Hey Reader,

I want to talk about a common faux-pas that I see too often among novice drivers trying to start their horse in harness. This is a mistake that I’m certain is made with the best of intentions, and I suspect comes from a mis-translation of riding training applied to driving.

In educating a riding horse, it’s a fairly common practice to work the horse on the lunge line, fully tacked up with saddle and bridle, to allow the horse to become comfortable in its “work clothes” before introducing a rider. This is sound logic.

In educating a driving horse, you absolutely can and should do the same with the driving harness. I want to see that my horse moves just as freely in his driving clothes as he does naked. That he’s accustomed to the feeling and sounds of the harness, that it fits him well, and that he is comfortable in it, before we progress to pulling a load.

However, under NO circumstances should you attempt to lunge, or otherwise work from the ground, a horse hooked up to a vehicle. This includes lunging, long reining, and leading from the ground.

When hitched, the shafts and traces give the horse a clear sense of direction and alignment of its body in space and relative to the vehicle. A horse will instinctively seek to center itself into the load, and align its body with the shafts. When you are seated in the vehicle, you feel this same sense of alignment, and your cues come from the same direction as the load. Everyone is on the same page.

From the ground, however, your position conflicts with the vehicle’s alignment, giving the horse mixed signals. You also lose the direct rein and whip aids that are fundamental to driving, making it very difficult to effectively manage the horse and vehicle together. This increases the risk of your horse getting confused, and hampers your ability to guide your horse effectively to keep everybody safe and comfortable.

When your horse is hooked to a vehicle, you need to be in the driver’s seat, with the reins in your hands.

Driving involves a lot more variables and moving parts than riding does, and the only safe way to manage a horse hooked to a vehicle is from the box seat of that vehicle.

If you don’t feel comfortable getting in the vehicle behind your horse, then either
1) your horse is not ready to be put to a vehicle, or
2) you need an experienced mentor there to help you.

By the time you put your driving horse to a vehicle for the first time, you should both be well-accustomed to ground driving here, there, and everywhere. Positioning yourself directly behind your horse should feel like second-nature to both of you.

You can practice for the vehicle by ground driving with false shafts, by ground driving your horse while a helper pulls the vehicle behind, beside, and all around your horse, and by dragging simple loads like tires on the ground. All of these activities should be done from the ground driving position.

By the time you add the vehicle, you should feel relieved at the opportunity to finally sit down!

Take things slow and educate your horse thoroughly so that she is well-prepared for the job at hand, but there comes a point where you’ve done all the prep work you can, and it’s time to take a deep breath, take your place on the box seat, and DRIVE ON.

Wishing you safe drives and much fun with your horse as the seasons change.

Until next time,
Christine