From: A01DLH1@vm.cso.niu.edu (Don Hayes)
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: Driving, Re: B. Roy
Date: 16 Apr 1992 16:44:57 -0400
Organization: BBN news/mail gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: news.bbn.com

I was going to send this to Barbara but decided that others on th list
might be interested also. Some info is more specific to her area.
I am sure you will enjoy driving once you get started. It is one way
that you can have a non-rider along with you while still enjoying your
horse.

On to the questions:
Training: There are lots of very good books and some videos. Any larger
tack shop which has books should have them or be able to order them.
I actually find most of my horse books in the horse section of the
smallest book store in Rockford (IL). Check with stables and horse clubs
in the area to try to find someone who can help you. The American
Driving Society probably has members and an area rep in Iowa but i don't
have any of that info at work.

Harness & cart: If you desire to start out as resonable as possible,
you could get good used equipment at an auction. (Sometimes new also).
About the largest horse and equipment auction is held twice a year in
Waverly (Iowa), just north of Waterloo & Ceder Falls. This is a 5 day
sale and is billed as the largest Draft horse sale in the country.
They spend 2 days selling horse equipment, 2 days on draft horses, and
1 day on rideing and driving horses and ponies. It is worth going just
for the fun of it even if you're not there to buy. The sale always runs
from Tue. thru Sat. The spring sale was 2 or 3 weeks ago. I think the
sale barn also has 1 day horse sales at other times. (Monthly?) Contact
them for more info. I don't have an address, but Waverly isn't that big.
I'll bet an address of Waverly Sale Barn, Waverly, Ia would get it there.
They also have a fall sale. In Oct. i think.

For new harness, check out the Amish folks around Kalona? (I think).
They might also have carts and/or buggies for sale. There is also an
Amish settlement in eastern Illinois, south of Champaign, around Arcola
and Arthur. There are several harness and buggy makers in that area.

Mail order: Lots of places have catalogs and will take mail orders.
I am expecting delivery of a new harness from Smuckers in Narvon, Pa.
in the next few days. I orderd it to fit my pair of Morgans. I have
never ordered harness by mail order before so this is a new experience
for me. I have always gotten my new harness from an Amish shop in
Arthur, IL. I don't know why i didn't get this one there. Just wanted
to try someone else i guess. Hostetters Harness Shop, Arthur, IL is
the address of the place i've done business with before.

Sources: Driving Digest (sorry, i don't have address here) or Draft
Horse Journal, Waverly, IA would have lots of ads for equipment.
The ads in the Draft Horse Journal are for draft size equipment, but
most of the places make all sizes from miniature to draft.

Prices: A black, leather, breast collar, single pleasure driving
harness with britchin will run from about $250 to $400 for the simple
to nice ones. Add anything from there and there is probably no limit
to how much you can spend. Nylon is cheaper but i'll bet you wouldn't
be happy with it. It isn't just cheaper because of the nylon. Those
i've seen have been cheaply made.

Carts (new) can run from about $700 (simple, functional) to $4000 and
up (pretty damn fancy). Used ones should be less of course. These are
all wood with wooden wheels. DO NOT get a metal one with wire spoke
wheels. There is a reason that they are so cheap. Also, if you might
ever plan to enter a driving show sponsered by ADS, i don't think they
will let you show with a wire wheeled cart.

I seem to have gone on for about long enough. If anyone has questions,
i'd be happy to try to help.

Don

  Don Hayes, Judy, & Tiff
  Horses: Ginger & June, Nancy & Nettie, Molly & Dolly, Ace
  Dogs: Pat and Mon-Ami
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian