Training the horse to drive involves many different elements: rein cues, voice commands, whip aides, managing draft. Each of these elements involve further details including rhythm, consistency, balance. Ultimately, the horse is a very adaptable creature; all of these elements are useful to the him if the driver also possesses them. To successfully train the horse, begin training the driver.

REINSMANSHIP
In driving, the most important aide is the handling of the reins. When astride, the rider has the position and weight of his own body to guide and influence the horse. On the box seat, the driver has only the reins, voice and whip; the combination of which is reinsmanship. Every equestrian is desirous of good hands, but few are able to get to grips with contact in driving: a feel of the horse's mouth to support, signal the horse in draft.

IN DRAFT 
The Horse presses into the collar to engage the traces to draw the vehicle forward and
resists pressure of the breeching to slow or stop the vehicle.

The Relationship of Draft and Contact

There are two circuits involved in driving: draft and contact. Draft is the swingletree, traces and collar. Contact is the bit, reins, hands, arms, shoulders and body of the driver. Draft is easy for the horse; it doesn't change, the horse can trust it. Contact is trickier, it often changes on a whim...
Change in Contact
1. driver's posture
2. lengthening/shortening the reins
3. pulling back, throwing away the reins
4. changes in driver's body position
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The single, most important thing the driver can do to help the horse in driving is to emulate the circuit of draft within contact. Think of the bit as the collar, the reins as the traces, the driver's shoulders as the swingletree, the driver's body as the king pin.

The bit does not need to move at greater angles than the swingletree moves. The shoulders of the driver should mirror the angle of the bit. The closer these components work, the greater the power steering.

The driver's arms holding the reins do not need to get shorter and longer more than they need to maintain a constant length. The arms need to mirror the traces.
Effective king pins do not bend in the middle, nor should the driver.

Let's do some algebra!
x=draft
y=contact
1=length of horse's head, neck
2=distance from swingletree to driver
Therefore x+1+2=y
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Striving to maintain consistent degrees of angles and equality of circuits is the beginning of the driver's responsibility to the driving horse.

Carriage Driving Essentials
If you are showing outdoors and there is a threat of rain, you should have a raincoat, and string gloves. The coat can be stored in the boot, under the seat, or with your spares kit, but if the judge asks for it, you must present or you will be docked in the ribbons. String gloves go over your driving gloves in wet weather to keep the reins from slipping. They are placed between the seat and the fall on the driver's side and should show for presentation. This can be a challenge with modern vehicles with falls stitched to the seat. In the past, with this dilemma, I unstitched a 4" section specifically for the string gloves, securing the opening with staples on the underside of the seat.

You can buy inexpensive white cotton gloves at most large farm stores. Traditional string gloves can be bought at most Carriage Driving Supply Companies.

On the subject of spares kits, the must haves are rein splice, trace splice, hames splice, hoof pick, knife and a hole punch. You can assemble these items in a small bag or spend hundreds on fancy leather spares kits. Your choice, but you must make sure the brass on these items is polished for every show, if you are using brass hardware. [There is no harm in buying stainless hardware for the spares kit splices, it is tougher and longer lasting.] If the judge asks you to present the spares kit and you have not polished or cleaned it, it shows lack of preparation. I have been asked to open the knife in my spares kit by a judge. I had never used it and it was a challenge. I got 2nd place to an exhibitor who could easily open the knife. Do not under estimate the power of your spares kit. It is there for your safety in the event of an accident.

Your spares kit is not complete without a halter and lead rope. Make sure they are neat and tidy and easily to hand. See above: accident. It is a good idea to also have a quarter sheet for each equine in the hitch, especially in inclement conditions.

I've known a competitor who carries a flask of whiskey in the spares kit. When I asked why, I got a wry smile. I guess that is open to interpretation...!

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A Note on Bits

The Liverpool is a sport bit: not a traditional bit for a formal gig, but times have changed and we do not wear black tie for dinner, either. A gig bit requires a bridoon and full bearing rein in order to be correct and we have also dropped that tradition. Turning out with a gig bit without a bridoon and full bearing rein is like wearing a tux without trousers, not to mention dangerous- gig bits are notorious for getting caught on other parts of the harness/vehicle. Unless you tie the horse's head up with the bearing rein and then tie it down with a standing martingale and have a groom at the horse's head the moment the vehicle stops, a gig bit is not practical for modern carriage driving. Ditto Buxton bit. A couple of Old Guard judges disagree, but safety over slavish tradition.

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