....lol

i've heard aalll the stories...lol

[fairyfeet]

No they don't, and some people think its easier for the pony to learn the driving skills if not ridden. Others do believe that breaking to ride helps the driving side too as the pony already knows the commands.traffic-proofing is the key in both!
I however taught Max different commands for driving and he learnt very quickly the difference. Longreining is different for both.

[funkyboots]

i used to ride a driving horse that was a pain and i had to ride with blinkers on! and i figured minitures weren't ridden first..lol
i am gonna brush up,i did have a book somewhere on driving horse........haha....by the time she 2 i will have found it

[Sasca]

i broke my pony to ride and drive and drive came first, he's ace at both but not ridden much.

[cuddie]

Joe was broken to drive with out being ridden first! He is, hopefully this summer, going to be broken to ride. He was broken to drive as a 3.5 year old, but had been led out onj the roads since he was about 6 months old! The guy that broke him for me only had him 5 weeks, he was that good and we have never looked back! There are pictures of him driving in his birthday picture post!

[eeek]

Don't worry, they don't need to be ridden first.

It will be easier to break them to drive if they are already trained to ride (and vice versa) but you have to start somewhere.

If I wanted a horse to ride and drive I think I would personally like to ride them first (less dangerous if it goes wrong!!). However I have backed plenty of horses who have only ever been driven, and never had any trouble with them. If you only need to drive then I would crack on with the driving side myself :) Riding can come later, any time you want it to.

[funkyboots]

yea. i'm gonna walk madam when she gets home...with the dog..lol and as we live near two busy roads and where she too at the mo, shes used to lorries airbrakes and honking to each other...should be deaf soon...

[My Crazy Clan]

Why would they need to be ridden first? That sounds rather silly to me, as long as your willing to put all the work into them then it doesn't matter.
Yes being ridden first is a little easier etc but its not all ways the way.