Carriage Driving Essentials - Since 1998

Important announcement:

December 31, 2021 – Well, this is it, after 23 years and 4 months, we are closing our business. We thank each and every one of our customers for your business. It’s been quite a ride and a lot of fun. We’ve forged wonderful relationships and have had fantastic experiences along this journey and what fun carriage driving has been along the way! Thank you for helping us achieve this dream. With bittersweetness we bid you adieu and wish you all of very safe and happy 2022!

Celine & Gary

December 2021 – We plan to close and retire by the end of this calendar year! Please check with us by telephone or e-mail to inquire about anything you may need. Prices are reduced on remaining inventory. We are not ordering anything for anyone and stock is subject to what we have on hand. We have products that are NOT shown on our website, please inquire. Thank you for 23 years in this business, it’s been great fun!

February 15, 2021 – We are not taking any new orders and sales will be limited to what we have on hand. The website shows a lot of merchandise that we may or may not have. PLEASE check with us by phone (texts are not possible) or email first to make sure we have what you are looking for. It’s going to take us a while to close up shop completely and we will no longer be keeping regular business hours. If you get our voicemail, please leave a detailed message. Thank you!

December 1, 2020 – As of now, we will not be taking any new orders and will focus on selling our remaining inventory. We plan to wrap things up by the end of this month. We are grateful for all our customers and have enjoyed the journey with you for all these years. Please call if you need something, we may just have it!

April 2020 – We are now entering the phase of inventory reduction for ultimately closing our doors after nearly 22 years in business. We are not doing much to keep the website current, so there are products there that we no longer have and we also have many products in stock which are not on the website. Please contact us if you’re looking for anything in particular as we may just have it for you!

October 2018 – While we are downsizing after 20 years of service, we still offer all our harness brands (Smuckers, Hunt’s, our “Americana” by Yonies, Comfy Fit, and Zilco) and keep most Zilco Classic harness in stock. We are here to help you with select handmade driving bits from top quality fabricators in England and the USA. We also continue to offer Bird-in-Hand and Bellcrown Carriages made here in the USA. We still have plenty of stock items that can be seen on our online shop plus a lot of items that are not on the website, so if you have a special need, give us a call, we might just have what you’re looking for.

Thank you for visiting!
Celine & Gary

What we have offered: From miniature horses, ponies, light horses, drafts, we can outfit you! We carry a full line of carriage driving equipment including harness, driving bits, training carts and carriages, safety equipment, books and DVDs on driving, brown driving gloves, men’s driving hats, driving whips, spares kits, driving aprons, carriage lamps & picnic baskets. We carry quality leather and synthetic, traditionally styled driving harness including brands such as ZILCO harness, Smuckers Harness, Hunt’s show harness and our own Americana harness. We feature custom made Myler driving bits, Glory bits, Abbey bits and more in a large variety of sizes & styles. We offer a selection of used, new and antique horse-drawn carts and carriages for miniature horses through draft horses that include training carts, marathon carriages, gigs, road carts, wagonettes and even commercial carriages. Pleasure driving carriages of all types for singles, pair, four-in-hand & tandem. Personalized, knowledgeable & friendly service is our specialty. Come in and browse through our on-line catalog, you’ll find more than just products for sale.

Carriage Driving Essentials has been owned and operated by Gary and Celine Rickards since 1998. We drive our horses and have the knowledge and experience to help you select the equipment that is right for you and your equine whether you’re new to driving, a recreational driver, or an advanced competitor. Carriage Driving Essentials is dedicated to providing you with distinctive horse-drawn carriages and carts, exceptional quality driving harness, and safe and proper accessories. We can equip all sizes and shapes of driving equines! If you don’t see what you’re looking for or don’t know what you need, call us, we’re happy to assist you!

Tel: 209-966-4499 or Toll Free order line 877-966-4499 Pacific Time Zone. | Contact Us

Mariposa, CA U.S.A.