Boarding the Driving Horse

[Alterration]

My hips and back are no longer friends with riding, and so I’m re-upping my horse’s driving skills. But we’re also in the process of selling our farm, so I’ve got the consideration of now having to board somewhere with a driving horse and I’m a little freaked out. It was hard enough to find good boarding with a riding horse, and now that I’ve got a cart in tow, I’m a little more concerned about how difficult it might be to find, as many of the barns I knew were not open to driving horses because they “scared the other horses”.

My horse is still a somewhat green driver (he’s driven 10+ times, but all in an indoor arena) but he took to it like a duck to water, no spooking at the cart, or any problems he pulled it like an absolute pro, so I don’t need a TON of help, but we’re not at the point where I’d say we could just go to some random field and trot down the road. I’m re-starting the driving in our outdoor, and even just in the lines (I haven’t rehooked him yet) he’s been a champ, but still, an arena is my safety zone.

Though he is a saddlebred and could go either way, we are working on driven dressage. It would be simpler to find a saddlebred-friendly barn, but they are typically training barns. Maybe a Morgan barn has some more openness to driven dressage?

So, all that said - where geographically are you, and how easy was it for you to find a driving-friendly situation? We are not tied to a geographic location, although cost will be a consideration. Our family is in PA, so we are moving closer to them temporarily at least, but all I know about are the hunter facilities there as that is the sport I previously competed in. Any tips for finding a great driving-friendly barn?

[Christa_P]

Maybe you could find a local driving group or check the ADS trainers page for someone in the area to get recommendations.

[Alterration]

@Christa_P

Maybe you could find a local driving group or check the ADS trainers page for someone in the area to get recommendations.

Thank you! I’m trying to pick a place to live by the availability of boarding & help which I know sounds backwards but since we work remotely we have that luxury!

[FjordBCRF]

Good recommendation above.

I have not had trouble in my area, and thankfully most of the barns have welcomed it so the horses could see that it wasn’t much to be scared of.

With that said, not all the barns I’ve been at have had much in the way of cart storage. One barn I ended up getting one of those “shed in a box” that was able to be set up on the property near the barn. It worked, but it takes a beating with Great Lakes winters and it was a pain to build and also to disassemble when we left. The place were at now has plenty of covered storage options so much easier to deal with!

[Foxglove]

NE Indiana is totally driving horse friendly. My county is (or was) at one point 21 percent Amish. When I was pregnant with my youngest daughter, we had all the riding horses trained to drive. Two took to it immediately, the other two always seemed embarrassed to be pulling a cart load of kids. Eventually the kids started driving themselves and friends all over, to DQ to the park --etc. However, that was thirty five years ago. The roads around us were either dirt or gravel with only one or two paved main roads. Things have changed. I last drove a horse 10 years ago (my driving horses died at 20+ and I sold both the harness and the carts). The kids had long moved out and moved on. Driving is more fun with a gaggle of kids and a Jack Russel perched on the seat. I did solo drive a few times, but it wasn’t the same.

Anyway --NE Indiana is great, lots of horse vets, lots of harness shops, lots of carriage shops.–it would be hard to find a boarding stable here that doesn’t have driving horses. However, you might research Amish communities in PA --closer to family for you and maybe has the same “driving horse friendly” community.

The only placed more driving horse friendly, in my opinion, is Metamora, MI. The community there does cool stuff like drive teams (pairs and four-in-hands) into town to have dinner, etc. There are weekly drive-ins (drive to a farm, meet, eat) --and a huge driving horse show each year. None of the roads are paved, and all are specifically maintained for carriage driving.

Um, did I mention it is probably the most expensive place to own a farm in MI? But you would be among driving people!!

Metamora Carriage and Driving Association | Metamora MI

[Alterration]

@FjordBCRF

With that said, not all the barns I’ve been at have had much in the way of cart storage. One barn I ended up getting one of those “shed in a box” that was able to be set up on the property near the barn. It worked, but it takes a beating with Great Lakes winters and it was a pain to build and also to disassemble when we left. The place were at now has plenty of covered storage options so much easier to deal with!

Ahh good thought!! Back in ridden-land sometimes all the space I had was a cubby for my tack and MAYBE a spot for a trunk, and I was thinking…how the heck would that work, right now my cart lives in a stall (it’s a two-wheeler, I’d eventually like a 4-wheel cart, but we’re starting where we are) but paying for an entire second stall seems a bit impractical. I’m thinking maybe “less formal” barns might be easier to find a situation in. My horse does well on pasture or stall (he’s pretty flexible) so that does open some more options.

[Alterration]

@Foxglove

The only placed more driving horse friendly, in my opinion, is Metamora, MI. The community there does cool stuff like drive teams (pairs and four-in-hands) into town to have dinner, etc. There are weekly drive-ins (drive to a farm, meet, eat) --and a huge driving horse show each year. None of the roads are paved, and all are specifically maintained for carriage driving.

Um, did I mention it is probably the most expensive place to own a farm in MI? But you would be among driving people!!

Oh now that’s seriously cool, I had no idea! I’m so new to the driving world that I wasn’t aware of it.

@Foxglove

Anyway --NE Indiana is great, lots of horse vets, lots of harness shops, lots of carriage shops.–it would be hard to find a boarding stable here that doesn’t have driving horses. However, you might research Amish communities in PA --closer to family for you and maybe has the same “driving horse friendly” community.

