How to Harness a Horse for Carriage Driving

I had a lesson with certified carriage driving instructor Gillian McKnight of Carrbridge Carriage Driving in August 2022.
She allowed me to videotape her harnessing her horse Lola so I could remember how to do it when I got home.
I highly recommend taking a trip to Carrbridge and contacting Gillian even if you just want to go on a nice carriage drive through gorgeous scenery.

[@jessicaobrien3342]

What a lovely team ☺️ Thank you so much for taking the time to share this.

[@elliechristie2844]

Fabulous video!!!

[@thesappirewolf]

I loved this video! But ive got a question. Can you drive a horse carriage without knowing how to ride a horse? I had riding lessons like three times but the lady teaching me was going all over the place and tried me in a trot before i knew how to walk properly. Id like to get more riding lessons at some point but in Tennessee its hard to find a good person to help and teach me at a normal pace.

[@AlannaLight]

That’s odd…most instructors want you to have confidence at a walk before going faster. But to answer your question, you don’t have to know how to ride to carriage drive. Just make sure you find a good instructor with trained carriage horses!

[@JesusKathrynMiller]

✝️🐰🤍🍀🕊️🐑🧄💮🔯😇🎁🎁🎁🧃🎂🎀🌲🌎🌍🌏🎇🎉🎊✝️🦅🇺🇸🍀Holy Revelation 19:16 The King of Kings and The Lord of Lords Jesus and Kathryn Miller say Thankyou for sharing and caring and✝️🐰🤍🔯😇🎉🎊 Happy Easter Weekend and Happy New Years ✝️🤍🐰🍀✝️🤍🐰🍀✝️🦅🇺🇸🍀🍀🍀

[@thggghg7740]

Why did you using the whip at your driving? I hate using the whip because it hurt the horse.

[@gillianmcknight1993]

In carriage driving I only use the whip while schooling my horses. I don’t use it to “hit” the horse, it is an aid, as is my voice and hands and reins and it acts as my inside leg. You should always carry a whip, even if you don’t use it, in case of an emergency. I would rather carry a whip in my hand and never have to use it, than be faced with a situation where a quick flick of a whip would save us from a nasty accident!

[@thggghg7740]

Can you drive a horse carriage without carring the whip?

[@gillianmcknight1993]

@@thggghg7740 you could, but it’s not advised for the above reason!

[@izzyponsford5859]

because in carriage driving you dont have a leg to speed up or slow down the horse, its all voice command. so sometimes if they go the wrong direction or dont slow down they have to use the whip.

[@shelbyhunkler9259]

Thank you! Lovely video. I have two miniature mares, each 39" tall. I love the fact that I can reach over their backs while harnessing. I have ridden all my life but took up driving a few years ago. Now I'm fascinated with harnesses and all the various vehicles.