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?
Category: Topics in Horsemanship
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.
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.
What’s Stopping You?
Traditionally, horses provide the primary braking action. As roads improved and speed increased, new braking mechanisms came into use.
Variety in Training: A Change is as Good as a Rest!
Variety is important! The old adage, “a change is as good as a rest,” can really help to keep a horse from getting bored and naughty. But plan carefully and ramp up your training slowly to prevent injuries.
Ranch Ride Carriage Drive Splashes into 2024!
At Ranch Ride Carriage Drive, we value the importance of variety in our training... and remember to have some fun with it, too!
The Whip As an Essential, and Gentle, Driving Aid
The whip is an essential aid for communicating with the driving horse, and can even be a work of art.
A Week in the Royal Mews
You may have seen photos of members of the British Royal Family riding by carriage from Windsor Castle to the Royal Ascot races, but did you know that members of the exclusive British Coaching Club do the same? Some of the most remarkable experiences of my driving career were the dozen or so times that our work with senior members of the British Coaching Club took us to the Royal Mews of Windsor Castle during the Royal Ascot Race Meeting.
Ranch Ride Carriage Drive LLC 