Carriage driver

Carriage drivers transport passengers in horse-drawn carriages. They ensure passengers’ safety and care for the horses.

The duties of a carriage driver include, but are not limited to:

• Horse care before, during and after their working hours
• Protecting your animal(s) from an uneducated public
• Understanding of the local terrain and traffic patterns
• Firm knowledge of local laws and bylaws with regards to horse carriages
• Entertaining clients on the ride – often tour guide knowledge
• Working directly with the public

The following job titles also refer to carriage driver:

coachwoman
horse-drawn hackney carriage driver
coachman
horse-drawn carriage driver
horse-drawn fiacre driver
fiacre driver

No formal educational credential is required to work as carriage driver. Depending on the location, additional requirements, such as a valid driver’s license, insurance, passing an assessment check and in some places a clean criminal record may be required. In many cases there may be a fee for licensing or badges that is paid annually. Larger cities may also require periodic inspections, risk assessment reports, vet checks and an understanding of carriage-specific bylaws.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Carriage driver is a Skill level 1 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to carriage driver.

bicycle courier
groom
equine worker
meter reader
usher

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of carriage driver. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of carriage driver with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

bus driver
parking valet
taxi driver
trolley bus driver
private chauffeur

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of carriage driver.

• Road traffic laws: Understand road traffic laws and the rules of the road.
• Animal behaviour: The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.

These skills are necessary for the role of carriage driver.

• Focus on passengers: Transport passengers to their destination in a safe and timely fashion. Provide appropriate customer service; inform passengers in the event of unexpected situations or other incidents.
• Communicate with customers: Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
• Obey traffic rules: Follow traffic signs, lights, signals and rules to ensure safe transportation.
• Drive carriage: Handle a horse-drawn carriage by instructing the horses through use of the reins and spoken commands.
• Ensure passenger comfort: Ensure the safety and comfort of train passengers; help passengers to get on and off the train using any mechanical aids as necessary. Respond to passengers requests and pursue maximum customer satisfaction.
• Tolerate sitting for long periods: Have the patience to remain seated for long periods of time; maintain an appropriate and ergonomic posture while sitting.
• Assist passengers: Provide help to people getting in and out of their car or any other transportation vehicle, by opening doors, provide physical support or hold belongings.
• Harness horses to carriage: Hitch the horse(s) to the carriage by correctly fastening the reins and rigging ropes.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of carriage driver. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Train horses: Harness, dress and train horses as per the instructions provided. Take into account the age and breed of the horse and the preparation purposes.
• Drive in urban areas: Drive vehicles in urban areas. Interpret and understand transit signs in a city, the regulation of traffic, and the related common automobile agreements in an urban area.
• Provide care for horses: Provide care for horses includes cleaning, housing, preparing horses and ponies for riding, fixating and leading horses, taking into account the safety regulations for horses and people and the specific requirements of horse at hand, using proper methods and equine tools and equipment.
• Clean horse’s legs: Wash and brush the legs of a horse. Keep an antifungal treatment cream or spray on hand to take care of infections as soon as they arise.
• Ensure vehicle operability: Keep the vehicle clean and in roadworthy condition. Ensure regular maintenance of the vehicle and provide valid official documents such as licenses and permits where appropriate.
• Process payments: Accept payments such as cash, credit cards and debit cards. Handle reimbursement in case of returns or administer vouchers and marketing instruments such as bonus cards or membership cards. Pay attention to safety and the protection of personal data.
• Transport horses: Transport horses using safely special vehicles for horse transportation; lead horses to vehicles taking into account the safety of people and horses.
• Provide customers with price information: Provide customers with accurate and up-to-date information about charges and price rates.
• Groom animals: Prepare the environment for grooming, select the correct grooming equipment and grooming methods for the animal. Apply occupational health and safety principles, of basic animal anatomy and physiology, including the identification and reporting of any abnormalities.
• Assist disable passengers: Use appropriate safety procedures to operate lifts and secure wheelchairs and other assistive devices while assisting physically disabled travelers.

Here are external information about careers as a carriage driver.

The Carriage Association of America
British Driving Society
Australia Carriage Driving Society
Carriage Driving Ireland
Scottish Driving Society
New Zealand Carriage Driving Society
Cart Horse Protection Association (South Africa)

9332 – Drivers of animal-drawn vehicles and machinery

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References

1. ESCO
2. Carriage Driver – Horse Jobs | The Equinest
3. Featured image: Photo by Satria Bagaskara from Pexels