Guidance

Code of practice for horse-drawn vehicles

Published 1 January 2000

Scope of the code

The code applies to all types of horse-drawn vehicles used on the road, but it is primarily aimed at those vehicles carrying paying passengers, that is vehicles used for ‘hire and reward’. The type of vehicles referred to in the code are:

• 2 or 4 wheeled modern carriages
• 2 or 4 wheeled traditional carriages
• horse-drawn passenger carrying vehicles

The code applies to these carriages whether driven to a single horse or pairs or teams of horses.

The road driving assessment

This test is the recommended minimum competence for driving horses/ponies and vehicles carrying paying passengers on the public highway. The assessment is not a compulsory requirement for those wishing to drive horses but may be required if an operator wants to receive a local authority licence to operate a passenger carrying service. Applications for an assessment may be made either to the British Driving Society or the Heavy Horse Training Committee who appoint a panel of assessors. There is a small fee for the assessment and on satisfactory completion a certificate of competence (Road Driving Certificate) will be granted.

The practical driving section of the assessment, which can be carried out at the driver or operator’s premises, may be taken with a single, pair or team and will carry the relevant certification. The harnessing and underpinning of knowledge must include a single and a pair.

Grandfather rights for this assessment can be retained by attaining a certificate of Approved Prior Learning. This certificate can only be issued by a group of approved and qualified assessors, namely the Harness Horse Training Board, the British Driving Society or the Heavy Horse Training Committee.

Method of inspection

The competence will be assessed by direct observation of practical performance and oral questioning of underpinning knowledge. The assessment will be in line with safe yard practice and will take approximately 2 hours.

The British Driving Society Proficiency Test and the Heavy Horse Training Committee Road Driving Assessment test are directly accreditable.

The carriage check list

This is a comprehensive list of safety checks that should be carried out to ensure that the carriage and its fittings are safe and in good working condition. The checks can be carried out either by the driver/operator or by a panel appointed by the British Driving Society or the Heavy Horse Training Committee.

The road driving assessment, section A: prepare horse and vehicle for road use

Performance criteria

1. Control of the horse is maintained at all times
2. Harness is selected and fitted to the horse for road use
3. Horse is safely hitched to the vehicle following laid down procedures
4. The controlling position adopted is appropriate to the vehicle in use
5. The health, safety and security of the horse, self and others is maintained throughout

Range statement

Harness: show; exercise
Vehicle: 2 wheeled; 4 wheeled

Knowledge and understanding

1. Correct fitting of harness
2. Dangers of inappropriate procedures and adjustments to harness
3. Safety precautions to be taken when handling horses
4. State of feet and the effect on pulling power
5. Implications of the Road Traffic Act when preparing vehicle
6. Importance of safety checks
7. Mounting and dismounting procedures
8. Why is it important to adopt the correct driving position?

The road driving assessment, section B: carry out road driving manoeuvres

Performance criteria

1. Horse and vehicle are driven smoothly at a speed appropriate to road conditions
2. Obstacles encountered during driving are safely negotiated
3. The vehicle is correctly positioned on the road for safe and effective driving
4. Road safety procedures are adhered to at all times
5. Agreed cooling down procedures are followed on completion of work
6. The health, safety and security of horse, self and others is maintained throughout

Range statement

Conditions: Traffic; road surface; weather; noise level; gradients; pedestrians
Obstacles: Road junctions; stationary vehicles; traffic lights; roundabouts

Knowledge and understanding

1. Horses’ reactions when working alone and in company
2. Importance of returning a horse ‘cool’ from work
3. Effects of weather on road surfaces
4. Operating limits on vehicles
5. Application of the Highway Code and Road Traffic Acts
6. Use of the whip
7. Procedures in the event of a road traffic accident
8. Types of hand signals

The road driving assessment, section C: Attend to horse and vehicle after driving

Performance criteria

1. Vehicle is parked and secured at designated location
2. Horse is unhitched from the vehicle, harness removed and returned to relevant location
3. Approved cooling down procedures are implemented before horse is returned to stables
4. Control of the horse is maintained at all times
5. The health, safety and security of the horse, self and others is maintained throughout

Range statement

Vehicles: 2 wheeled; 4 wheeled

Knowledge and understanding

1. Safety procedure when unhitching
2. Recommended cooling down procedures
3. Methods of braking and securing vehicles
4. Circumstances when assistance is required
5. Correct storage and security of vehicle

Carriage checklist, section A - 2 wheel carriages (traditional)

