I strongly believe that the horse that allows us to hitch him to a carriage and drive it all around is trying very hard to understand and give us what we want. There is no way in the world we could get a horse to drive, if it did not want to (there are numerous examples of what happens when a horse doesn't want to be driven!) So I feel that it is our obligation to communicate to the horse what we are after as clearly as possible. That means developing the tools of communication for the horse and for the driver. Those tools are the bit, verbal communication, and the whip. The more clearly a horse understands each of those tools, the more clearly a driver can communicate with a horse.
I train horses with the fundamentals if dressage in mind as a basis for sound body mechanics. When a horse is methodically trained to make the best, and most efficient use of it's body, it be able to do the work that is asked to with comfort and ease. This makes for a calm, confident horse who can work for years with out physical or mental break down.
Horses received for training will be housed at Mill River Stables, in Norfolk, MA. Board at Mill River Stables is $550 per horse, per month. Shorter stays can be arranged for approximately $25 per night. Board is a separate arrangement and charge from training tuition. Board does not include training, and training tuition does not include board.
All training is provided by me; Andy Marcoux, or under my direct supervision. Unlike other trainers, your horse will not be handed off to an apprentice to be worked. If your horse is worked, you can be sure that I will be there to personally work the horse, or supervise the horse and driver or rider during work.
Full time training:
Horses that are signed up for full time training will be worked 5 sessions per week. The length of the sessions may vary from 20 minutes, to and hour and a half, depending upon the training goals.
Full Time Training Tuition: $1,100/ per month, or 20 sessions.
Part time training:
Horses that are signed up for part time training will be worked 3 sessions per week. The length of the sessions may vary from 20 minutes, to and hour and a half, depending upon the training goals.
Part Time Training Tuition: $850/ per month, or 12 sessions.
Truck-in Training:
Horses may be trucked in for short stay training sessions over a period of a couple days or a few weeks. In those cases the charge is by the session at $75 per training session.
Starting horses for carriage driving:
Horses that have yet to be driven in a carriage will be evaluated for potential as a carriage driving horse. I will bring the horse through a methodical series of steps, eventually leading to being hitched to a carriage and driven.
Candidate horses for this training should be older then 3 years (or in the late fall of their third year.) Aged horses looking for a second or third career are great candidates! The amount of time needed to train a horse to drive varies widely from horse to horse, so don't ask how long it will take because I won't know until it happens. If we proceed as if we have months to get the job done, it often comes together in weeks. If we try to do anything in a matter of days, it will take as months to accomplish.
Experienced Carriage Driving Horses:
Horses that are confirmed carriage driving horses will benefit the most from training with me. The experienced horse will be gain a more complete and accurate way of going allowing for further development to move through competitive levels more easily. Driving horses that have developed vises between the shafts can be corrected and encouraged toward more appropriate behavior.
Single, Pair, Tandem, and Four-in-hand.
Have more than one horse and think it would be fun to drive them together? I can put your horses together in nearly any configuration so they can be enjoyed together. If you think driving single is fun, wait until you start driving multiples! It's a great time and a whole lot less difficult than you think!
Of course, with all that training in your horse you may want to go out and show him off. It's one thing to compete with a trained horse that's been driven in competitions for years. Driving a horse through it's first competitions can be another ball of wax all together. Many people choose to take advantage of my skills as a trainer to teach the horse about competitions live on the spot at a carriage driving event. One of the great things about carriage driving is that you can participate in the event while I drive your through the competition, so you don't miss out on any of the horse's experiences!
Fees for competitions range according to the number of horses and students I am coaching at the competition. My day rate of $500 and travels expenses are divided by the number of students up to five students. One should expect to pay all entry fees, and horse expenses including shipping.