Embarking on the journey of training a horse for carriage driving requires patience, a methodical approach, and a deep understanding of the horse’s learning process. Many aspiring carriage drivers find themselves struggling with ground driving, often a sign that crucial foundational steps have been overlooked. This article outlines a sequential training process, emphasizing the importance of each building block, to help create a confident and responsive driving horse. For those new to the discipline, seeking guidance from experienced individuals or reliable resources, such as these training materials, is highly recommended.
Step 1: “Backyard” Showmanship
The fundamentals of in-hand Showmanship are paramount for preparing a horse for driving. This discipline teaches essential manners and verbal cues. A horse well-trained in Showmanship will be significantly easier to train for driving. Key components include leading properly at the handler’s shoulder without pressure, halting, standing square, backing, and turning. These actions are accomplished using verbal cues like “Walk,” “Trot,” “Whoa,” “Stand,” “Set,” “Back,” “Come,” and “Get,” which directly translate to driving commands. While advanced Showmanship has handler-specific nuances, the core maneuvers lay a solid groundwork for driving preparation. These exercises can be introduced to younger horses in short, age-appropriate lessons, avoiding drills until the horse’s body and mind are mature enough.
Step 1a: Desensitization
Concurrent with Showmanship training, desensitizing the horse to various stimuli is critical. This involves gradually exposing the horse to objects moving around, on, or through its legs. A well-desensitized horse is not only easier to train for driving but also develops a stronger trust bond with its handler.
Step 2: Leading in a Circle
Once a horse is comfortable leading straight at the shoulder, the next step is to practice leading in a large circle. This prepares the horse for lunging and should be practiced in both directions (left and right).
Step 3: Maintaining the Circle
Building on leading in a circle, the handler begins to create distance, allowing the horse to maintain the circular path independently. By lengthening the lead line, the handler encourages the horse to move away from their side, mimicking the positioning required when being driven. This step teaches the horse to “lead” as it would be driven, with the handler still in control but the horse learning to work autonomously.
Step 4: Lunging
With the horse accustomed to staying on the circle, the handler can transition to lunging. The handler stands in the center of the circle and encourages forward movement by directing their body towards the horse’s hip. A common mistake is getting too far ahead of the horse, which signals a halt. By focusing on the hip, forward momentum is encouraged. Through lunging, horses learn to walk, trot at various speeds, and halt, all while responding to the verbal cues established during Showmanship. Consistency is vital.
Step 5: Wearing the Harness
The harness is a novel concept for a horse, and it needs time to acclimate to wearing this unfamiliar equipment. Introduction to the harness should occur in a controlled environment, like a stall, with a comfortable, pinch-free setup. Allowing the horse to wear the harness (without the bridle) during non-demanding activities, such as eating, can aid acceptance, always under supervision. Several lessons may be needed before progressing.
Step 5a: Leading and Lunging with the Harness
Once the horse accepts wearing the harness, it’s time to integrate it into leading and lunging sessions. The horse must become accustomed to the feel of the girth, backstrap, hip strap, and crupper. For initial sessions, the breeching straps should be secured or removed to prevent dragging. The breast collar and traces are typically introduced later. The horse should first walk comfortably with the harness before any faster gaits are asked for.
Step 6: Bitting
Introducing a bit requires careful consideration, especially if the horse has no prior bitting experience. A simple, mild bit that the horse learns to hold rather than play with is recommended. Options like a correctly-sized mullen snaffle or a Bowman Victory Boucher bit, which offers tongue relief, are suitable. An open bridle (a driving bridle without blinkers or a hunt seat bridle with a caveson) is used for early bitting training. The horse must accept the bit comfortably before moving to the next stage.
Step 7: Lunging with the Bit
With the horse proficient in lunging at various gaits and halts, the bridle and bit are introduced. The open bridle allows the horse to see, building confidence. It should be adjusted correctly, with the bit properly placed in the mouth. Crucially, no reins are attached at this stage. A halter is placed over the bridle, and the lunge line is attached to the halter. Lunging continues, with understanding that the horse now has more to process. Patience is key, and progress should only be made once the horse is comfortable and responsive.
Step 8: Lunging with Both Harness and Bridle
This step integrates the previously learned skills. The horse now wears both the harness and the open bridle with the bit. The halter is placed over the bridle, and the lunge line is attached to the halter.
Step 9: Beginning Long Lining (Double Lunge)
Long lining in a circle leverages the horse’s comfort zone and introduces response to the bit. The horse is familiar with the circle, verbal cues, gaits, and halt. The inside long line is attached to the bit ring and led back to the handler’s hand. The outside long line runs through the saddle tug, around the horse’s haunches, and back to the handler. The handler remains in the center of the circle. This may be the first time the horse experiences direct contact on the bit, so gentle steering and clear verbal cues are essential. Lessons should be short and positive, focusing initially on walking the circle and halting.
Long lining is an art that demands practice and consistent contact. Too light a contact leads to a lack of control, while too heavy a contact can frustrate the horse. Through long lining, horses learn to move forward with contact, steer with the bit, trot at different speeds, and eventually halt on the bit, skills that are difficult to teach while running behind the horse.
Step 10: Transitioning to Line Driving
Only when the horse has mastered long lining on the circle does the handler transition to driving from behind. Steering is practiced by guiding the horse through pairs of cones, alternating between larger and smaller circles, and deviating from straight lines. The handler moves behind the horse to maintain the inside position for turns. Driving in straight lines while walking behind is generally avoided due to the difficulty in maintaining consistent contact and the physical exertion involved.
From long lining, the progression continues to pulling a shaft trainer or weight, and eventually to being hitched to a carriage. The steps outlined are fundamental for starting a driving horse and can vary in duration depending on the experience of both horse and handler. For beginners, dedicating weeks to establishing these foundations is advisable. Skipping these crucial steps can lead to problems that may require remedial training. While experienced trainers may use alternative methods, the process described here provides a structured and reliable approach for beginners to develop a congenial, controlled, competent, and confident driving horse.
