How to Drive a Horse Sleigh
- 1). Wear gloves while driving to keep your hands from being hurt by the reins. Gloves made of leather are your best bet.
- 2). Check that the sleigh is tightly tied to the horse. This is very important for your personal safety. A horse sleigh can reach speeds of up to 8 mph, making it extremely important that the sleigh and horse are secured to each other.
- 3). Get on the sleigh. Hold the reins with your left hand to ensure that the horse will keep steady. Another person could help you by standing in front of the horse, blocking its view while you mount the sleigh.
- 4). Hold the reins with your left hand and the whip with your right. You must hold them until you stop your ride. Be careful, because without these the horse is uncontrollable.
- 5). Turn the horse sleigh to the left by moving your left hand forward. Your moves must be soft so the horse will follow your commands.
- 6). Turn the horse sleigh to the right by moving your left hand backward. Don't make abrupt movements with your hands. Try driving around without creating angles.
- 7). Speed up the horse by using the whip, but don't hit the horse; whip the air instead.
- 8). Pull back on the reins to make the sleigh stop.