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The Fine Art of
English Carriage Driving
During our summer holiday to England I discovered an enjoyable leisure
respite in watching the art of horse care and carriage driving.
Equestrian pursuits are very popular in Great Britain and much pleasure
is derived from spending time in this leisure sport. It is with the
thoughts of sharing the beautiful photos of this adventure that I
started to formulate this article on English Carriage Driving.
Driving is the oldest competitive equestrian sport. It is a discipline
without riders; instead, drivers sit on a vehicle drawn by a single
horse, a pair or a team of four horses. This sport requires a
good deal of the three “P’s”: Patience; persistence; and
perseverance. The training of any horse requires quantities of
time and effort on both the human and pony’s part. Developing a strong
degree of confidence and respect between human and animal is crucial in
the ability to first train and then develop the animal. Much has
changed in the relationship between horses and human since I was a child
on the farm in Idaho. Back in those days the quest was to find an “old
gray mare” that would be gentle with young children.
The use of English Carriages originated long before the days of my
visits to Great Britain.
Carriage driving dates back to the Middle Ages when horses
were the only means of transportation. There are now a number of
varieties of
carriages for every need; from the training carriage shown in the photo
to the Royal Carriage. The HRH guilded carriage still transports Queen
Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace to Royal Engagements and special
occasions, including the Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana
Spencer in 1981.
Carriage driving is a popular competitive sport and
is judged in three phases: Dressage, Marathon and Obstacle Driving.
During any type of driving it is a good idea to fit the horse with
blinkers (blinders) to avoid any spooking or shying of the pony during
travel. The Dressage phase is designed to train the horse to work
through various gaits and formations from simple to more complex
exercises and training routines.
 These may include training the horse
to go around a circuit or arena with certain movements and gaits without
coaching from the human. The Marathon phase of the competition tests
the stamina and endurance of the pony while working through and around
the all important obstacle driving. Obstacle driving trains the horse
to maneuver successfully around unforeseen obstacles that will confront
driver and pony throughout the course. These obstacles would include
barriers (cones) that the pony is required to parlay around without
interruption. In obstacle training the horse may be required to back
up, pivot on hindquarters or sidestep to avoid trouble.
The
pony featured in the photographs is a ten year old pony named “Pearl.”
Pearl has lived most of her years in the pastures of Northwest England.
Pearl and her master, Rose, have a definite bond and between the two of
them, they make the various processes of horse care look easy. It is my
observation that a true bond develops as you spend so much time together
between the feeding, grooming, mucking up, and exercise of the pony.
The carriage driving is really something Pearl now tolerates as it
provides Rose with a sense of enjoyment in getting the pony, reins, and
carriage in unison.
The carriage pictured here is a training cart (unsprung)
used to acquaint both the driver and the pony to the hobby. This
carriage is a single axle which avoids any jackknifing of the
horse-drawn vehicle. It is best to have a groom with you to hold
the horse securely while you climb on and off the carriage.  All
dismounts from the carriage should be done with the rider
exiting the carriage backwards so that you are facing forward in the
event your pony spooks or moves forward as you disengage from the
carriage. Equestrian pursuits are very popular in most European and
English-speaking countries.
You don’t have to be Royal or
wealthy to participate in the sport, only requirement is to have an
affection for animals; a desire to put in some dedicated time and an
enjoyment of the outdoors. More information can be obtained through equestrian clubs and from web
sponsored sites displayed on this webpage. Please take a moment to
look.
Contact the author: jfshaw@mylasco.com
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