I recently joined The Empathetic Trainer podcast with Barbara O'Brien for a real, honest conversation about driving, communication, and what horses actually need from us. Check it out: It's Not The Spook, It's Wha... Apr 15 · The Empathetic Trainer 65:34   ​

Hey there, Reader, happy Thursday!
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I had the pleasure this week of being a guest on “The Empathetic Trainer” podcast, hosted by the lovely Barbara O’Brien. We had a wonderful conversation about carriage driving, horsemanship, training, and the ways horses teach us about communication, confidence, and ourselves.
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You can check out the full conversation on your preferred listening platform.
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Barbara asked some really great questions, one of which was about the benefits of teaching your riding horse to ground drive. We talked about how ground driving is excellent cross-training for horses in any discipline, as it allows you to work with your horse from a new angle, and encourages you to focus on skills that may not get so much attention when you’re riding.
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Cross-training is the practice of using different exercises or activities to complement and enhance your main training focus. It keeps things fresh, helps prevent overuse injuries, and activates new muscle groups—all while keeping your horse engaged and interested.​
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​For many riding horses, ground driving (driving your horse while walking behind, without a carriage) is one of the most valuable tools you can add to your training program. It sharpens communication, builds confidence, and strengthens your partnership in ways that show up everywhere, especially under saddle.
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Consider just a few of the benefits:
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1️⃣ Improved Communication and Responsiveness
​Working in the driving position teaches you to guide your horse using rein aids, body language, and voice, with no direct physical contact. Your horse learns to tune in more attentively, and you become clearer and more intentional with your cues. That clarity carries right over into the saddle.
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2️⃣ Confidence Building
​Driving asks the horse to lead the way — literally. That’s a vulnerable position, and most horses need to learn how to feel secure out in front. The confidence they build through ground driving will help them to feel more sure of themselves and less reactive in new or stressful situations.
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3️⃣ Trust and Partnership
​When your horse is out in front of you, she needs to trust your guidance, and you need to trust her to do her job sensibly and reliably. Ground driving is a powerful way to develop mutual trust, confidence, and teamwork.
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4️⃣ Physical Conditioning and Balance
​Ground driving gives your horse the space to explore their own body and balance, without the need to account for a rider. It’s the perfect opportunity for them to learn to engage their core, step their hind legs deep under their body, and stretch into your contact. The result? Better muscle development, flexibility, and balance — key ingredients for athletic performance in any discipline.
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5️⃣ Mental Engagement
​Driving presents new challenges for both of you, which keeps training interesting and productive. Your horse becomes more mentally focused, and you both stay motivated and engaged.
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Incorporating ground driving into your training program can lead to a more versatile, confident, and responsive riding horse. It’s a valuable and rewarding investment in your horse’s development — and in your own growth as a rider. Driving sharpens your aids and communication skills, helping you become the kind of partner your horse needs to truly flourish.
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So even if you have no intention of ever hitching your horse to a vehicle, I encourage you to teach your horse to ground drive, so that you can explore the opportunities that this type of groundwork has to offer the both of you.
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Happy driving,
Christine