DiscoverDriving

It’s also an activity contemplated by horse owners looking for a way to work their horse, or spend time with it without actually riding. It’s ideal for those who may not be able to, or would prefer not to ride but would still like to get their competition fix.

Participants range in age from young children up to those in their eighties, and the type of ponies and horses used in carriage driving range from the smallest of breeds, think Miniatures, Shetlands, Welsh Ponies, Cobs and Australian Ponies, to the very largest of breeds, like Friesians, Cleveland Bays, crossbreds and Clydesdales.

Pleasure or competition

Carriage driving can be for pleasure or for competition, which gives participants the option of selecting a carriage to suit their driving requirements from the many different styles and types.

Within the sport there are a number of different disciplines, each having their own challenges and requirements of the horses and handlers.

Competition Driving is what many may associate with the sport; elegantly dressed drivers with their beautifully presented horses or ponies pulling traditional-looking carriages. HRH Prince Philip was among driving enthusiasts who devised Combined Driving event (CED) rules in the early 1970s. The sport of four-in-hand driving took off in Australia in the 1980s with our six time FEI World Champion Four-in-Hand Driving and current ten time FEI World Cup Indoor Driving Champion, Boyd Exell, winning his first Australian Pairs Championship at 16 years of age.

Getting Started

By Tracy Weaver-Sayer

Equestrian sports have always been popular, with horse owners able to choose from a variety of disciplines and activities that best suit their interests and capabilities, and that of their horses.

The article Change of Rein - the art of changing riding disciplines in the Hoofbeats February/March 2023 issue highlighted considerations for riders when trying a new equestrian discipline and the benefits of challenging yourself in a new equestrian sport.

Carriage Driving is the oldest competitive equestrian sport. It’s an appealing activity as it’s one that can be enjoyed at just about any age, and just about any breed of horse or pony has the potential to make a suitable driving horse.

A sport that can be enjoyed by the whole family, carriage driving is sometimes considered for a pony that has been outgrown by a young rider. It can also be suited to an older horse as it does not involve carrying weight directly, and it can be a helpful step when training a younger horse to accustom them to wearing tack and responding to the driving aids.

As Secretary of the WA Harness Driving Society Margaret Langan is passionate about carriage driving, a sport she took an interest in in the late 70s, going on to compete and judge across Australia. She suggests that all that is needed to get involved in driving is an interest in horses, explaining that many driving clubs across the country now run Come and Try Days, which are ideal for anyone who might like to give driving a try in a safe and controlled setting.

While those who have ridden will have an understanding of rein handling and can therefore find the transition to driving easier than a non-rider, driving is different to riding, so even if you haven’t ridden before that is no disadvantage. Some riders find that having no legs and seat on their horse and being so far from the horse’s head, creates a feeling of insecurity from what they’re accustomed to. The connection with the carriage horse while driving is your voice, rein and whip.

Come and Try Days

A session or two at a Come and Try Day offers the ideal opportunity to learn about driving and the chance to speak to experienced people about what’s involved. Getting to know those involved in driving can help with enquiries about lessons and what constitutes a suitable horse or pony that you can move on with.

Margaret explains the importance of getting advice before going out and buying anything, “You need to find a suitable horse/pony and then buy the vehicle and harness to suit and fit. Many novices buy an unbroken animal. They think they can learn together, and ‘how hard can it be?’. Ask yourself if you would buy an unbroken horse to learn to ride on, NO! It’s important to get something experienced to start off with and then you can move on. It’s like a ridden horse, if you start with something too powerful it is hard to gain confidence, and you see so many people lose confidence and move away from riding and driving because of this.”

Vehicle

When it comes to a vehicle, Margaret suggests starting off with a basic one, “It may not look flash but it will start you off. Authentic vehicles with wooden wheels require much more care and need to be sound, and some won’t be. The balance of a two-wheeled vehicle with the horse or pony is important as it reflects how much weight goes onto the horse’s back, and like the importance of the saddle to a ridden horse’s comfort, the ‘fit’ of the vehicle for the harness horse is equally as important for comfort and safety.”

While there are different vehicles for different disciplines a jogger/ work cart would be suitable for a beginner and would cost around $500 upwards. Unless you are doing a turnout class - which you may not as a beginner - your vehicle and harness are not judged in show driving as long as they are safe and well fitted.

If you become hooked on driving and plan to start competing, a show vehicle for the ring can cost anywhere from $1000 to $10,000 upwards.

For Combined Driving events you can use one vehicle but you can also have two, with a presentation vehicle that you use for cones and dressage, and a marathon vehicle that takes on the ‘cross-country’, with prices ranging from $4000-$10,000.

