Why Carriage Driving?
It’s a good question. A really good one. It’s more dangerous than riding. It takes longer to train a horse to drive (as) safely (as possible) than it does to train them to ride. It takes longer to harness and hook a horse than it does to saddle a horse. It takes two people to safely hook and unhook. The equipment is as much or more than comparable riding gear so you’re not saving any money.
Why all this bother?
Taking longer to do things in an instant world can be a salve for the harried soul. Grooming your horse. The look, feel, weight, and sounds of pulling out the cart, sorting out the harness, and putting it all in place. The comfort of familiarity with every buckle and strap and how they are to be adjusted. The horse looking forward to a brisk walk or trot about. It’s time to quiet our minds and our spirits. Time to allow stress to blow away in the breeze before you hook and pick up your reins and whip. Time to be thankful for the horse that is willing to participate and bring all this to you. Maybe taking longer has more benefit for everyone involved. Even getting where you’re going a lot slower than you’re used to. What do you miss in a car that you can enjoy in a carriage?
Carriage driving is low-tech. No computers, no chips, no batteries, and little noise. We can spend some time with our horse traveling hearing hoofbeats and cart springs. Perhaps the gentle sound of a gremlin bell 🔔. You can talk with a passenger. Hear the birds and the breeze. Riffling water if it’s nearby. You can even take in your surroundings if your horse is seasoned and knows the way. This is a completely different mode of travel than we are accustomed to.
Driving is a wonderful way to include a non-horsey friend in horse activities. Spending time together in the slower pace, being outdoors, enjoying the quiet, appreciating the horse(s) who take us on this journey with them. Your companion doesn’t need to know a thing about horses or how to ride while enjoying the power, kindness and dignity of the horse. I can attest to the lasting memories created by driving with family and friends. And dogs. Can’t forget the dogs.
Carriage driving is a very natural place to enjoy horse activities as a team. Not only are two people the safest way to enjoy driving, they can do things together, both participating in the activity! Combined Driving is one sport that takes two people and it is more fun than people should be allowed to have! There are also activities at pleasure driving shows where two people can compete like Double Jeopardy Cones. Even when driving for pleasure, you can take turns driving while your companion relaxes. Driving is also one of the few horse sports where your coach can sit beside you to teach. They can demonstrate the concept you are working on and then hand you the reins for you to do it. Your coach in the vehicle (or on behind) helps to keep you safe as well.
Carriage driving is one of the only sports that you can really show off the “littles.” Small ponies and minis that are too small to ride by most can have an athletic activity to keep them fit in driving. The littles are stronger per pound than their horse counterparts and are just as athletic. With size divisions at most events, each horse regardless of size enjoys their share of the spotlight.
Carriage driving is fabulous cross-training and can give a riding horse a different working situation to freshen their perspective. Horses get bored too. They can also get aches and pains from repetitive motions from the same activities done in the same way over and over again. Working between shafts is also a proprioceptive exercise in coordinating movement within limitations. All the harness draped all over them, shafts on both sides and a vehicle behind them encourage confidence when introduced well.
Carriage driving is a chance to immerse yourself in the beauty of tradition. Driving was the main means of travel especially for groups of people. The quality of your turnout was a testament to your taste and status. While status need not be part of carriage driving today, expressing the elegance of the past is something to enjoy! Many of these photos are from a great blog article from IVC Carriage. They have great information on their website plus all your carriage driving needs. Click here to go shopping!
The skills and knowledge of carriage driving are a cultural/historical heritage that is fading. In generations past, harnessing and driving a horse was a skillset handed down from parents and mentors to the next generation. Most people were familiar with riding and driving and if they got in a jam, there were plenty of folks to help them out. Now we are so removed from driving horses as a necessary activity, that the skills involved are harder to learn as seasoned drivers become harder to find. These are skills worth preserving and continuing to enjoy for generations to come.
The carriage driving community is as welcoming as any I’ve been involved with. Even at a show, people will loan you a trace, a keeper, or help hook your horse without a second thought. Safety is paramount and fun is a close second. Seasoned drivers are more than willing to offer advice and wisdom. The driving community is devoted to spreading the word about their treasured activity. At most gatherings, smiles, compliments, and laughter abound. Who couldn’t use a fun group of folks to hang out with?
Have I convinced you yet?
Let me know!
Click on image to go to the website of the Treasure Valley Whips Carriage Driving Club
Click on the image to go to the American Driving Society
Click on the image to go to the CAA Website