Big Black Horse LLC

A good teamster is defined by good hands, advises Brandt Ainsworth of Franklinville, New York, who has been driving horses since he was seven years old. During the ensuing 22 years he has done it all, from skidding logs and farming to driving in shows, pulls, and parades. His success with horses is evident in his expert handling of the lines.

Brandt shares his tips and techniques for successful driving in this video shot in Belfast, New York, at the farm of Donnie Middaugh, Jr., another top teamster who helps Brandt demonstrate good driving. This video shows how to attach driving lines, correct ways to handle lines for both comfort and safety, how to drive with one hand or both, the use of voice commands in conjunction with the lines, driving a team or a single, ground driving, and how to properly handle lines while starting a load and backing a team.

Driving with good hands can mean the difference between first or fifth place at a show or pull, between safe driving and having a runaway. Correct handling of the driving lines results in increased productivity for both you and your working team. In this video Brandt Ainsworth shows you how.