Last month, I asked my followers over on Instagram for some blog topic ideas, and here I am finally getting to them! (Sorry guys!!) This idea came from @r.e.m25 and since Jasper is almost ready to hitch to the cart, I thought it would be a fun one to reflect on!

Expectation #1: Purchasing a miniature horse to train for driving will be less expensive.

Truth: Guess again….

When I was first deciding on getting into this, one of my arguing factors of why mini horses are a good idea is because I thought this was going to all cost a lot less then it does. Now I know it is possible to spend a lot less then I have on equipment (and that’s fine!), but the more I learn about driving, the more good quality equipment becomes less of an expense and more of an investment for the health and happiness of my horses. Now don’t get me wrong, tack and vehicles for mini horses general do cost less then the bigger horses… however, It’s still not cheap. I have put out a lot more money then I thought I would, but there is a lot that goes into it! I am a strong believer in you get what you pay for, so personally this does not bother me, it was just something I had not expected.

Expectation #2: I know enough to really start this horse myself.

Truth: I still have A LOT to learn!

Let me make this clear, I never ever claimed to be an expert. I had always known that I still have tons to learn, but I just wanted to get this out there that you will always learn more than you expect to! I haven’t even started driving Jasper yet and I am so much more knowledgeable about driving and all that goes into it (because I was not joking when I said it’s a lot..) then I was three years ago. Simply by making connections with people and watching what they were doing. I’ve also been getting my hands on as many driving books I can, and plan to attend as many clinics as I can this year, even if just to audit. The moral of the story, you NEVER stop learning. If you ever feel like there is no more room for you to learn something knew when it comes to horses, I promise you that you are dead wrong.

Expectation #3: The driving community is small and out of reach.

Truth: The driving community is a lot larger than at first glance, and they are very welcoming too!

I have to say that the driving people I have make connections with throughout this journey have been some of the nicest, most inviting people I have ever met. Everyone is always willing to learn and to help out teaching others. It has proven to be a niche that supports each other and wants to see others succeed! Something that we desperately need more of in the equestrian community as a whole. Not only are driving people amazing, mini people are amazing too! I have not personally had one bad encounter with either group of people, many of whom hang out in the same crowds anyway! As far as being out of reach, this can be true depending on your area. This is why it is so important to be active in making those connections because you never know who might be close by. I also think it’s super important to spread the word about both driving and minis so we can recruit some more fabulous people to join us!

Expectation #4: I have the time to train a driving horse all on my own.

Truth: This was true, up until I went back to school.

Most things that we do with our horses take time. Driving, in my opinion, is one of the most time consuming things you can do with your horse. Now my experience I am referring to is starting from day one with a baby, but honestly I think it can apply to most horses when first training to drive. It really takes TIME. Skipping steps is not only dangerous, but just sets your horse up for failure in the future. Not only do you need your time, but once you get to some more advanced work like I am doing now, you are going to need a helping hand and asking others for their time can sometimes feel impossible. I wouldn’t really say there is anything I would have done differently to change this, because it’s just how it is. It is just nice to be prepared to learn how to get the most out of the time you do have to work towards your goals. If you are thinking about training a horse to drive, I recommend you picture what your life looks like for the next 5 years and plan out how you will continue on with training when life happens.

Expectation #5: It’s going to be hard and a lot of work.

Truth: Nailed it!

I wanted to include this because I honestly never went into this thinking it was going to be easy. In fact, I think it’s actually been a bit easier than I thought it would when talking about Jasper himself and how he reacts to different things. He has been the absolute best partner I could ask for and I got so lucky to have a baby with such a good brain! He is honestly so smart and makes me proud watching him take in and excel at new things. I really did not expect him (or any horse) to take to most things so easily. A huge part of this has been my ability to start him totally from the ground up, and to manage his entire life. The rest is because that is just how amazing mini horses are! However, bottom line.. yes, it is a ton of hard work and effort on both you and your horses part, but totally worth it!

I know most of that was pretty general, but I think the key here is if you are thinking of training a horse to drive the most important piece of advice I can give you is to:

1. Do your research, and don’t ever stop doing it!
2. Make connections! Do not be afraid to ask people for help or advice, most of them will be happy and willing to share information with you.

My door is always open to ask for advice! I’m happy to share my experiences and connections if I can hook you up with someone who can help you better than myself.