The Driving Disciplines

Driven DressAge - Like riding dressage but in a larger arena where you are judged on the freedom, regularity of pace, harmony, impulsion, suppleness, lightness, ease of movement and correct bending of horses and ponies on the move.

CombineD Driving - An exhilarating sport that involves a single horse, team of horses or other multiple combinations e.g. a tandem that pull their driver and groom in a carriage. one groom rides with single horses and pairs, and two grooms ride with fourin-hand teams. Competitions span three days and include three unique events: dressage, marathon, and obstacle driving. it is in this sport that Australia’s boyd exell has excelled, winning more titles than any other driver in history along with a host of awards and honoured with the order of Australia medal in recognition of his services to equestrian sport, in particular four-in-hand carriage driving.

shoW Driving - often termed harness classes, these events can be seen at most agricultural and royal shows and are often divided into light and heavy horse sections.and judged according to the way they perform at different paces in their individual workouts.

PLeAsure AnD enDurAnCe Driving - A Pleasure drive can be simply a drive down a country lane, rail trails, a picnic or campfire shared with like minded company held on one day, a weekend or even for a week in public reserves or private property. A great way to see the countryside, socialise, swap tips and educate a horse. other activities which you can enjoy include good old fashioned fun days where club members get together for a great social event.

Harness

Once you have the vehicle then you need to purchase suitable harness to suit that vehicle and your horse. Prices for harness can vary greatly, so depending on your budget you could find something for as little as $500 up to $5000, with a synthetic harness, which is probably best for someone starting out. “A cheaper leather harness can present problems so seek advice that what you’re looking to buy is safe. Zilco are a good source for harness and although it could be a bit more expensive, it will last forever. Second hand sets can be available but do seek advice on

Transport

Once you’re set up and ready to go with your own vehicle and harness there’s the consideration of how to transport vehicle and horse off the property. A ute or truck will be required with some vehicles able to fit into the front of a larger angle float, which a lot of people now use. Some find it easier to take two cars to events, one with the float and one with the vehicle, so consideration to transport will be required when getting started in driving and moving on to attending lessons, clinics and events.

Carriage driving is an equestrian activity that is fun and can be enjoyed competitively or recreationally at any age, and at a pace that suits you. It allows the driver to develop a strong bond with the horse through their voice, the reins and whip. And with so many ways to get involved and desire for a challenge catered for, perhaps sitting on a seat, rather than a saddle could open up a whole new world of opportunities and experiences for equestrians and their horses and ponies.

With the greatest athlete in the international driving sport an Australian, who knows where Driving could take you!

having grown considerably over the years with a mix of two and four wheeled vehicles in her collection of viceroys, sydney brass sulkies and Dressage/Combined Driving carriages. Diane agrees wholeheartedly with the sentiment she heard when she started out, that ‘driving is the most fun you can have sitting down’.

“Driving is perfect for someone that is not as physically able to ride, maybe through age, weight or wear and tear, as driving is not as physically demanding on the body. i’m 63 and there are people driving into their seventies, there is no barrier on age or physicality to transfer your riding skills to driving.”

The Most Fun You Can Have Sitting Down

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how Diane boardman Discovered Driving

When Diane boardman from victoria was young she had an injury that prompted her Doctor to advise her to give up riding, advice she refused to heed for about 15 years, until physically she knew she could no longer go on with the riding she loved so much.

When a friend suggested driving as a way for her to maintain her equestrian interests without actually riding, it saw Diane taking up the offer of a drive, a trip she recalls as one where the conversation steered towards all the things that can go wrong when driving. Despite the ‘horror stories’ Diane enjoyed it immensely and was hooked, promptly organising the sale of her saddle and making, in her own words, “the best decision i ever made!”

That was in 1997 and with the proceeds from the saddle Diane purchased a pony and carriage so she could learn to drive. she’s not looked back and today Diane has achieved much success, and tremendous enjoyment from the sport. she has twelve ponies broken in to harness and enjoys show carriage, dressage and combined driving, her collection of carriages (and winner’s sashes)

Her advice is to do as she did, find someone experienced and have lessons, as while the horror stories she heard all those years ago did not put her off she points out that it is important to know that things can go wrong and, like all horse sports, it can be dangerous, so it’s important to start out with an experienced driver and pony/horse.

A member of victoria’s Longwood Carriage Driving Club, Diane highlights the social aspect of the sport, explaining that carriage driving is not usually undertaken on your own. “You do require help on the ground and it’s something you can enjoy with a friend or your husband/partner.”

While Diane enjoys the competition side of the sport she pointed out that the majority of drivers do simply drive for pleasure, enjoying a drive around their local suburb like she did all those years ago.

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Liz Keating, Lifestyle Performance Horses

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