Level 2 UKCC with BC and on the BC Level 3 course. I am a Level 3 BDS Coach and member of The CC of GB. Hello, and welcome to my page where you can find out more about the coaching, I offer for Carriage Driving at all levels. My name is Royston Munt, I am a 4th generation carriage driver with over 30 years’ experience, following on from my father Peter Munt. Maintaining the traditional dr
iving style is important to me, particularly coachman style (one handed driving) as I can see a real possibility of the skill being lost. I will encourage all who want to learn more and have set up a rein rig to practice this and other rein skills off horse if needed but of course two-handed driving is allowed! I can offer HDT training, cones, dressage and obstacles or any level of pleasure driving to help with safety and confidence. My current coaching qualifications are Level 2 UKCC with British Carriage Driving and I am now among the small group of coaches accepted on to the very first BC Level 3 course, A level 3 BDS Coaching certificate and I am a member of The Coaching Club of Great Britain. As required by all professional coaches I hold a current first aid certificate, Safeguarding, DBS check and insurance. My coaching style is relaxed and patient, always working for the good of the horse I coach what I see in front of me. Every session will have goals which will be led by the client and supported with structured coaching. My philosophy is to encourage and empower my clients to learn at their own pace and make progress towards their goals. I am naturally resourceful and love to find new ways to explain or demonstrate a skill if needed. My experience within carriage driving spans over 30 years with some particularly notable achievements listed below:
1980’s - Summer holidays spent at my dad’s yard where I was taught to drive, learned about harness, how to tack up properly and take good care of the horses. After I left school, I worked for my dad learning to break and train driving horses for Coaching and HDT. We travelled across the U.K. and Europe to many advanced team HDT including World Championships, went to Gladstone NJ USA for a team competition and began driving in film work. Early 1990’s – I became a member of the Coaching Club of GB after being proposed by Bill Gins and seconded by John Parker. I had the great honor of driving teams for the Royal Logistics Corps at Royal Ascot, Coaching Club dinner drives and sporting club drives held by the Royal Logistics. Driving my Dad’s team on the performance day at coaching shows and driving at the Magazine Meet in London are very fond memories. Film work was always fun too! Late 1990’s – Having produced a team of black Gelderlanders for the Coaching Club president John Richards we won all coaching shows for both the 1998-1999 season bar one! Early 2000’s – I moved to the USA to train 3 teams for Dick Sanford. I was head coachman at Windmill Hollow for Mr Sanford teaching him to drive for shows and pleasure drives. I also competed the team myself in private driving, showing, coaching and indoor carriage racing, which I had many wins and placings at. I began coaching others from single drivers to teams and helped produce 3 teams for the National Sporting Library drive in Middleburgh VA, the largest collection of coaches assembled for a social drive, 48 teams and coaches!
2007-11 –I enjoyed producing horses for shows for Misdee Wrigley and Bill Venditta. I have fantastic memories of wins for myself at the Royal Winter fair Toronto, The Devon horse show PA, My Lady’s Manor Show and Ludwig’s Corner but I am most proud of coaching Bill Venditta from driving a single to driving a team, which he still does today at Devon, Toronto and many other venues across the states. I also taught Frances Baker to drive a team for competition and pleasure drives which she still does today, and Michael Gracie, Joe Colella, and Drew Thieo.
2011-19 – Moving back to the U.K. I mixed freelance coaching with other work and helped various clients with singles to unicorns. I was invited back to compete in the USA at The Devon Horse show PA whenever possible.
2019-Present – Currently, I am training and producing horses for private driving shows for Tessa Reeve of Sealmaster and will be offering coaching from the fabulous new 56 x66m Andrews Bowen Prowax arena in Baylham, Ipswich….Can’t wait to see you!!
