So, You Think You Love Horses? Some Reflections on the Nature of Horses and Man

More Discussions by “The Accidental Horseman”

Equestrian Sports and Activities: Driving

Going for a Drive

The modern driver finds the ride just as enjoyable.
Photo Courtesy of Joyce Clayton

Phaeton, post chaise, surrey, park drag, jaunting car, barouche, growler, and lorry; at one time these terms would have been as familiar to people as words like minivan, sedan, compact or sports utility vehicle are to us today. Although you do not see very many horse-drawn vehicles on American’s roads now, it has not been that long ago that they were common. For example, my mother-in-law as a young farm girl drove a horse and buggy into town to go to school during the 1920s. Her father had an arrangement with the local livery stable and in the days before local school bus service it worked well. My own first memories of horses were urban ones. There were hucksters in Baltimore who were called Arabs, pronounced Ay’-rabs. They drove horse-drawn wagons through the alleys selling produce and all had distinctive cries which still echo in my memory. At the time these cries puzzled me because I had little idea just what they were saying in their African-American dialect that seemed to run an entire phase into one long, musical word. Who knows, if the price of gas goes up any more we may find ourselves doing this again.

Today, driving is a recreational activity. A friend is very active in the driving world and I have had nice rides in her cart. There comes a point it life where a vigorous horseback ride astride can leave you fatigued and achy, but driving is easier on the passenger and horse as well. She is a very skilled woodworker and has built or rebuilt the bodies of several carts. Her tack is beautifully made by Amish harness makers with whom she dealt directly. The people who drive have clubs, shows, and sponsor group drives for all kinds of wheeled vehicles. Combined Driving Events, the harness equivalent of three day eventing, is very popular in the driving world and features: dressage, marathon and cones classes. There are also trace paces and endurance driving events.

There was another group that a friend belonged to that would run large wagon trains past our house and made family weekend trips with their club, camping at members' farms after a days run. They had outriders mounted on either end of the train with red flags and would wave motor vehicles past them when it was safe. There is also the elite of the driving world, the people who do coaching. They drive large and elegant coaches with teams of horses in competitive events. Needless to say, the bigger the vehicle and the more animals involved the larger the costs.

Driving a horse-drawn vehicle requires skills for both the human and equine. My horse is absolutely terrorized by the sight of a horse and wagon. He seems to think that the wagon is about to swallow the poor horse and that likely he will be next. It’s all I can do to calm him down. Horses need to be trained to drive properly, and the driver also needs to properly use the reins and maneuver the vehicle. Safety and a well-schooled horse are even more important when a horse is harnessed. If a mounted rider is thrown you only have a loose horse. If a harnessed horse panics and the driver is thrown from a carriage, you have the carriage flailing behind the animal and a very dangerous situation. Run away teams are as feared today as they were in any Western movie. The vehicle and tack need proper maintenance. The larger the vehicle and the more horses involved the more complicated the process. Hobbyists need some type of trailer that holds both their horses and their driving vehicle.

Despooking a Driving Horse 19th Century Style
Today's Drivers often Attend Clinics

A Driving Steeplechase
Photo Courtesy of Joyce Clayton

Its not your grandmother's driving.
(Photo courtesy of Margie Cox and John Cox)