It’s common to speak of horse-drawn carriages, or to say that a horse is pulling a carriage. This is intuitive; they are in front of it, aren’t they? But horses are not people. Are they really pulling it, or are they pushing?
Month: February 2024
Ranch Ride Carriage Drive Goes Visiting!
Come along with Fen and Tex as they go for a visit to drive with Cynthia and Hannah! Enjoy a little cones work in the arena, and meet Jerry the Fjord horse and Hannah's beautiful rare breed Suffolk Punch horses!
Driving a Five-in-Hand Mountain Team
One of the more rarely seen turnouts is a five-in-hand, mountain team or pickaxe as it’s referred to here in the US. The first time I really became aware of the expression “mountain team” was when I was working for Andreas Nemitz, who used a five-in-hand to cross the Alps on his nine-day Lindau Messenger tour every year. I soon learned that driving a five-in-hand has its challenges!
Ranch Ride Carriage Drive Answers Your Questions: Poles, Pole Straps, and Turns
Recently we had some questions about adjustments of poles and pole straps. But once you have the correct sizes and adjustments for your horses, then there is an art to making a turn without risking breaking your wooden pole.
A Joyful Training Session!
Training should be safe, effective... and FUN! Come along with Caryn as she practices her technique at Ranch Ride Carriage Drive!
Dainty Goes to the Dentist
Dental exams and tooth floating should be part of your routine horse care! Today, it's Dainty's turn to go to the dentist to have her teeth floated. Check out the video to see the complete process!
Measuring Your Reins Before Mounting, the Achenbach Way
It’s a lesser-known fact that under the Achenbach system, the pairs driver always measures their reins from the ground before mounting the carriage, and always mounts from the left-hand side. The intent is to allow the driver to have control of the horses throughout the entire process of mounting the carriage and taking their seat.
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