We had a lot of Amish drivers near where I grew up in PA, but they didn’t offer boarding, so I didn’t even think of that! I wonder if the simplest way would be to head back for a visit and stick a “situation wanted” post up on the bulletin board of the harness & tack shop I used to buy tack at. That was the best place to get leatherwork fixed for sure, when I was growing up! The Amish community and the English community were pretty separate, but maybe that’s changed a bit since I lived there last.

Great thoughts and ideas!

[Christa_P]

If you plan to show or travel with the carriage maybe you could get a trailer that would double as carriage storage. I have a stock trailer with removeable slats to enclose it that has work for carriage storage occasionally. A 16’ stock trailer would probably work, especially with a 4-wheel carriage.

[Alterration]

@Christa_P

If you plan to show or travel with the carriage maybe you could get a trailer that would double as carriage storage. I have a stock trailer with removeable slats to enclose it that has work for carriage storage occasionally. A 16’ stock trailer would probably work, especially with a 4-wheel carriage.

Oh that’s also a great idea. Right now I have a euro-style Bockmann which definitely won’t work for anything larger than a 2 wheel cart, but sticking it in the trailer when the horse isn’t in it could work for now (I think it will fit at an angle but I have to test that assumption). A 4 wheeler might actually fit better but I’d have to remove the shafts, so maybe the marathon or trail type of cart would be a better option, which I’m hoping to get at some point, but I have some saddles to sell first (before my husband divorces me for buying more tack lol - I jest, but I did have a bit of a saddle hoarding problem).

Ok, I’m starting to feel a little more encouraged! This really is a whole new world for me, and though I don’t know if I will ever compete or do more than arena work, it’s nice to know that it’s doable.

[Christa_P]

Removing the shafts on most 4-wheel carriages is pretty simple, just a couple of pins to line up.

ETA, if you have a regular pickup to tow with, you could store the cart in trailer, but haul it in the truck when you want to go somewhere. Just make sure you have help for loading and unloading from the bed - either a second person or a winch.

[DiamondJubilee]

Where would you be going in PA? I know of a great driving trainer in Southern PA (Lancaster area). I’m Canadian myself, but have been to their farm and its a beautiful facility with lots of driving horses/ponies, they are very knowledgeable with everything to do with driving and run a great boarding stable. Lots of spots to keep your carriage. Some ride there as well

[Alterration]

My family is in central PA, but I could be persuaded to head more toward Southern to stay within driving distance but not be TOO close.

Lancaster area might work well, since DH’s family is in Reading - not too far from either location, but not too close either!

[DiamondJubilee]

PM me and I can send on some info. I’m unable to message you privately.

[MorganMaresVT]

My part of Vermont is very driving friendly, though in my area I’d say by and large people have horses at home vs. boarding. I can still think of a few boarding places that are driving friendly, e.g.: https://kedron.com/stabling-and-boarding/
With my horses at home, I am admittedly out of touch with who reliably has boarding openings, and most of the sport-oriented barns seem to be in Aiken or Florida for the winters now if that’s a consideration.

[MorganMaresVT]

I should have also added, the Wheel Runners series at Green Mountain Horse Association (led by Robin & Wilson Groves, who live here half the year) is another reason driving is thriving in this area.
https://gmhainc.org/events/category/equestrian-events-south-woodstock-vt/equestrian-competition-calendar-gmha-woodstock-vt/combined-driving-pleasure-driving-events/

[2DogsFarm]

Friend devised a method for unloading horse-sized cart from the bed of her truck.
She’d jacknife the trailer on purpose, lower the gate & roll the cart out onto aluminum ramps.
Having a “catcher” was a nicety, but it could be done solo, hanging onto the shafts.
Cart went in shafts first, using the ramps.
Shafts went over the cab when hauling.
Not ideal for a long trip, but for a short haul it worked.

[Alterration]

Oh, like motorcycle ramps? That might be a two-fer because I could convince DH they were handy for motorcycles too LOL

In theory, I’d never be anywhere totally alone, since I don’t even like to trailer alone, but it might be useful to prevent having to lift the dang thing into or out of the truck awkwardly.

[2DogsFarm]

These:
$79 for the pair at Northern Tool

[SonnysMom]

I am in SE PA. Eden Valley Farm in Spring City does boarding. The owner drives 4 in hand. The two women who work for him are great with driving. They have an outdoor area. The farm drives Santa to the tree lighting ceremony every year. I think they mostly do that with a single or double not the full 4 in hand.
It is also the kennels for a foxhunt. I don’t know if they still hunt on the property or just hound walk.
They also raise beef cattle.
Great group of people.
It is a pricey area.

[red_mares]

@Alterration

Any tips for finding a great driving-friendly barn?

In PA, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem. I’d look for an Amish barn. They won’t freak over the driving or the Saddlebred part. If you go to an “English” barn, especially a sport horse type (H/J/D) expect a ‘hell no’ on both counts. BTDT.

In SE PA it will be hard to find a Saddlebred barn. I think Phyllis Zuber is somewhere around Lancaster, but 1) I’m not sure she’s still alive and 2) not the best choice if you want to do dressage.