Carriage driving ona sponsored ride. Good idea?

benson21

benson21

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We organise a sponserored ride in August, its about 8 miles through stubble fields, with a little bit of road work. We usually get around 175-200 riders. This year we are thinking about inviting carriage drivers as well. Are we asking for trouble? The ride is from 9-2 so am thinking to ask the carriage drivers to set off after 1.30, so there wont be many riders by then. Views please!!!
 
OMG! If mine saw a horse towing a carriage he'd go absolutely ballistic. Even my old boy who was bombproof, the only time he ever did a hooley was when he met a pony and trap. In fact every horse I've ever had was terrified of seeing another horse towing a carriage; the only exception to that rule was a ride-and-drive pony I had who was (unsurprisingly) totally unfazed.

Sorry, this is asking for explosive trouble IMO!

Better by far to keep the two separate I would suggest.
 
I think if the drivers arrive late to set off after most riders, riders need to be informed that drivers will be arriving to set off at 1.30, that way anyone who has concerns can get away long before the drivers even arrive, the two can mix it is a good opportunity for riding horses to be exposed to driving horses with no pressure, if they cannot cope they can be out of the way early.
We had a driving cob at livery earlier this year, most of mine had never seen such a thing in their lives but all coped, we met out hacking with no real drama just a few snorts as we went past.
 
We sometimes have the gypsy trotters come past, H doesn't like it if they come up fast behind him and i usually stick him a layby so hes well out the way, not sure what he'd do if a full carriage came up. He's also very strong on a sponsored ride, think if a carriage did come up behind him he'd be gone.

How about having it over 2 days so one day for the carriage people or have them in the afternoon so it's separate?
 
I hack with a carriage driver regularly and would love to be able to go on a pleasure ride with her!

On a yard of nearly 30 horses none have a problem with the carriage after the first time they see it. Mine will rest her head on the back seat while walking behind!
 
Some horses are really frightened to see a carriage being pulled, they seem to think it is some sort of monster chasing the horse, so the advice is proceed with caution! Are you absolutely sure that the route would suit carriage drivers? I expect they would be delighted, not so sure about the riders!

Luckily my horse was brought up on a stud where all the horses were broken to drive so he is perfectly OK, but I know that some are genuinely frightened.
 
Our old boy has a total phobia of carriages. As in completely losing the plot. And he wasn't a spooky type at all! He didn't like shetlands though, and the carriages he encountered were shetland-drawn, so that might have been the problem... :p
 
So long as you keep the carriage driving and riding times separate I think it's a great idea, agree with the other posts though that for many riders mixing the two can be asking for trouble so either have a proper lunch break with guaranteed no horses to be in harness before x time or state very clearly in advance to riders what time carriages will be in the lorry park from - it's not just when they are on the course that counts!
 
So, had more thoughts on this. I think if I put on the schedule that riders can leave any time between 9-1, then carriages from 1.30, and put on there that there will be carriages in the horsebox area, but then I need to put somewhere that if riders and drivers want to go together, they can. Its too early for this!!!!!
 
I used to drive my really safe, not really phased by anything. However, whilst out riding a few weeks ago my usually very bombproof cob went in to melt down when he spotted a Shetland and trap coming towards us!! Think separate times is better.
 
Overall I think it's a good idea, especially if you put the drivers on last. My pony is very scared of big lorries, except when she goes hunting when she's far too excited to give them a second glance. I think horses have to cope, what will happen if they go to a show like Windsor for e.g, where there are classes for both?
 
Maybe say horses can leave anytime between 9-2 lunch will be at 1 and carriage drivers can leave from 1.30. That way anyone who thinks there will be a prob has plenty of time to get sorted and out before 1 but those who arnt fussed or want to go together can
 
I think it's a great idea to open this sort of thing up to drivers .
Check your insurance cover though .
And some driving horses find these pleasure drives as exciting as ridden horses and it can be pretty lively .
There used be a lovely little club round here that organised drive out it stopped because of the safety concerns but they fun .
The horses that did HDT found them very exciting and that upset some of the pleasure driving ponies the last one I went to was overly exciting .
 
It would be nice to broaden the people attending.
But yes, i agree, let all the riders go first, allow a gap then start the drivers so they don't mix which could cause issues. Excitable horses etc!
 
I think defo split riding times - esp as its often the least confident who aim to go late in the day to avoid crowds and being overtaken too much! I have only ever owned one horse who was totally un-bothered by driven horses and she came from the Gypsies so guess she saw it plenty. Even out with this mare friends of mine have twice nearly had nasty accidents on roads from people out driving - one is a well known local menace and hammers about everywhere even downhill just breezing on past the chaos they cause!
 
I ride and drive. It is true that many horses are freaked by horse drawn carriages, however, in France we do have both on pleasure rides.

At our first endurance this year we had carriage drivers on the same course. The endurance vets commented that heart rates were higher than normal.
 
It's a good idea to try and set away the faster carriage combinations first so you minimise the need for overtaking the drives I used to go to had HDT combinations wanting to go at marathon speed at one extreme and mini Shetlands being lead pulling the carriage at the other .
We set the HDT types off first with gaps between them and then sorted the rest some wanted to travel in a group and others alone .
Defiantly a good idea to get the carriage people to contact you in advance so you have an idea how many are coming it might be more popular than you think.
 
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