Area of inspection	Check	Reason for rejection
Wheels	1. End play on axle	End play of 12mm or more
	2. Tight joints into hub	Any looseness found in these areas, by using manual force
	Spokes into felloes	Any looseness found in these areas, by using manual force
	Steel rim or clincher on felloes	Any looseness found in these areas, by using manual force
	3. Rubbers for protrusion	Rubbers protruding from the channel
	4. General soundness of wood	Evidence of woodworm, rot or cracks
Axles	1. Collinge axle - nuts and split pin in place	Signs of corrosion, looseness or missing components
	2. Mail axle - check hub bolts and nuts on inside of moon plate	Signs of corrosion, looseness or missing components
	3. Lubrication (both axle types)	Lack of lubrication
	4. Washers and seals	Signs of corrosion, looseness or missing components
Shafts	1. Thickness and strength	Inadequate thickness and strength in keeping with carriage size
	2. Wood and laminations	Evidence of woodworm, rot or cracks and delaminations
	3.Slack and movement where shaft joins vehicle at drawbar	Excessive slackness and movement
	4. Shaft fixings, bolt and bolt attachments	Signs of corrosion, looseness or missing components
	5. Tug stops and breeching staples	Incorrectly positioned, signs of corrosion, looseness or missing components and excessive wear
Springs	1. Leaves and fixings, especially ends of full elliptic springs	Broken, excessive wear or collapsed
	2. U-bolts supporting springs and their fixings to the axle	Signs of corrosion, looseness or missing components
	3. Threads of nuts	Stripped or worn threads
	4. Leatherwork and tension brackets on C springs	Deterioration of leatherwork and tension brackets
Body	1. Woodwork	Evidence of woodworm, rot or cracks
	2. Panels	Cracks and safety related damage
	3. Spring mountings and shaft fixings	Signs of corrosion, looseness or missing components
	4. All bolts and screws	Insecure or general looseness
	5. Seat securing mechanism	Insecure or general looseness
	6. Cushion straps	Missing or damaged, insecure or general looseness
	7. Straps and mounting irons	Missing or damaged, insecure or general looseness and deterioration
Swingletree	1. Swingletree (wood or metal) including trace hooks and fixing bolts, chains (if fitted)	Insecure, hook screws not in place, signs of corrosion, worn or missing components, evidence of woodworm, rot, cracks and safety related damage

Carriage checklist, section B - 2 wheel carriages (modern)

Area of inspection	Check	Reason for rejection
Wheels/Axles	If not steel: check as for traditional; otherwise:
	1. Welds	Evidence of fatigue or cracks
	2. Bearings adjustment	Excessive play, roughness or tightness
Shafts	If not steel: check as for traditional; otherwise:
	1. Material and construction (especially where shaft joins carriage)	Evidence of fatigue (often indicated by cracks in paintwork), excessive wear around bolt mountings, incorrect components
	2. Tug stops and breeching staples	Incorrectly positioned, signs of corrosion, looseness or missing components and excessive wear
Springs	As for traditional vehicle, and:
	1. Coil spring	Incomplete, cracked or fractured, worn or corroded so that its cross-sectional area is seriously weakened
	2. Damper Unit (if fitted)	Damage, corrosion, insecurity of attachment and fluid leakage
	3. Rubber suspension unit	Looseness, cracks or fractures, damage or corrosion, separation between flexible element and metal
Body and swingletree	As for traditional vehicle, and:	As for traditional vehicle, and:
	1. Sliding body balance system (if used)	Insecure, hook screws not in place, signs of corrosion, missing or loose components, evidence of woodworm, rot, cracks and safety related damage

Carriage checklist, section C - 4 wheel carriages (traditional)

Area of inspection	Check	Reason for rejection
Additional checks	As for 2 wheel carriages, and:	As for 2 wheel carriages, and:
	1. Forecarriage turntable and centre pin	Excessive play, worn centre pin, woodworm, rot or cracks
	2. Support plates	Insufficient lubrication
	3. Polehousing, polepin polehead and bearing (if fitted)	Stress cracking, excessive wear and excessive play in bearing
	4. Shaft bolts (if fitted)	Signs of corrosion, looseness or missing components
	5. Mounting steps, rails etc. and seats	Sharp edges, insecure, worn or inappropriate components
	6. Hoods and folding moveable safety features	Sharp edges, insecure, worn or inappropriate components
	7. Brakes:
	(a) Traditional	Worn, damaged or insecure blocks, excessive play or wear to linkage
	(b) Modern (hydraulic)	Low fluid level or leakage, worn pads, excessive play or wear to linkage, damage to hydraulic line

Carriage checklist, section D - 4 wheel carriages (modern)

Area of inspection	Check	Reason for rejection
Additional checks	As for 2 wheel carriages and 4 wheel traditional, and:
	1. Ball bearing turntable (if fitted)	Excessive play and insufficient lubrication
	2. Pole springing system	Signs of corrosion, missing or loose components

Horse

It is recommended that any horse which is to be used for the carriage of passengers should be at least 6 years old. It is not the aim of this code to set out guidance or information on veterinary checks for horses and it is recommended that operators seek the advice of a veterinary surgeon on the suitability of any animal for the purpose of drawing a carriage.

Harness

Drivers should ensure that all harnesses are properly fitted and appropriate for their particular use. Harnesses should also be regularly checked for soundness and safety.

Further reading

• The British Driving Society Introduction to Driving (The British Driving Society) published by the BDS, Warwick
• Breaking a Horse to Harness (Sallie Walrond) published by J A Allen, London
• Driving a Harness Horse (Sallie Walrond) published by J A Allen, London
• The Art of Driving (Max Pape) published by J A Allen, London

This code of practice was originally published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. It contains guidance jointly reviewed and agreed by the following organisations:

• The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
• The British Driving Society
• The British Horse Society
• The Heavy Horse Driving Committee
• The Joint National Horse Education & Training Council
• International League for the Protection of Horses

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