A spare kit is a must have for anyone planning on carriage driving their horse or pony. Similar to a toolkit you would carry in your car, your carriage spare kits contain spares, important tools, and safety items that you will want to have available in the case of an emergency. This kit should be carried on your carriage (cart) at all times, and is often kept safely in a box under your seat. Many competitions require these kits, and will mark you down or disqualify you if you do not have a complete kit in good repair. If you are planning on competing we always suggest enquiring with the host for a list of items they require to be present in your kit.
There are a number of premade spare kits available on the market, but here is a list of supplies we recommend to keep for a driving a single horse or pony:
Spare Parts For The Harness:
We always recommend having a spare pair of reins, traces, and hame strap when using a collar.
Additional Tack:
A suitable halter and lead rope for the horse or pony.
Carriage and Harness Repair Tools:
To ensure you can make the repairs and any adjustments necessary we recommend having a leather punch, adjustable wheel wrench, pliers, screwdrivers, and hammer.
Safety Items:
It is always dangerous when a piece of the harness snaps or a carriage malfunctions and quick reactions may be needed. It is important to ensure you have a knife that will cut through harness, a hoof pick, and first aid kit to hand.
Shod Horses:
If your horse is shod it may also be worth carrying shoeing supplies and tools to help with a loose or lost shoe while driving. These supplies should only be used in situations where a trained farrier is unavailable, and we highly recommend seeking your farrier’s professional advice and instruction before adding these supplies to your kit.
Optional Extras:
Although not required there are a few items we like to have in our spare kits including a whistle, electrical tape, zip ties, a flashlight, and string.