Cotswold Carriage Driving and Learn To Carriage Drive, weddings horse drawn carriage hire in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Oxfordshire, Bristol, Bath, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Swindon tel: 01666 505051 GL8 8RP Unusual Gift Vouchers and horse holida

CARRIAGE DRIVING ITINERARIES

The traditional Coaching method of holding the reins is used in training, as encouraged by the British Driving Society, of which the trainer, Stephanie Dale, is a Member. Lessons are also provided for experienced carriage drivers wanting to learn the Coaching method in order to pass their Road Driving Assessment Test.

Photo courtesy of Hazel Woodbridge, taken on a Le Trec drive in Oxfordshire

"Very thorough and well planned day. Structure was spot on and the change in the horse and carriage in the afternoon gave me additional confidence. Very enjoyable". D Bills

"Thorougly enjoyed this morning - thank you! It was very helpful starting with the health and safety and harness information which helped my understanding. Roger and Stephanie's patience with me was amazing!" CB

Very enjoyable and certainly challenged the brain. Lovely countryside". C Luke

Two Hour Have a Go At Carriage Driving ~ Taster Session

Half Day Lesson

Full Day

Carriage driving holidays in UK: Weekend and longer courses: One to Five Days: Beginners to Advanced (for cotswolds accommodation links, see menu on the left at the top of the page: Accommodation, Gift Vouchers)

Scroll down to see Typical Itineraries for each of the above options. Lessons can be tailored. Carriage driving instruction will depend on the existing skills, progress made and objectives of the Student. The aim is to have an enjoyable day and learn a new skill in a relaxed atmosphere. The sense of achievement gained from learning to carriage drive gives you a good sense of well-being.

Introduction to the horses
Health and safety issues
Rein handling practice
Put on the harness and attach the carriage
Have a practice carriage drive in the field, or on the tracks
Learn how to drive in a straight line, go round corners, change paces from walk to trot to walk to stop
Use of the voice
Remove the carriage and harness
Wash, feed and care for the horse.
Review the training.

Morning session: 9.30 – 13.00 or
Afternoon sessions: 13.30 - 17.00 or 14.00 to 17.30 in summer. Please arrive 10 mins early to go through the paperwork.

Introduction to the horses
Health and Safety
Rein handling practice using the traditional English Coaching method
How to handle the driving horse when stationary and when moving
Putting on the harness
Putting the carriage to the horse
In the field, practice changing paces between walking and trotting, going in a straight line, turning corners and stopping, or practice on the tracks or drive along the off-road track, the Fosse Way, built by the Romans nearly two thousand years ago
Take the carriage away from the horse
Take the harness off
Care for the horse
Review the training.

9.30 to 17.30 (or earlier by arrangement and driving conditions).

On full days: please bring your own picnic or have lunch at a local cafe or pub.

Morning, as above.

13.30 to 17.00
You may get an opportunity to drive a different horse in the afternoon.
Recap on the morning's progress and areas to work on
Introduction to different parts of the harness and the purpose of each part
Rein handling practice
Putting the harness on in the right order and putting the carriage to the horse.
Practice carriage driving in the field and going in and out of cones or
A longer drive on the Fosse Way in the footsteps of the Romans and along country lanes.
Cool the horse down, remove the carriage and harness.
Wash, feed and care for the horse.
Review of the day.

Day one as above

Morning

Grooming the horse and pick out the hooves
Natural horsemanship communication, how it works and why
Health and safety revisited
The essential role of the groom
Rein handling practice
Put the harness on
Put the carriage to the horse

Practice driving in and out of cones.
Road signals and road sense from a carriage driver’s perspective
Take the horse out of the carriage and remove harness
Care for the horse

Lunch

Afternoon

Prepare the carriage horse and put to the carriage
Approximately two hours carriage drive along roads and tracks
Break for refreshments
Return to base
Cool the horse down
Remove the carriage and harness
Wash, feed and care for the horse and carriage.
Review the day.

Morning

Feeding, grooming and picking out hooves
Natural horsemanship practice
Lunging the carriage horse (pros and cons) and practice voice commands.
Listening\watching for the horse communicating with you and what it means.
What to look for when choosing a carriage driving horse
Rein handling practice
Prepare the horse for a drive
Schooling the carriage horse: collected trot, extended trot, transitions and rein-back
Prepare a free-style routine to use in a presentation show to show off your skills
Cool the horse down
Remove the carriage and harness
Wash, feed and care for the horse.

Lunch

Afternoon

Prepare the carriage horse and put to the carriage
Approximately two hours carriage drive along roads and tracks
Break for refreshments
Return to base
Cool the horse down
Remove the carriage and harness
Wash, feed and care for the horse and carriage.
Review the day.

Morning

Working with a younger horse, what to be aware of, how to handle them, health and safety issues
Stages of training a horse to drive
Long reining practice
Explanation of different bits and why they are used
Discussion of the bit-less bridle

Lunch

Afternoon

Prepare your horse for a presentation show competition
Practice a free-style routine to use in a presentation show to show off your skills
Present your show routine.
Cool the horse down
Remove the carriage and harness
Wash, feed and care for the horse.
Review the day.

Morning and Afternoon

Health and safety revisited
Two wheel carriage versus four wheel carriage, pros and cons
How to balance a two wheel carriage
Identify the right size of carriage for the horse
Practise driving a two-wheel carriage around cones
Remove the horse from the two wheel carriage, remove the harness
Care for the horse.

Prepare the carriage horse and put to the four-wheel carriage

Drive to the pub for lunch (not included in the price) or a Tour Through Tetbury

Approximately three hours carriage drive along roads and tracks to include the pub break
Return to base
Cool the horse down
Remove the carriage and harness
Wash, feed and care for the horse.
Review the day.

* Itinerary subject to change. If you have specific requirements, we can change the itinerary as required. The itinerary can usually be amended according to your experience and objectives.

01666 505051 or 07977 480144

info@cotswoldcarriagedriving.co.uk