10/21/2025
She says what is in my head..so sharing is easier than not!😉😊
If I could climb on a soapbox about one thing, it would be this:
There’s one mistake I see so many beginner carriage drivers make—one that sabotages success right from the start.
And listen, I say this with zero judgement. I get it.
This mistake comes from a place of excitement, motivation, and gritty resourcefulness. Those are beautiful qualities—and an important part of the journey. I want to protect that beginner’s enthusiasm.
And, I want to see you succeed. I want you to get out there and drive your horse across the countryside—confidently, safely, and with a great big smile across your face!
So, with that in mind, hear me out:
🚫 Stop putting the cart before the horse! 🚫
Some of my least-favourite lessons to teach are the ones where I am met with a student who is so excited to put their horse to the cart for the first time… and a horse who is nowhere near ready to take that step.
Or, even worse, the ones where the harness has been cobbled together out of spare parts, and the cart doesn’t have a hope of fitting the horse.
I hate having to tell my student that this won’t do. That we’re not there yet. That they need to invest in better gear.
It makes me so sad, because that enthusiasm is precious—but ethically, I have no choice.
“But I want to be sure that my pony likes driving before I go spend a bunch of money on it.”
Goodness, yes, me too.
But here’s the thing:
In order for your pony to like it, we need to set up for success.
When that cobbled-together harness comes apart on your third hitch… that’s not a recipe for your pony to enjoy driving.
When your pony’s back aches from a poorly balanced cart or an under-padded saddle… that’s not a recipe for your pony to enjoy driving.
When the cart creaks and clatters behind her, jolting with every bump in the trail… that’s not a recipe for your pony to enjoy driving.
Driving should not be a burden for your horse to bear.
Most of us know that when starting a horse under saddle, it’s crucial to use a well-fitting saddle in good repair—so both horse and rider stay comfortable and safe.
Let’s afford our driving horses the same consideration.
Now, I’m not saying you need to drop tens of thousands on the newest, fanciest gear—far from it.
(I’m actually a huge fan of buying second-hand.)
What I am saying is: wait to buy gear until you know what you’re looking for—and have saved enough pennies for something suitable.
In the meantime, train your horse.
You can do a lot of driving training with very minimal gear.
Do your groundwork. Do your lungework. Teach your horse the skills a driving horse needs to know—a good walk, clean transitions off your voice, and a solid whoa are a great place to start.
When you’re ready to start ground driving, you’ll want a pair of long lines and a driving whip—but still no need for a full harness or cart here, either.
Your riding bridle will work just fine for now, and you can run the lines through the stirrups of your riding saddle to keep them off the ground.
Once you’re ground driving successfully, then you can start shopping.
In the time it takes to find or order a decent harness, you’ll be able to put on some excellent ground driving miles. By this point, you should already be getting an inkling as to how driving suits your horse—and yourself.
Once you get your harness, you’ll want to spend some time dragging small loads, like old tires, on the ground. While you do so, you can start cart shopping.
Again, second-hand is a great way to go. Regional driving clubs can be a fantastic place to find quality equipment looking for a new home.
So, if you’re new to driving, let’s focus on your horse, first.
Resist the urge to grab that $150 harness off Facebook Marketplace (and stay off Amazon!).
Educate your horse, and educate yourself.
Check in with a mentor to get a fresh set of eyes on your work. If you don’t have someone nearby, many coaches—including me—offer online lessons.
Once you and your pony are ground driving confidently o’er hill and dale, then you can graduate into Real Driving Horse clothes: a harness and cart that will serve you well for years to come.
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📷 Chad Hodges
