Training a Horse for Harness What You Need to Know

Ever watched one of those period movies and wondered what it would be like to drive a horse drawn carriage?

Join us on a journey to see just what it takes to become a carriage driver, and how a horse is trained to harness.

Many people who take up carriage driving either do not feel confident on the back of a horse, or due to physical limitations cannot ride, but still want to enjoy the company of horses or the thrill of horse sports.

Driving has become increasingly popular for use with weddings and special events with many competitive drivers now offering this service as a means of funding the upkeep of their horses and carriages. Ponies with kids' carts have also become a popular and often a lucrative favourite in fairs and festivals.

To start carriage driving you need a horse of course. However not all horses are suited to carriage driving. When looking for a horse to use for driving the most important consideration is temperament. A carriage horse often requires prolonged periods of sanding, and nervous or fidgety horses do not do well, not to mention they are more likely to startle or shy.

For years now many have looked at certain breeds when searching for a carriage horse. And although there are breeds like The Friesian, Hackney, Connemara and Welsh Cobs which are considered as good carriage horses/ponies, the truth is any breed of horse is suitable for carriage driving, as the success of the horse largely depends on its outlook and conformation

When looking at conformation of the carriage horse "the wider the better" but it is not a rule of thumb. Horses with width look better, have more power and will find pulling a carriage easier, but the narrower ones are capable too.

When selecting a carriage horse on conformation, one would be looking more towards cob types; a strong sturdy levelheaded horse is best.

Once you have the horse it will need training. Because driving and particularly competitive driving is a strenuous sport, it is hard on a horse's back so it is advisable to only start the training of a carriage horse once it has reached five years old.

It is also good practice to have the horse backed and going under saddle for at least a year prior to training it for carriage. That way the horse will be used to hearing voices from behind it as well as receiving commands from the reins.

To begin training a horse to harness, first use long lining and then move on to accustom the horse to drag an object behind it. Good indications that the horse is ready for advanced work is when it pushes forward with its chest prior to walking off and is not alarmed by the sound of the object dragging behind it.

At this stage the horse should be teamed up with a more experienced horse and attached to a light carriage with a handler walking next to it. Ensure the fastening of the horse to the carriage (for the first few times) allows for the handler to quickly untie the horse should it be needed. Once the horse is comfortable without the handler it should be driven with a partner for at least a month, two to three times a week, allowing for the horse to build up confidence and to get used to bracing against the carriage when slowing down. Once this is completed the horse can then start to work alone.

Training a carriage horse this way will minimise the possibility of accidents or injuries sustained to either horse or handler. It will also allow for the horse to gain the required experience and confidence in his work before needing to go it alone.

Please do not try to train your horse yourself if you do not have the experience. Many serious and sometimes fatal accidents can occur when a horse bolts with a carriage. It is best to get help from someone who knows and can lend a guiding hand and horse.

Driver Training

In Europe you are required to pass a driving test should you wish to use a horse and carriage on the roads. Initially you would learn to drive a single horse, then work your way up to two (known as pairs or tandem) then three (known as a unicorn or fan) and four (known as four in hand). Very seldom today do we see teams of more than four, and even then it is done mostly for display.

What Equipment Would you Need

To start off you will require a single harness consisting of a bridle complete with blinkers, a bit (the most commonly used is the Liverpool bit, or a four ring snaffle), reins measuring up to 7.5m, and a breastplate, or collar depending on the design. The saddle (no not your riding saddle) houses the terrets (loops the reins pass through), the bearing rein hook and crupper attachment. You will also need a breeching, which goes around and over the quarters - this assists with preventing the carriage bumping into the horse whilst stopping or slowing down. Finally you will need trace lines, which attach the horse to the carriage and a light driving whip, which almost resembles a lunging whip.
A light single horse drawn carriage sporting a double shaft in between which the horse is harnessed

Driving Sports

Competitive driving has been steadily on the rise the last few years, with increasing numbers of comeptitors and supporters at driving marathons.

For marathon driving you need a team of people usually consisting of, but not limited to, the driver and groom who assist with counterbalancing the carriage around sharp turns (requires loads of guts, and a few under the belt at times).
The best way to describe a marathon is an obstacle course navigated at almost breakneck speeds in the countryside against the clock (hence the break neck speed).

However for those not quite so serious, there are:

• pleasure driving (showing),
• dressage driving (which is tested), and
• obstacle courses for the more sporting and accurate drivers. Obstacle courses are laid out using highway marker cones and tennis balls.

Could Your Horse be Used for any Sport Other than Driving?

Driving horses are not just used for driving, a well schooled horse can combine driving with other equestrian sports, however most owners of driving horses tend to use them as hacks. A driving horse would be capable of competing in most lower levels of equestrian sports with the exception of dressage, as driving tends encourage the horse to lean forward onto the forehand, something very unsuited to the dressage horse.

However, no matter what your skill level is, carriage driving can be fun and very rewarding.

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