RIDERLESS SPORT A second career is a possibility when, for example, the concussion from jumping has become too much for the legs of a middle-aged horse, or weight on his back doesn’t work so well. Then driving may be up a riding horse’s alley. The amazing four-in hand combined driving horse
Jamaica, owned by international champion Chester Weber, didn’t retire from world competition until he was 20. While mimicking his career is not a realistic expecta- tion, it doesn’t mean that competitive driving on some level is out of the question. Or perhaps simply pulling a carriage alone or with a buddy for pleasure might be enjoyable. “A lot of the same skills that a horse needs for being
ridden are important in driving,” explains Susan Koos- Acker, executive director of the American Driving Society.
ON PATROL How fun would it be to be a cop’s horse? The U.S. Park Police can always use horses for patrol and to teach new officers to ride. They must have good minds and a brave spirit, stand at the very least 15.3 hands, and walk, trot and canter for a beginner. U.S. Park Police Officer Mariea Crowers, head trainer
for the park service stationed in Washington, D.C., says, “Right now we have two Warmbloods in the program. One is a 13-year-old Hanoverian; another is a 17-year-old Oldenburg. They have excellent manners and are sound enough for what we do. Besides patrol horses, I’m always looking for school horses to train the new officers in equitation. “I’m 5’ 9 and ride wearing a gun belt. I can’t ride a
weedy horse. And we want some uniformity so when you look at a line of horses and officers, it’s an impressive sight,” she remarks. “If I get a horse that has
never been out on the trail, I have to expose him to all new experiences. That’s where I find out about his mind. If he loses his mind at every new experience and all he wants to do it turn and bolt or rear, I don’t want that horse in the program. I don’t care if he’s Grand Prix level; he doesn’t do me any good,” she continues. Donated horses are given a
Californian Leslie Berndl and Uminco. Using four–in-hand carriage driving as an example,
she explains that the lead horses do not need the same power required of real weight lifters—the wheelers – the horses in the back. However, the lead horses must be brave and forward. I could imagine this job for retired eventers. However the most important skill for driving horses is the ability to stand still. “If he can stand still, it’s a real advantage,” Susan continues. “Teaching a riding horse to become a driving horse is not a big deal. You start out long lining, then pulling a tire so they feel weight on their chest. Then you work gradually to the next level. But train with a knowledgeable driver—you just don’t want to make a mistake.”
36 September/October 2013
90-day evaluation. “We test for soundness number one, but I won’t say it’s a deal breaker for a horse that, for example, won’t stay sound for jumping or fox hunting or dressage, as long as he can walk, trot and canter sound. The big ques- tion is mental stability; what
does he do when he is over-faced?” After service, all the horses are retired to forever homes. Finding those homes is part of Mariea’s job. As I envision my horse at a Washington, D.C. Fourth
of July fireworks show or visiting the Washington Monu- ment to either meet up with an Occupy protest or sum- mer tourists, I’m having doubts. And as I am in California, I don’t want him living so far away. Perhaps he doesn’t need a new career—hanging
around doing nothing might be just fine. For now I will heed the words of the eighteenth-century French phi- losopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau: “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” Finding the right situation for him will reveal itself, eventually.
Courtesy Driving Digest
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84