Olson Driving School

A Place for Everyone to Learn

by Jil Streed of Ramona, CA

I thought for a few weeks on how to begin this article, thinking my experience at the Olson Carriage Driving School would be easy to write about. I kept pondering over how to describe and convey the powerful experience I had.

Mr. Bob Olson is unquestionably good at building a foundation that relies on impeccable safety skills. His attention to detail and comfort for his horses is apparent in the way they are so happy to work. He continually stressed that our attitude is carried right up from our feet and out our hands, thus the need to be in the correct frame of mind to work with the horses. We were taught to partner up with our horses and feel them. Mr. Olson demonstrated the correct rein techniques by the students holding onto the reins imagining that we were the horses. It was very apparent that good hands and the techniques he showed us made a really big difference to the way the horse experiences your cues.

If all of this was not wonderful, there was a much more masterful, subtle side of what Bob taught. It all came down to Bob himself.

Horse trainers do not easily impress me. In fact, I really have only met one-half of a handful who were truly confident and masterful in their training techniques and their way with horses. The Olson’s horses showed how wonderful their relationship with their compassionate owner was.

From the start of the week to the end, his horses continually demonstrated how wonderful they were to work with and drive. These lively horses, no dead heads here, were very clear on their duties and their job. I never felt they were ever confused. Clear, repetitive training is what we, as students, experienced all week. Mr. Olson does not describe his techniques in a lot of complicated ways. He keeps things simple and to the point. Here is where the experience at the Olson’s school becomes so unique. All the time you get driving his wonderful horses is how you learn and absorb his techniques and teaching methods. Bob would sit ever so patiently next to each student and say only what was necessary to get his corrections across. He never would take the reins from the students, except when it was appropriate to do so. Bob calmly dealt with any student’s mistakes in a manner that kept you at ease and left the door open for learning. He is so confident in his horses’ ability and training that it came right out through the horses and they in turn became the teachers. Listen, observe, and feel. The horses will teach you in the many ways that they can. The Olson’s horses were also masters!

My personal quest was to drive multiple horses and to see if I could obtain that liquid, smooth feel I have achieved with a single horse and transfer it to multiple horses. My elbows and shoulders create an elastic contact following the horses’ motion and I can then feel their feet in my hands. Lucky for me I felt that this is what Mr. Olson taught.

On my last wonderful drive through the Black Forest, a pair of 3-year-old Belgians helped me get into that zone. The one where you do not know where the horse ends and you start, an effortless event on both parties. This is the joy of driving!

Bio of Bob Olson

Bob Olson has been driving horses for over 37 years. Bob and his family have been active in the show and performance ring driving singles, and multiples throughout Colorado. Bob trains horses of all breeds, along with their owners, and is involved in construction and restoration of carriages. This has enabled him to fully understand the proper fitting and balancing the horse in the harness and to the carriage. The Olson’s are often hired to put on a masterful demonstration drive with his six-horse hitch.