08/18/2026
Most of us believe that every horse has the potential to be a driving horse- but what features make a horse a standout driving candidate? According to Carolyn Aarup, it all comes down to their reaction to different stimuli.
The Indifferent: This horse isn’t bothered by much of anything- in fact, they don’t seem to notice much. These horses tend to move through the phases of training quite easily.
The Thinker: The horse that is startled, then regroups with curiosity. This is the one that you need to give a moment to peek at the scary thing, then they march right past it once they’ve investigated. These horses might take a bit more time, but still have potential to drive with good groundwork and desensitization.
The Truster: This horse has no interest in investigating the scary thing, but mellows out with handler support. They will continue on past the spooky corner, you just need to talk them through it. This horse will take more work and may not be the best driving candidate, but training should focus on trusting their handler.
The Panicker: The horse who is halfway across the field after a leaf blows by. They often take a long time to settle after being triggered. This horse will likely be a time-consuming challenge to train, and should be seriously considered for another discipline.
Of course, every horse is different in different situations. They may be Indifferent in the herd, but Panicky alone. Therefore, regardless of your horse’s natural behavior, you should put them through the different phases of groundwork and further assessment.
Thank you to Carolyn Aarup for providing the information in this post. You can read her full article “Assessing Suitability: Does My Horse Have the Right Mindset to be a Driving Horse” in Driving Digest Issue 254.
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