Horse & Carts Information

Driving a horse is a pastime that can be enjoyed by anyone, and can be a way for a person who can no longer or does not want to ride to be involved with horses. If a horse cannot be ridden because of age or injury, or is too small to be ridden, teaching him to drive can help you keep him exercised.

  1. Breeds

    • You can teach any horse to pull a cart, but some breeds are more associated with driving than others. Most notable are the draft breeds such as Clydesdales and Belgians. Other traditional but lighter breeds include Standardbreds and Hackneys. Mules and ponies have also been popular for driving.

    Hitches

    • "Hitch" refers to the number of horses pulling a vehicle or the way the horses are attached to the vehicle. One, two and four are the most common combinations, though some draft teams include more horses. Two-horse teams may have the horses side-by-side or one in front of the other (called a tandem). Four-horse teams consist of two side-by-side pairs. A three-horse team is possible, where one horse is harnessed in front of a pair (called a unicorn). The bigger the vehicle you are pulling, the more horses you will need in your hitch.

    Carriages

    • According to the American Driving Society, there are seven categories of carriages. Two of these refer to coaches, including what were originally private coaches, referred to as park drags, and public coaches, referred to as road coaches. There are four types of carriages that belong in one category: American buggies, runabouts, road wagons and buckboards. The other categories are family carriages, sporting carriages, park driving carriages and coachmen-driven carriages.

    Harness

    • The harness consists of a bit and bridle; the neck or breastcollar (the style you choose depends on what your horse is pulling); the driving "saddle" (a specialized type of surcingle); and the leather straps that attach the pieces together to keep them moving and attaches the harness to the vehicle shafts.

    Turnout

    • If you decide to present your horse in harness, you need to research the traditional appointments and harness for the vehicle you are driving. Also, is the vehicle you drive appropriate for the type of horse you have? (Generally, a lighter-style vehicle is pulled by a light breed of horse.)