Does anyone know about carriage driving?

Question

I live in middle Tennessee and I would like to learn to drive a cart and teach my young horse to pull a cart. If anyone knows where to go in person or online Thanks.

Answer 1

check out yellow pages and find some stables and see if they have any driving. If they don't, keep looking around the internet.

How old is your horse? You might want to hold back on carriage driving until he's about 4 years. and he's got to be a good strong built horse.

Answer 2

It is a long process ut if you want a walker driver get a tennesse walker instead. but if thats not an option go online and look.

http://sugarcreekcarriages.com/DrivingSc...

Answer 3

I wrote an article that gives the basics of training your horse to drive - here it is -

http://www.ehow.com/how_2121699_train-ho...

Hope it helps - good luck.

Answer 4

Yes, I do know about carriage driving, that is what I do for a living, and no, they don't need to be 4 before you start them, you can start them driving long before you start them riding.  I will try to find some good websites for you to use as references, but you can't go wrong with starting your horse out with a very mild (thick) D ring or O ring snaffle, just like you would if you were ground driving any horse.  Make you a set of driving lines and get a good driving whip...A driving whip is not a cruel instrument to use, it is just an extension of your arm and will soon become a source of security to your horse, so just get her used to it.  learn to drive in an enclosed area and learn to use voice commands and be consistent with them...what state are you located,  I can probably refer you to someone close that can get you started right.  As soon, even at two, that you feel that you have control of your horse, start, stop, back, trot on verbal commands, you can hook her to the cart...don't make the mistake of thinking that it will be easier on her if you go to a field or softer ground, it will be harder on her...get a helper and just go down the road...oh, one other thing, if you want a driving horse to stand quietly, you take the pressure OFF the bit...when you want the driving horse to go, you take the slack out of the lines and engage the bit, then your horse knows that he is in gear and ready for a command...you drive a horse collected and on the bit, no slack...they get their direction and their confidence and security from that constant contact...don't believe me?  Just be going down the road driving a true driving horse and let off of the bit contact...talk about weaving all over the road!!!!!!  I will try to return to this question and add to it some websites that will help you, CONA (Carriage Operators Of America) is a good place to start....good luck,and if you need more help, please feel free to email me.