If you would like to bring a driving related clinic to your area, give me call and let’s chat and see what you would like to set up! Clinics and seminars can be for one day or a progressive two-day workshop.

• Clinics can be organized in various ways, and each one is different, depending on location and topics covered. I therefor recommend giving me a call so we can discuss your thoughts and what you are looking for.

• For groundwork and driving clinics I might travel “light”, while “Intro / Demo” clinics require me to haul horses and equipment.

• Rates vary depending on topic, number of students and how the clinic is organized:

• My starting fee is $800.00 / day minimum plus travel & fuel, and lodging.

Keep in mind that driving clinics require a certain size of arena due to the space each horse and cart, or team and wagon takes up, as well as appropriate (firm) footing. Indoor arenas are preferred, so the weather does not force a cancellation.

Some of the topics to consider:

• Groundwork for the driving horse – Improve your current driving equine or learn THE first steps in teaching your horse how to drive.

•  Introduction to driving the single horse – Harnessing, hitching, line and whip handling. Horses and carts could be provided.

•  Driving instructions for all levels of drivers – Forward motion, driving with contact, driving with precision, driving with speed and much more!

• Addressing specific driving problems – Is it the horse or is it the driver? (with own horses)

• Driving the team – understanding proper alignment, line adjustment, driving the outside horse around a corner versus pulling the inside horse around, and much more. Participants provide their own teams and equipment.

Group Driving Lessons

Group Driving Lessons

Group driving lessons are a very economical way for students to get a lesson. Small groups allow for one-on-one instruction.

These group lessons cover the very basic skills a driver / teamster needs and can be structured in different ways: 

1) I can offer 2 - 3 time slots / day for a total of 2 - 3 groups of 3-4 students each, with each lesson being about 2 hours in length and each student will sign up for one lesson. This works great if students are local to your area and are not trailering from further away. Great for student and equines that might not have the energy and stamina for 2 sessions. This structure can accommodate up to 9 - 12 students.

2) Or we can split the number students into 2 groups, and each group gets a 1.5 - 2 hour lesson both in the morning and in the afternoon, for a total of 3 - 4 hours of instruction per student. This accommodates students that want to immerse themselves more, as we can cover more topics and can progress and build on the morning lesson. Makes it worthwhile if students trailer in from further away. Requires more stamina from both students and equines. This structure can accommodate a maximum of 8 students.

Exercises are tailored to all levels of participants and I adjust myself to each student as they drive a pattern or exercise.  We will focus on your:

• Line and whip handling

• Following versus actively driving

• Driving with focus and precision

• How loss of forward motion and your horse going on the bit impacts your driving

• The difference of “driving “ your horses around a corner and “pulling” them around a corner

• Transitions and speed control

• Patterns to keep it challenging and fun and holds the driver accountable

• Small group sizes assure plenty of one-on-one instruction

• Teams and singles are welcome

Groundwork for the Driving and Riding Horse

This is a progressive all day group workshop. Groundwork is where my training program starts for a driving horse and the driver.

Groundwork establishes the skills both driver and driving horse needs to possess:

• Respect and trust - the base of it all

• Leadership and confidence - an important skill for a driving horse!

• Can your horse follow a feel and connect the feet to the led rope (= our rein or line)?

• Thinking versus reacting and dealing with pressure -our driving horses are confined - can they handle both the physical and mental pressure?

• Are you asking correctly? What is your energy? What body part are you addressing?

• How are your leadership skills?

• Practicing safety

Groundwork with halter and lead is where it all starts, no matter what you like to do with your equine partner. But especially a driving horse needs to possess certain skills. This is THE starting point in my training process when teaching a horse how to drive!

Any horse regardless of age or training level can benefit from these exercises.

Limited to 8 participants.