Video of my recently started driving mare.

[wendyluvsminis]

This is R. Cees Forever in Blu Dreams, my 6 year old mare, with her trainer, Donna Burlo. She has been hitched for about 2 weeks now. What do ya think?

 

[RhineStone]

Great start! She seems to have a nice fluid gait.

If she is lazy, you might want to try a whip with a lash that you can use on her belly instead of her back end. Sometimes they can be more responsive in this location. I bet she would be very competitive in the ADS ring with her natural headset and nice gait. I know Schutte's horses have done well there (I show with them in VSE), and this mare is of similar breeding

?

Myrna

 

[wendyluvsminis]

Great start! She seems to have a nice fluid gait.

If she is lazy, you might want to try a whip with a lash that you can use on her belly instead of her back end. Sometimes they can be more responsive in this location. I bet she would be very competitive in the ADS ring with her natural headset and nice gait. I know Schutte's horses have done well there (I show with them in VSE), and this mare is of similar breeding

?

Myrna

Thanks, Myrna! Thanks for the whip tip too! Once she is out of her "stand," she is very willing to trot and move out. It is just getting her into first gear! Yes, she is a 1/2 sister to Schutte's "Chunky," who has done so well in the ADS ring. Wayne is training her daughter for us now, so my husband and I will each have a black driving mare, and possibly a team in the future. There are pictures of the two of them on the Home page of my website, under "D is for driving mares". They look so much alike! I am really considering doing CDE's with the mares.

 

[bannerminis]

She is a very pretty mare and looks really well under harness - I hope my boy goes as well when he starts next yr.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

She looks wonderful, tall and strong and calm! She's moving out very well for a green horse too and I like how steady she is at the halt. It's definitely important to whoa on a dime but you might give her a little warning to ease that transition so you aren't thrown forward in the cart like that when she stops. A little "...aaaaand whoa" goes a long way in dressage.

Leia

 

[wendyluvsminis]

Thanks for the compliments and advice! Sometimes she stops so quickly, the cart bounces! LOL! I bought her as a brood-mare, knowing though that she came from a good driving line. About 30 of her 1/2 siblings have been trained to drive, with very good results. They all have similar action and head carriage. But I figured her daughter, whom we purchased at the same time, would be my driver, and Blu would give me babies. Well, my husband caught the driving bug, and a dear friend offered me some free training, so we gave Blu a try!She is bred for an April foal, which I would not have done, if I had thought we were going to drive her! So, she will have a break from driving, but hopefully resume in late summer!