Paul Maye Goes Tandem at The James River Driving Trial

In what was once the infield of the training track for Secretariat, Paul Maye brings a tandem to The Meadow Event Park. Photo ©Mary Phelps

Paul Maye brought one of his new young horses along with a seasoned member of his team to The Meadow Event Park, Caroline County, Virginia, birthplace of Secretariat for the James River Driving Association Horse Driving Trial. In just his fourth time out in a tandem, Maye put Rufus a six-year-old Dutch Harness Horse by the hackney stallion, Plains Black Beauty out of a Manno grand-daughter though his paces with the support of a seasoned partner as the wheeler. Doing dressage, cones and then 2 obstacles in the afternoon the event held in what was once the infield of the training track the James River Driving Association held a successful event with a full schedule of entries.

With bloodlines and movement that would make any dressage aficionado drool, Nick (KWPN BY Hamlet out of a Ramiro Z dam line), who is usually the wheeler in the four-in-hand, had Rufus’s back, as a the “Steady Eddie”.;Photo ©Mary Phelps

With bloodlines and movement that would make any dressage aficionado drool, Nick (KWPN BY Hamlet out of a Ramiro Z dam line), who is usually the wheeler in the four-in-hand, had Rufus’s back, as a the “Steady Eddie”.

Maye, recalled the days he drove tandem frequently in England, and works his four in hand combos frequently to fine tune their skills as he continues the the team dream for Harmony Sporthorses from Kiowa CO.

Paul Maye and Rufus. Photo ©Mary Phelps

Driving a four in hand for just one year, Maye spends one weekend a month working with USE Team Veteran Jimmy Fairclough honing his skills.

It is said it takes up to five years to get the hang of all the intricacies involved in driving a team, and Maye is on a mission. With the head count up to six horses, Maye continues to grow and develop the team.

A lifetime horseman and he is focussed on making the most of his opportunity by spending the summer state side to train and develop his horses, most of which have dressage bloodlines.

Visit Paul Maye Carriage Driving on Facebook