Balancing the Young Novice Driving Pony

By Mr. Les Viner

Mr. Viner comes to us from Lincolnshire in the UK.

He is an organizer and active competitor, see his notes about Driving in Lincolnshire  at the end of this article.

Young inexperience horses and ponies in their natural environment, soon learn to balance themselves and can be seen cavorting around the meadow, but put a weight on their back and they are liable to trip, lose their footing and even fall down, especially over rough and undulating ground. The unbalanced pony is just as much of a problem to the driver as to the rider, so what can we do about it? To train the perfectly balanced horse you need to understand two expressions.

1. Balance. In perfect equilibrium in all paces on all types of terrain.
2. On the Bit. Energy created from the hindquarters contained via the bit and reins in the hand and the pony accepting without resistance.

To improve the balance of a pony, ride it at the walk over as much undulating ground as you can - if you cannot ride it then go out with long reins. Use calevetti poles, fanned into a semi-circles. Ride 20m circles gradually reducing the size to about 10m, 5m. then go large again. Do a 90 degree turn on the hindquarters at the halt, then immediately go forward at the trot. Work on this until you can to a 180 degree turn. (This is also a good exercise for collection) 

Driving ponies need to train in exactly the same way as ridden dressage horses, indeed the word dressage means training. When you ride you create impulsion from the quarters by applying a series of squeezing / vibrating actions with your lower inside leg, the energy you create is held in the hand (you must not pull the reins - but keep them quiet and still) The back end of the pony is now being squeezed like a spring and the energy is held in at the front end. One of three things might now happen.

1. Either they accept the bit and the head carriage changes with the head dropping more vertically toward the ground, and the outline becomes more rounded.
2. The pony resists and gets rid of the built up of energy by bucking.
3. You let it all out at the front by relaxing the reins and it falls onto the forehand.

When you drive, the whip must become your leg. If you use two hands then you need two whips. You create impulsion by placing the whip exactly where the leg would go if you ride. Use the whip in a vibrating/tapping mode you will get better results. If you are on the left rein, then raise the right rein up in the air so you can use the whip without losing contact with the outside rein, and vice versa. You need two whips, as you cannot pass a single whip to the other side without losing contact, which is why I keep the reins in one hand. (classic approach) and then I need only to use one whip.

In summary: developing balance is gradual and time consuming, harnessing impulsion likewise. Expect to take up to two years to get there. By the time the pony is seven or eight you will be able to extend, collect with just your voice. He will bend in the right places and will be able to shoulder in-in shafts. As his balance improves his outline will change. Don't overfeed, keep them slim, muscular and fit for the work you ask them to do.