| Ever watched one of those period movies, noticing the | | | | horse can then start to work alone. |
| horse drawn carriages and thinking to yourself you | | | | Training a carriage horse this way will minimize the |
| want to do that, or what would it be like? Join us on a | | | | possibility of accidents or injuries sustained to either |
| journey now to see just what it takes to become a | | | | horse or handler. It will also allow for the horse to gain |
| carriage driver, and how a horse is trained to harness. | | | | the required experience and confidence in his work |
| Most people who take up carriage driving are either | | | | before needing to "go it alone". |
| those who do not feel confident on the back of a | | | | Please do not try to train your horse yourself if you do |
| horse, or who due to physical limitations cannot ride, | | | | not have the experience, many serious and sometimes |
| but still wants to enjoy the company of horses or the | | | | fatal accidents can occur were a horse to bolt with a |
| thrill of horse sports. | | | | carriage. It is best to get help from someone who |
| Driving has become increasingly popular for use with | | | | knows and can lend a guiding hand and horse. |
| weddings and special events today with many | | | | Driver Training: |
| competitive drivers now offering this service as a | | | | In Europe you are actually required to pass a driving |
| means of funding the upkeep of their horses and | | | | test should you wish to use a horse and carriage on |
| carriages. Ponies with kids' carts have become a | | | | the roads. But initially you would learn to drive a single |
| popular and often lucrative favourite on fairs and | | | | horse, then work your way up to two (known as pairs |
| festivals. | | | | or tandem) then three (known as a unicorn or fan) and |
| Well to start carriage driving you would need a horse | | | | four (known as four in hand) very seldom today do |
| of course. However not all horses are suited to | | | | we see teams of more than four, and even then it is |
| carriage driving. When looking at, or for a horse to use | | | | done mostly for display. |
| for driving the most important consideration is | | | | What Equipment Would you Need |
| temperament. A carriage horse often requires | | | | -To start off you will require a single harness consisting |
| prolonged periods of sanding, and nervous or fidgety | | | | of a Bridle complete with blinkers, a bit (the most |
| horses do not do well, not to mention they are more | | | | commonly used is the Liverpool bit, or a four ring |
| likely to startle or shy. | | | | snaffle) and reins measuring up to 7.5M. A breastplate, |
| For years now many have looked at certain breeds | | | | or collar depending on the design. A saddle (no not |
| when searching for a carriage horse. And although | | | | your riding saddle) that houses the Terrets (loops the |
| there are breeds like the Friesian, Hackney, | | | | reins pass through) the bearing rein hook and crupper |
| Connemara and Welsh Cobs who are considered as | | | | attachment. And then the part known as the breeching |
| good carriage horses/ponies, the truth is any breed of | | | | (The part that goes round and over the quarters, this |
| horse is suitable for carriage driving, as the success of | | | | assists with preventing the carriage bumping into the |
| the horse largely depends on its outlook and | | | | horse whilst stopping or slowing down.) |
| conformation | | | | -The trace lines (which attach the horse to the |
| When looking at conformation of the carriage horse | | | | carriage) |
| "the wider the better" but it is not a rule of thumb. | | | | -A light single horse drawn carriage sporting a double |
| Horses with width do have more power and will find | | | | shaft in between which the horse is harnessed |
| pulling a carriage easier the narrower ones are | | | | -A light driving whip almost resembles a lunging whip |
| however capable too. A wider horse just looks better. | | | | Driving Sports |
| When selecting a carriage horse on conformation, one | | | | Competitive driving has been steadily on the increase |
| would be looking more towards your cob types; a | | | | the last few years, with driving marathons increasing in |
| strong sturdy levelheaded horse is best. | | | | both competitors and supporters. However for the |
| Well once you have the horse it would need training. | | | | lighter minded there is: |
| Because driving and particularly competitive driving is a | | | | -pleasure driving (showing) |
| strenuous sport, being hard on a horses back it is | | | | -dressage driving (yes you do a test) |
| advisable to only start the training of a carriage horse | | | | -obstacle courses for the more sporting and accurate |
| once it has reached the age of five. | | | | drivers, obstacle courses are laid out using highway |
| It is also good practice to have the horse backed and | | | | marker cones and tennis balls. |
| going under saddle for at least a year prior to training it | | | | And then there is marathon driving with a team of |
| for carriage. That way the horse will be used to | | | | humans usually consisting of but not limited to the |
| hearing ones' voice from behind it as well as receiving | | | | driver and groom who assists with counterbalancing |
| commands from the reins and behind it. | | | | the carriage around sharp turns (requires loads of guts, |
| The initial stage of training a horse to harness is that of | | | | and a few under the belt at times). The best way to |
| long lining and then training the horse to drag an object | | | | describe a marathon is and obstacle course navigated |
| behind it, good indications that the horse is ready for | | | | at almost breakneck speeds in the countryside against |
| advanced work is when it pushes forward with its | | | | the clock (hence the break neck speed). |
| chest prior to walking off, and is nor alarmed by the | | | | Could Your Horse be Used for any Sport Other than |
| sound of the object dragging behind it. | | | | Driving |
| At this stage the horse should be teamed up with a | | | | Driving horses are not just used for driving, a well |
| more experienced horse and attached to a light | | | | schooled horse can combine driving with other |
| carriage with a handler walking next to the horse. | | | | equestrian sports, however most owners of driving |
| Ensure that the fastening of the horse to the carriage | | | | horses tend to use them as hacks. A driving horse |
| (for the first few times) allows for the handler to | | | | would be capable of competing in most lower levels of |
| quickly untie the horse should it be needed, once the | | | | equestrian sports with the exception of dressage, as |
| horse is comfortable without the handler it should be | | | | driving tends encourage the horse to lean forward |
| driven with a partner for at least a month, two to three | | | | onto the forehand, something very unsuited to the |
| times a week, allowing for the horse to build up | | | | dressage horse. |
| confidence and to get use to bracing against the | | | | However no matter what your level carriage driving |
| carriage when slowing down. Once completed the | | | | can be fun and very rewarding. |