Carriage

What is chariotry

Chariotry is a method of using a horse in which:

the horse works in a harness

there is no rider on the horse's back

control is carried out using reins and commands

great emphasis is placed on safety

Used:

in sports

in recreation

in agriculture

on ceremonial occasions

History of chariotry

Ancient times - war chariots

Middle ages - transport and agriculture

19th century - the rise of carriages

Today - a sports and recreational discipline

Basic principles of chariotry

Proper horse training

Accurate commands and contact through the reins

Balanced harness

Safety of both horse and charioteer

Gradual training

The horse must be calm, obedient and physically prepared.

How to use a carriage

Preparing the horse

cleaning

checking the harness

properly fastening the harness

Hitching

putting on the harness

hitching to the vehicle

checking the reins and brakes

calm start

The carriage sits behind the horse and controls it with voice and hands.

Types of carriage

1. Recreational carriage5

For hobby riders.

Advantages:

Easy

Pleasant walks

Suitable for older horses

Disadvantages:

Lower dynamics

2. Sport carriage

Official FEI discipline.

Competition sections:

dressage

marathon

cone showjumping

Advantages:

High level of technique

International competitions

Disadvantages:

Financially demanding

Requires experience

3. Working carriage

Used in forestry and agriculture.

Advantages:

Functional and ecological

High pulling power

Disadvantages:

Physically demanding for the horse

4. Ceremonial and historical carriage

Weddings, parades, traditions.

Advantages:

Aesthetic

Preserving traditions

Disadvantages:

Higher demands on equipment maintenance

Types of harness

Single harness – 1 horse

Double harness – 2 horses

Three harness5

Four-chamber harness

Horses suitable for carriage
Properties

calm nature

strong body structure

willingness to cooperate

good gait

Frequently used breeds

norik

hafling

Friesian horse

lipizzaner

Czech warmblood

Equipment for carriage
Harness

collar

breast

combined

Vehicles

carriages

sports carts

work wagons

Safety features

brakes

reflective features

protective helmets

Advantages of carriage

Versatile use

Less strain on the horse's back

Suitable for older horses

Teamwork

Traditional discipline

Disadvantages and risks

Higher equipment requirements

Risk of accidents due to poor harnessing

Requires experience

Difficult logistics

Should you choose carriage driving?

Consider:

purpose (recreation, sport, work)

number of horses

available space

financial possibilities

experience

Most common mistakes made by beginners

Improperly fastened harness

Training too fast

Underestimating safety

Poor communication with the horse

Carriage driving is a technically demanding but very beautiful discipline that combines tradition, the strength of the horse and the precision of a person. With the right training, equipment and approach, it offers safe, harmonious and versatile work with horses.