[Phaeton]

You can find some good information through the American Driving Society they have a magazine called the Whip plus they are online samething with the Carriage Association of America CAAonline Do your homework and get as much information as you can.

 

[eliduc]

For the safety of you and your horse you need some hands on experience with an experienced driver. We joined our local carriage club and the help is great. Driving is a lot more dangerous than riding and you kind of need to start over with your horse. Not putting the horse before your cart means doing your ground work first. Teach your horse to ground tie (stand unattended) so that it will stand for harnessing without moving. Ground drive your horse with a surcingle and long lines until it is consistent in its turns and stopping. I longe my horses to teach gait transitions: walk, trot, canter, slow trot, jog, stop by voice command. You may not want to jog when you are driving but the ability to travel at a slow, controlled
gait is important. The stop should be instantaneous and consistent without taking steps afterward. I have a tow bar that I made out of a piece of two inch pipe with open hooks on it to attach the traces or even rope to. I next pull an inner tube, then a tire and finally a 8 inch by six foot long log around the arena practicing stops and circles. If the horse gets excited and turns around the bar detaches. The first time I hook my two wheeled cart to the horse I lead him it a bit. When I begin to drive the horse outside the cart either from the side or behind the cart I have a helper at the side of the horse's head with a ten foot lead line attached to the halter under the bridal for control if needed. When you first enter the cart a helper should be at the head of the horse. Before you venture out on trails you should have many hours driving in an enclosed arena practicing transitions, circles, figure eights, serpentines etc. This may seem like a lot of work but it's all part of having a safe driving horse. Through each step you should be honestly evaluating your horse and asking yourself if it has the temperament to be a driving horse.

 

[Phaeton]

I think knowing the parts of the harness and how they work along with proper adjustments is very important. If not fitted properly the horse will not be happy. If their not happy nobody is happy and things can go wrong. Ground drive so that you and the horse are comfortable. There is also a proper order in which the harness goes on and comes off. There is a proper way to hitch to the carriage. There are a few rules to follow driver is first one in and last one out. Never leave the carriage attached and walk away. Disconnect before you walk away. Most accidents are because of driver error or equipment failure. Do you homework American Driving Society has a list of clubs all from all over the country and Carriage Association of America is another good resource. I think most drivers are willing to help a new driver out.
I'm the safety officer for our club and I check everyones harness and rig before they are allowed to drive. One reason is what you do in your back yard is one thing but when other people are around you could hurt them. If I can help just one person I feel better feel free to contact me.

 

[Phaeton]

discover-horse-carriage-driving.com/driving video

 

[Hodgesaarh]

message for jimmy
notice you are in yorkshire, which part?
I am in scarborough and looking for someone to show me ropes (or reins) for driving.