By Mitzi Summers

In the last article, general aspects of driving were discussed, as well as parts of

the harness and a brief description about their function. Before your horse is ready to begin training for driving, you both should meet certain criteria. If you have never driven a horse, it is imperative that you take lessons. They can be informal and from a friend, but driving requires certain skills that need to be learned and practiced from a horse already trained.

Learning to harness and hitch up the horse should come first. Here are some rules that should be followed:

1. Do not harness your horse in the stall if at all possible. It is best to have him cross-tied if he is completely trained to cross ties, or to have a helper. He should at first have a halter and lead rope, and the collar or breast collar goes on first over the halter.

2. Then place the saddle and crupper on the horse. Buckle the crupper around the tail before buckling the girth.

3. Do not lay the traces over the neck of your horse. Lay them across his back.

4. Now draw the reins through the turrets. Fold them neatly through the back-strap or through the saddle turrets.

5. Now the halter can be removed, buckling it around the neck of the horse to have something with which to secure him. The bridle can now be put on. Be sure of the adjustment and only now attach the reins to the bit.

6. For safety, at least two people should harness the horse to the cart. Make sure that the shafts of the cart are the correct length for your horse, then place the shaft points through the tugs.

7. Take the traces from across the horse’s back and attach to the whiffle tree or trace hooks. If you are using breeching, you may now attach it.

For safety, especially with a green driver or horse, have someone holding the horse while the driver gets into the cart.

The procedure described would be followed for a TRAINED driving horse that is used to being harnessed. A horse new to this would have to be accustomed to everything gradually.

There are more things to consider with your horse and harness before actually starting the training procedure. Your present horse or the horse that you are considering buying for driving needs to “pass“ a few more tests. He must be unconcerned about things happening behind him, including any noise that they might make. Of course he can be desensitized, but some horses just by temperament are much more attuned to flight and quick reactions than others.

Have your helper hold the horse while you move behind him. Make movements and noises but not in a violent manner that would frighten any horse. Be VERY careful when performing any of these so you can not get kicked. Stand to the side and work with his tail. You can get a horse used to the crupper by holding his tail close to his body with two hands and rotating the tail very carefully in slow circles. Be careful that he does not clamp his tail on your hand. Get him accustomed to the feel of the shafts by moving your hand along his sides where the shaft will go.

SAFETY TIPS

1. Be sure your green horse is accustomed to having a rein under his tail before you hitch him for the first time.

2. Have anyone in the cart wear protective headgear. I remember that approximately ten years ago an experienced judge and driver was hired to judge a local driving show. The morning of the show it was learned that the day before, driving her own, experienced horse, an accident occurred. She was thrown from the cart, hit her head on a rock and was killed. Always wear an approved safety helmet.

3. Be certain your horse is accustomed to all the sights and sounds he may encounter on the road. Cars, motorcycles, school buses, lawn mowers, mail boxes, bicycles, dogs, etc., all of these can potentially be dangerously frightening to your horse.

4. Your harness must be thoroughly examined before each use. Any worn or weak pieces must not be used and repaired or discarded.

5. Never remove the horse’s bridle when he is hitched.

6. Never ask your horse to do anything when he is hitched up that he does not already know, such as turning or backing.

7. Remember to speak to a blinkered horse and not approach him from behind. He cannot see you.

8. If going on a drive let people know where and when you expect to return.

9. Do not go alone until you and the horse are very experienced.

THE DRIVER

In general, when driving you need to maintain good posture. Keep your feet flat on the floor of the vehicle. More about proper attire will be discussed later, but gloves are essential. Your fingers can quickly become sore otherwise, plus gloves help you to grip the reins more securely. Unlined leather gloves (in temperate weather) are best. The fit is very important. Your hand movements will be clumsy is they are too loose or too tight and impede circulation. There are different methods of holding the reins which will be discussed later, but your upper body position should be approximately the same as if you were riding. You should sit evenly on your seat bones, with your shoulders wide and your back straight. Take care not to hyperextend your lower back. This would lead to tension and stiffness throughout your body, including your hands on the reins.

Your upper arm should be perpendicular to your upper body with your elbows bent. This should form approximately a 90 degree angle. There should be a bit of “space” between your upper arm and the side of your body. If you imagine a ping pong ball under each arm, it will help you develop this feel.

As in riding, the connection with the reins (or driving lines) should feel as if it originates more at the back of the scapula. When I am riding or driving I feel a unity from the horse’s mouth, through the lines to my shoulder, and then there is a connection right to the soles of my shoes! Half halts are used in driving as much if not more than riding, and these can only be done by utilizing the body correctly.

Take care that when you do halt your horse your elbows never go in back of your upper torso. This would negate any connection with your body and just result in your stopping or turning your horse from a stiff and uncompromising hand. It also leaves you with no place to “go” with your hands if the horse does not turn or stop, and can result in a dangerous situation.

You will turn your horse from your “center” just as you should in riding except, of course, your legs are not able to communicate with your horse. Your “center” is located in the general location of your navel. Think of a big ball in the center of your pelvic girdle. If you wish to turn your horse, simply point your center in the direction in which you want the horse to go. If you allow your arms to follow, they will automatically be giving your horse the correct signals. To halt or slow down, just “drop “ your center and exhale. It is amazing how sensitive horses are and how they will respond.

There are exercises you can do at home to prepare yourself for driving. You can hold the lines and the whip and walk about to develop the manual dexterity that is necessary when you drive. You can also take a round, small diameter rope and put it around a vertical pole or fence post. Have it at approximately waist height and hold each end. Practice pulling the rope toward you with one hand while it pulls your other hand away from you. This movement can free up the muscles you will use in driving. Become aware of the connection you can have with your hands through your body. Stop pulling on the rope with just one hand and pull evenly with both. Try to relax and lower your sacrum as you do this. You can do a lot in training your body about the mechanics of driving before actually connecting with a horse. Since it is very easy to hurt a horse’s mouth in driving, these precautions are necessary.

The ground work you do with your horse before you hitch him is important and will give you much of the feeling you need for driving. Holding two lines and a whip is definitely a learned skill. Be aware that it is also common to hold both reins in the left hand and the whip is your right hand, so this can also be practiced.

The whip is an important means of communication to your driving horse. With your voice it helps to take the place of a rider’s legs. Practice long lining and ground driving a trained horse with the assistance of someone practiced in doing this so that you become more adept in the use of the whip. It should only be used as a means of communication and not as punishment. Use it as lightly as possible. A horse’s natural instinct when frightened is flight, so it is very important that a horse remain calm and accepting of your influence when being driven, not tense and fearful.

Part III will detail the training of your horse for driving.