You’ve had the lessons; you’ve been to a Reading sale; you’ve got the pony going well in harness – what next?  Now that you’re up and running, it’s time to have a look at the other bits and pieces that complete a driving turnout; those extras people rarely tell you about or explain what their use is.

Whatever your chosen discipline, the most important accessories are a whip, a pair of gloves and a hat.  And depending on what you are doing, be it exercise, private driving or eventing, the materials your accessories are made of, and in some cases the brands, will differ.  There is so much choice that that it can be quite a minefield.

WHIPS

For the pleasure / exercise / everyday driver the best options are manmade fibre whips, i.e. hollowfibre, carbon fibre or simulated holly cane.  What is vital is that the whip must be easy to hold and balance nicely in the hand.  It doesn’t want to feel too heavy at its base and it doesn’t want to be too long for the size of the turnout.  The lash should be able to touch the animal’s shoulder when you are sitting in the correct position in the carriage, without making you stretch to use it.

Nowadays, an exercise whip tends to have a slightly longer shaft and shorter thong, which was first seen in use in Europe.  With the driving turnout the whip is an aid, and so as well as the lash reaching the shoulder, the shaft should be able to sit against the ribcage.  Whips that hang on your hand and put too much weight on the thumb will mean that your hand will cramp very quickly.  In fact, many drivers now use a loop on the whip handle loop which helps to take the strain of the whip and prevents you dropping it.

Most carriages will have whipholders in place already but they can be purchased separately and attached on the right hand side of the driver’s seat.  It’s helpful to have them there for many reasons, not least to keep the whip with the carriage at all times and there may be occasions when a driver needs to put the whip down and keep it secure while driving.

GLOVES

While some drivers don’t wear gloves, they are considered to be a must-have for many types of turnout.  Functionally, they keep hands warm and protect them from the elements, in all season.  If you have a horse that pulls or one that requires a constant or firmer grip, fingers can become sore quite quickly.  A pair of gloves that are comfortable and fit well, whatever the material can make all the difference.   It’s best not to have them skin-tight as the palms might sweat and having a bit of air room keeps hands in far better condition.  Also, long nails won’t wear the ends of the fingers out quite so quickly.  Rings can be left on underneath but do be careful that they don’t dig in when you are holding the reins which can be painful.

There are so many types of gloves on the market.  For a smart show-type turnout, leather would be expected and those made of doeskin are some of the best, but there are many options.  Its sensible to try several options and make sure gloves are well worn in before you wear them at a show or event.  Longer cuffs are needed so that wrists are covered as a gap showing the skin can detract from the overall pictures.  Colour wise, brown or dark brown is the norm, because traditionally they match the colour of the reins.

There are many options, from wool to leather to synthetic, but the main requirements are that they are functional, comfortable and provide a bit of resistance to prevent the reins slipping in your hands.  To complete a high class turnout, it is considered correct to have an old fashioned pair of cotton string hunt gloves which are neatly tucked under the cushion on a traditional vehicle.  The idea is that if it rains and your leather gloves have become soggy, cold and slippery, they can exchanged for the dry string gloves.

HATS

There is such a variety of headgear in driving and your chosen discipline will have a bearing on what you wear.  Our personal safety is the main priority and so safety crash helmets, which were once the preserve of cross country riders, are worn much more, for general everyday driving as well as at competitions.  Head injuries are complex and dangerous and can be life changing – minimising the risk in the event of an accident is the least we can do to protect ourselves and anyone who comes on the carriage with us.

There is a wide range of effective helmets on the market, to suit all pockets.  Now that team colours have become the norm, jazzy headgear helps to spice up what used to be an unobtrusive lid on your head.  Like the requirement to wear body protectors for outdoor marathons and indoor obstacles, event organisers will rightly insist that hard hats are worn by competitors and their grooms.

But in the ‘traditional’ classes there is much more choice, especially for the ladies.  A striking hat can really finish off the look of a turnout, but it must be able on stay on tight in the wind and not be so froufrou that all the feathers take off.  There is nothing worse than seeing a hat bowling across a ring, or a driver having to hold their hat on, which then becomes a safety issue.  Put simply, a wide brimmed hat is better saved for the sun or a garden party – keep it neat for the driven turnout.

For the gents things are a little more conservative.  Again, depending on the style of the turnout, there are options from flat caps, panamas, boaters, bowlers and top hats.  Ideally, whatever the choice, the hat should sit squarely on the head, tipped forward a fraction.  How many times have we seen a too-big hat, sitting on the back of the head being held up by the ears and what a distraction it is – more music hall / Artful Dodger than refined elegance.

APRONS & KNEE RUGS

Aprons and rugs are most closely associated with traditional turnouts but are also often worn in the dressage and cones phase of outdoor competitions.  As well as smartening up a show turnout, their main functional use is to provide warmth and if necessary, a waterproof covering in the rain.  The apron is usually self-securing around the waist and should cover the legs, ending above the ankle.

Knee rugs are usually for the passengers and should match the turnout.  They really come into their own on top of a coach, when each row of seats will have a single rug which covers the three or four people sitting alongside each other.

When driving out for exercise, a fluorescent rug can be an additional safety feature on the roads and add warmth on a cold day.

FOOTRESTS & WEDGE CUSHIONS

Footrests and wedge cushions are important accessories on the carriage as they can alter your seat and therefore driving position.  An adjustable footrest on a traditional carriage can make a huge difference to your security, holding you in position and giving your feet safe purchase.

Similarly, a wedge seat or cushion helps you to raise yourself up into a smarter, more correct position and encourages you to sit on the back of your thighs, which takes the strain off the base of your back.   If you do add cushions to the seat, make sure they are fixed in place so that they don’t slip when you are on the move.

Most modern competition or exercise vehicles have a single wedge seat at the front for the driver only.  The seat will also be adjustable and the front of the carriage will be sloping so that a secure position can be obtained.  Footrests can be added which is especially useful for junior drivers (or the short of limb).

LAMPS

In general, lamps are not used on a regular basis except for showing and a higher level eventing.  However, by law if you drive on the road, there must be visible reflectors at the rear of the carriage.  Most traditional lamps have a rear, red reflector or you can add a rear lamp with a red glass at the back. It is essential that they are secure in their holders as it is soul destroying if they bounce off the carriage and are broken, having worked themselves loose.

SPARES KIT

Even the most basic of spares kits should be carried for safety reasons on a carriage.  At its most basic, the kit should have some hame or breeching type straps, a spare trace and rein, and some baler twine.  A decent penknife, a hoof pick and some strong tape are also common-sense additions, especially if you are driving out on the road.  Some of us remember carrying 10p for the phone box in case of emergency – nowadays we all have mobile phones.  Make sure you carry them when out and about, with the battery well charged.

In showing classes, spares kits are considered to be an important part of the whole turnout and most judges will ask to have a look inside them.  They can be in either wooden boxes, neat baskets or leather rolls and should fit neatly under the seat.

NUMBER HOLDERS

Again, depending on the turnout, these will vary.  For showing they tend to be neat leather holders which buckle onto the rear of the carriage or the axle.  At competitions, they can be strapped to the side of the vehicle, or more typically are worn by the groom or backsteppter.  It’s not a bad idea to have some emergency contact numbers written on them, just in case.

Whatever your budget and however you accessorize your carriage, these additional items must have a job and shouldn’t clutter up the turnout.  They have to be clean and well maintained too.  And putting them together can be a fun and interesting part of your driving journey.