Carriage Driving in the UK

 The typical picture in one’s mind when thinking of carriage driving is usually either one of a rag and bone man with his horse and cart or of a Victorian era horse drawn carriage. However, International Carriage Driving is sanctioned by the Federation Equestrian International (FEI) as since they state that ‘horses were driven long before they were ridden’, and Carriage Driving became an equestrian discipline in 1970 and as a result it is one of the oldest competitive equestrian sports that is still practised today.  

 It must be admitted that carriage driving is not one of the nation’s most popular sports and even if someone decides that they would like to participate in carriage driving, it can also prove extremely difficult to know where to start and they are left asking several questions: where do I go to learn? What equipment do I need? How much will it cost? Is this even the right sport for me?

Basic Information

 In Carriage Driving, the traditional ‘rider’ is replaced with a ‘driver’ who is seated on the carriage behind the team of horses (which can be made up of either two or four horses).

 In modern horse driving competitions, there are three parts: Dressage, Marathon and Obstacle Driving. Dressage is made up of a sequence of compulsory figures performed inside an arena measuring 100x40m. Competitors are judged on the smoothness of the exercises, the obedience of the horse, positioning and impulsion. The Marathon on the other hand is conducted outside and consists of an 18km route including natural obstructions and sharp turning points and the final phase, the Obstacle Driving (or ‘Cones’) phase is designed to test the fitness and suppleness of the horses by requiring the driver to negotiate a narrow track marked with cones with balls balancing on top.

 

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Carriage Driving

Horse drawn carriages are nowadays used for leisure rather than necessity. In days gone by, a horse drawn carriage was the main form of transport used by people from every walk of life. Horse drawn vehicles were used in cities, on highways, on country lanes on farms, in fact, everywhere. There were many different types of carriages, from simple carts and wagons to city coaches, fashionable barouches and horse drawn cabs.

Nowadays carriage driving is something which people do as a sport, for leisure of for use in carriage hire companies. Horse drawn carriages are seen as something romantic and traditional. Horse drawn carriages are quite popular for weddings, and white, silver or even pink carriages are becoming quite a popular option. A horse drawn carriage gives something of a fairy princess feel to a wedding, or any other kind of event. Carriage drivers also can compete in carriage driving events. These can be both professional and amateur. Many people enjoy carriage driving as a leisurely activity and take part in country fairs and show at game fairs. Another use for carriage driving is at open air museums where people from re enactment groups use their horse drawn carriages as part of their show.

As you can see there are many reasons why carriage driving is still a fairly popular sport. However in order to be able to drive your carriage competently, it is often necessary to take a few lessons. Carriage driving takes some effort and it is essential that you feel confident and in control. Make sure you find a good teacher with plenty of experience in teaching. A good carriage driving teacher will be able to help you drive to the best of your ability and enable you to take your carriage out in public, with safety and confidence.

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The Horse Drawn Funeral

Horse drawn hearses are used for funerals in many countries. Wherever they are used they give an impression of respect and tradition to any funeral. Horse drawn funeral traditions vary according to the country or community in which the service is held, for example Asian funerals are very ornate and symbolic whereas Amish funerals are simple, peaceful and traditional.

Horse drawn funerals in Britain are generally quite traditional. People may choose to hire a horse drawn hearse as a mark of their appreciation and respect of the deceased. A traditional black hearse is often used, however white and silver hearses are used in cases where one is searching for a less sombre effect, perhaps for a childs funeral.

In Japan, funerals are usually held in the Buddhist rite. For Buddhists, the death of a person marks their entrance into a new phase of life, as a reincarnated being and the funeral focuses on preparing the deceased for their rebirth. Many traditional rituals are carried out before and after the funeral and then the body is carried in a hearse to the crematory. Japanese hearses are very ornate and resemble a miniature golden temple. They can be both motorised and horse drawn.

Funerals held in Amish communities are quite different to funerals of other cultures. Most cultures focus on the deceased whereas Amish funerals are focussed on God in relation to God allowing the deceased to remain with him for eternity. The funeral itself is quite simple and takes place in a home or a barn, as Amish communities do not worship in Church buildings. After the funeral the body is carried away in horse drawn hearse, never a motorized hearse, to the burial place. Four friends of the deceased are given the responsibility of preparing the horse drawn hearse, digging the grave and preparing the funereal room. The whole ceremony is simple and peaceful.

