Rhianen started to carriage drive a couple of years ago. Here is her account of the experience of having carriage driving tuition from Stephanie.
I had ridden horses for 14 years, from a young child, before I met Stephanie, and never once did it cross my mind to try anything different with them, so when I decided, in the early part of 2007, I would learn to carriage drive with Stephanie I didn’t really know what to expect. I did know though, that I wanted to try something different and carriage driving sounded like good fun!
Immediately I arrived for the first session I could tell that the yard was very well kept, the horses clearly loved what they were doing and were very enthusiastic, and Stephanie was friendly and inviting, and I immediately felt welcome. (Photo of Rhianen at the end of her successful Road Safety Test, assessed by John Parker, Chairman of the British Driving Society, passed first time, with Stephanie Dale on the back - photo courtesy of Hazel Woodbridge)
The first thing I learnt was handling of the horses, and how very different they are to handle to the riding horses I was used to. Stephanie explained to me why they are handled how are they are, and I practised handling Roger and Dan as I groomed them. Stephanie then explained to me how the harness fits on the horse, and together we put the harness on Roger. Stephanie then showed me how to put the carriage on Roger (how to put to). Photo below of Rhianen grooming at a Le Trec British Driving Society event in Oxfordshire, Stephanie driving Roger. Photo courtesy of Hazel Woodbridge)
We started in Stephanie’s field and Stephanie talked me through the voice commands used to control the horses, she also showed me how to hold and manipulate the reins so Roger understood what I was asking of him. Once Stephanie and Roger where happy with me being able to do the basics, we took Roger down the Fosse Way. We drove down the tracks, and also took him through the River Avon. When we returned Stephanie talked me through how to take the carriage, and then harness, off Roger.
The first session I had with Stephanie, I found quite odd, coming from a riding background as everything was quite different and this was strange to me. I think, to be honest, it would have been easier starting from having never handled a horse before, as I would not have had ingrained habits from working with ridden horses. However, after a few sessions it all began to feel normal to handle the horses in the correct way, and the rein handling started to come easier.
During the first few sessions I drove both Roger and Dan, which gave me an insight into how different the horses can be, even though they are both experienced driving horses. Roger is quite sensitive to the aids, you do not need to do very much for him to understand what you are asking, however with Dan you need to be a little more definite in your aids to get the desired result. Both horses, however different, gave me a huge amount of confidence, and really knew their job.
In the summer of 2007 I drove Dan in my first show. I did a young handlers class. Dan was perfect, and tried his heart out for me. He brought me home a 4th place rosette. I was very nervous before hand, but Stephanie gave me a lot of confidence, and we just went and enjoyed ourselves, not putting any pressure on either me or Dan.
In the autumn of 2007, just 6 months after meeting Stephanie and the horses, I successfully passed my Carriage Driving Road Safety Test first time, with Roger. I never believed I would be able to do this so soon, and I wouldn’t have done it without Stephanie’s never ending support and encouragement, and the patience of both Roger and Dan putting up with my in-experience and giving me a wonderful introduction to the sport.
In the time I have spent learning to drive, the thing that has always stood out is the gentle nature of the horses. They are patient and willing. They do not kick or bite, and they are very easy to be around. They will give you their all, and will never fail to try their hardest for you.
Two years on, I regularly drive with Stephanie, and over the past two years I have done a wonderful variety of activities. Together with Stephanie, I have completed a Trec, I have been to many shows, I have been on organised drives and picnic drives and we have done drives all around where Stephanie is based, including driving through Tetbury. I have also started working alongside Stephanie, with Archie, to introduce him to carriage driving, and all that comes with it. He is very inquisitive, and it is very rewarding to see him coming on so beautifully.
Before I met Stephanie in 2007, I would never have dreamed I would be doing what I am doing now, but I wouldn’t change anything about the past couple of years, and none of it would have been possible without the continuing support of Stephanie and all the horses.
UPDATE
Rhianen has now won the Frost Memorial Cup and qualified for the British Driving Society National Championship Young Handler competition. Well done Rhi. An incredible achievement after carriage driving for just two years.
Heather from Lincolnshire came for carriage driving training in the English coaching method in order to take the Road Driving (safety) Test. Here is a copy of her e-mail following her test:
HI Stephanie
Just to let you know I managed to PASS my road driving test last weekend.....in fact the examiner wrote a comment at the end, very competently driven and well presented..!!!!!
I must to say a lot of what you taught me must have stuck, as I did feel very at ease doing all the harnessing up and adjustments, and explaining why things worked the way they did. As for the test drive itself all went well and nothing seemed to go very wrong, and I remembered to do all the hand signals correctly, AND keep a look out behind!!!!!
I had been driving almost every day the previous week, (coachman style of course, which is now almost instinctive), mostly my own pony but also out on the roads a couple of times with the pony I used for the test. It was a lot of hard work but I really enjoyed the test day, and THANKS to your teaching I am a lot more knowledgable about everything, and even managed to help a few others who were unsure too.
I will keep driving the way you taught me, and hope to have improved a lot more by the end of the summer. Even my 'team of helpers' said how different I seemed to be now with a lot more confidence, so again a big thank you for all you help and advice.
I had ridden horses for 14 years, from a young child, before I met Stephanie, and never once did it cross my mind to try anything different with them, so when I decided, in the early part of 2007, I would learn to carriage drive with Stephanie I didn’t really know what to expect. I did know though, that I wanted to try something different and carriage driving sounded like good fun! 
We started in Stephanie’s field and Stephanie talked me through the voice commands used to control the horses, she also showed me how to hold and manipulate the reins so Roger understood what I was asking of him. Once Stephanie and Roger where happy with me being able to do the basics, we took Roger down the Fosse Way. We drove down the tracks, and also took him through the River Avon. When we returned Stephanie talked me through how to take the carriage, and then harness, off Roger.