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Horse Drawn Hearse Funeral

When a family member or close friend passes away, it is a difficult enough time for everyone who was close to them, without also having to fret about funeral costs. However, it is possible to ‘send them off in style’ without having to break the bank. Horse drawn funeral hearses are a traditional, reasonably priced, service which can provide a memorable and dignified send-off for any loved one.

Where can I find a provider of this service?

Karen Basset offers such a service in and around Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands. The team of experienced drivers, dressed in traditional Victorian livery, provide a competent, trustworthy and reliable service, reminiscent of a bygone era.

What will be provided?

Normally, she provides a pair of black Silesian or Hungarian horses, turned out to a high standard in English leather harnesses, pulling a black replica Victorian horse drawn hearse. She does, however, specialise in teams of four or six horses, either black or white.  A gun carriage is also available, as are silver or white hearses, for the funerals of young people or anyone who requires a less sombre ambience. For the white and silver hearses, Karen usually provides a pair of French Arab grey horses, a pair of dappled grey horses and a pair of Lipizzaner which, like the black horses, are trained to stand quietly and be extremely reliable in traffic.

The horses usually wear black, white, pink, blue or purple plumes made from ostrich feathers but other colours are available if desired. They can also wear black or white drapes if required.

Additional Services

There is also a range of additional services on offer in order to give each funeral a special, unique touch. These include using a team of four or six horses to pull the hearse, the provision of two liveried outriders and even providing carriages for the mourners to ride in. Each of these can be provided by special arrangement.

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Carriage Driving : Karen Bassett

If you are interested in taking lessons in carriage driving, you may experience difficulty in finding a qualified and experienced instructor, as it is quite an unusual sport. However, there are instructors and establishments able to give carriage driving lessons to individuals. Among them is Karen Bassett, a leading international horse team driver. She has been driving carriages from a very young age, and has won various awards. In 1995, she was the first woman ever to win an international four-in-hand carriage driving competition.

Many carriage drivers are  happy to offer lessons for complete beginners to advanced drivers for single, pair, team and tandem who  encompass every phase of driving trials, private driving and other showing classes, coaching and BDS pleasure driving.

As well as hourly lessons, Karen will undertake 1 or 2-day courses, day clinics for groups of between 4 and 8 and lecture demonstrations. All courses can be tailored to meet your individual needs.

To take lessons from a competent and inspiring instructor will certainly point you in the right direction towards becoming a skilful carriage driver yourself.

Once you are able to drive carriages with confidence, you can use your skill both for both leisure and competition. Many carriage drivers enjoy taking part in carriage driving trials and competitions. For those who are just carriage driving for fun, you can participate in amateur carriage driving trials, which are run by local horse driving clubs.

Many people wish to hire carriages for weddings, funerals, corporate functions and parties, as a horse drawn carriage adds a romantic, dignified, and elegant feel to any occasion. Re-enactment societies also require carriage drivers to work at open air museums. There are many other uses for the sport but overall it is a fun and interesting pursuit.

Natalie Eastaugh is the Internet Marketing Specialist for JDRWebsites.co.uk

If you wish to find out more on carriage driving as well as information about Karen Bassett, go to www.karenbassett.co.uk 

Carriage driving

In the past, horse drawn carriages were used as part of everyday life in all societies. From simple carts used on farms, to expensive coaches in the city, drawn by many horses, carriages were a major form of transport. For this reason, many people would have learnt how to drive carriages.

Carriage driving is not such a necessary skill nowadays, and therefore, not as popular as a mode of transport. However, many people enjoy carriage driving as a sport and a leisure pursuit.  Horse driving trials are a fun and competitive way to use carriage driving skills. These are run from amateur level, by local horse driving clubs, through to national and international level, for those who take it more seriously. Carriage driving is also used for horse drawn carriages at weddings, funerals, open air museums, County Shows, Game Fairs and other functions.

Learning to drive a carriage requires some basic skill and patience. It is possible to take carriage driving lessons, a necessary procedure if one is to drive a carriage safely and correctly. There are several private teachers and establishments who offer lessons, including Karen Bassett.

Lessons are available for complete beginners to the more advanced drivers, for a single horse, a pair, team and tandem, where every phase of driving trials, private driving and other showing classes, coaching and pleasure driving are encompassed.

Lessons generally last for an hour and some establishments even undertake 1 or 2-day courses, day clinics for groups of between 4 and 8, and lecture demonstrations.

To drive a horse drawn carriage is a useful, entertaining and even money pursuing skill. You can take yourself and others back to a more simple and romantic era, take part in carriage driving trials and sports, use your skill to run a horse drawn carriage hire business, or to simply have fun.

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