Jess Buchanan Tanglao
Professional Carriage Driving Trainer, Instructor & Horsewoman
A Lifetime of Horses. A Philosophy Built on Understanding.
My journey with horses began at just three years old, when I took my first riding lesson. What started as a childhood passion grew into a lifelong commitment to understanding horses, their movement, their minds, and the remarkable partnerships we can build with them.
I grew up deeply involved in 4-H and the United States Pony Clubs, eventually graduating with my Traditional HA certification. During my 4-H career, I represented Virginia on the State Horse Judging Team and earned the American Quarter Horse Association World Horse Judging Championship in 2004.
Those early years gave me something invaluable: a foundation in horsemanship that extended far beyond simply riding or driving. I learned to evaluate horses critically, appreciate correct conformation and movement, understand the importance of sound management, and recognize that becoming a good horsewoman requires a willingness to keep learning.
That philosophy has guided every chapter of my career.
From the Carriage Seat to the Competition Arena
In 2009, I began working for Lexington Carriage Company in Lexington, Virginia, where I spent more than a decade developing my skills driving singles and pairs in commercial carriage operations. It was there that I learned the importance of practical horsemanship, consistency, safety, and developing horses capable of performing their jobs confidently in the real world.
I even purchased my first commercial carriage from Lexington Carriage Company, a vehicle that remains part of my fleet today.
In 2012, I expanded into the world of pleasure driving and Combined Driving Events, working as a groom, navigator, and student of the sport. I became fascinated by the differences and similarities between commercial driving, traditional carriage driving, and competitive driving.
Rather than limiting my education to one discipline or one method, I made it my mission to learn from as many knowledgeable horsepeople as possible.
Over the years, I've had the privilege of studying with exceptional professional drivers and trainers throughout the United States and Europe. Every lesson, every horse, every challenge, and every success has contributed to the philosophy I teach today.
In 2016, I trained my first horse to drive, beginning what would become a professional career developing driving horses for clients.
Since then, I've worked with horses at many stages of their education, from those taking their first steps toward becoming driving horses to experienced competitors refining their performance.
I've also developed my own four-in-hand team from the ground up, an experience that has deepened my appreciation for the precision, patience, communication, and individual understanding required to bring multiple horses together as one.
My Training Philosophy: Understanding Before Expectation
After a lifetime of working with horses and years spent studying different training methods, I've come to believe that the most effective training is not about how quickly we can teach a horse to perform a movement.
It's about how thoroughly we can help that horse understand what we're asking.
I believe horses are inherently good. When a horse struggles, resists, becomes confused, or offers an unexpected response, my first instinct is not to assume disobedience.
My first question is always: Why?
Does the horse understand the request? Is he physically capable of performing it? Is he balanced enough? Strong enough? Comfortable in his equipment? Confident in his surroundings? Have we given him the foundation he needs to succeed?
Or have we simply asked for more than he's ready to give?
Those questions are at the heart of my training.
I believe in developing the whole horse, both mentally and physically, through progressive, thoughtful education.
The Training Pyramid plays an important role in my approach. Rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, and collection are not simply concepts for the dressage arena. They are the building blocks of a horse who can move efficiently, carry himself correctly, and perform his work with confidence and longevity.
But I also recognize that no two horses develop in exactly the same way.
Every horse arrives with his own personality, physical strengths and limitations, experiences, and understanding of the world. My responsibility as a trainer is to recognize those differences and adapt my approach accordingly.
I don't believe in forcing a horse into a predetermined timeline or manufacturing an appearance of correctness through equipment or pressure.
I believe in building genuine understanding, developing strength gradually, and rewarding the smallest honest attempts.
Sometimes the greatest progress in a training session isn't a spectacular movement. It's a horse taking a breath, softening through his body, finding his balance, or finally understanding a question that confused him yesterday.
Those moments matter.
Because confidence is built through successful experiences, and a horse who understands his work is a horse who can begin to take pride in doing it.
Training the Horse Is Only Half the Equation
One of the most important lessons I've learned throughout my career is that educating the horse and educating the driver must go hand in hand.
A beautifully trained horse can become confused in inexperienced hands, just as a developing horse can flourish when guided by someone who understands how to communicate clearly.
That's why I place tremendous emphasis on teaching the why behind the how.
I want my students to understand what they're seeing in their horses, what they should be feeling through the reins, and how their own timing, balance, consistency, and expectations influence the horse's response.
I want them to recognize when a horse needs encouragement, when he needs clarification, and when he simply needs more time.
My goal is not to create students who depend on me for every answer.
My goal is to develop thoughtful, observant, independent drivers who have the knowledge and confidence to make good decisions for their horses.
This philosophy inspired me to expand my educational offerings through The Virtual Box Seat, bringing personalized carriage driving instruction to students regardless of their location.
Whether I'm teaching in person or virtually, working with a beginner or an experienced competitor, my approach remains the same: meet the horse and driver where they are, understand their individual goals, and build a thoughtful path forward.
Versatility, Tradition & Modern Horsemanship
My experience across commercial carriage operations, pleasure driving, combined driving, and multiple-horse hitches has taught me that good horsemanship should never be confined to a single discipline.
I have a deep appreciation for the history and traditions of carriage driving, but I also believe our practices should continue to evolve as our understanding of equine biomechanics, behavior, welfare, and training improves.
Tradition gives us an extraordinary foundation of knowledge. Education and experience help us determine how to apply that knowledge thoughtfully to the horses in front of us today.
Whether I'm developing a young horse for his first drive, refining a competitive horse's balance and contact, preparing a dependable commercial carriage horse, or helping a student learn to handle the reins with greater finesse, the principles remain consistent.
The horse's understanding, confidence, physical wellbeing, and long-term soundness must always come first.
Sharing the Journey
One of the greatest joys of my career has been watching my daughter, Mildred, develop her own passion for carriage driving.
As a young combined driving competitor, she has already had the opportunity to compete at prestigious events, including Live Oak International in Ocala, Florida.
Watching her learn has reinforced something I believe deeply: our responsibility as experienced horsepeople is not simply to preserve the knowledge we've gained, but to share it generously with the next generation.
The future of carriage driving depends on making education accessible, encouraging new participants, and creating a community where people feel comfortable asking questions and continuing to learn.
I am proud to be part of that process.
Beyond Training
In addition to training and instruction, I am an agent for Ideal Equestrian, helping clients source quality harness and equipment from the Netherlands. I also assist clients with purchasing harness and carriages from manufacturers and suppliers in the United States and Europe, including through my connections with Peter Proost of A-Z Horse Driving.
My experience with commercial carriage operations has also given me an understanding of the practical considerations involved in managing working horses, equipment, and carriage businesses.
I am a licensed insurance agent in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, specializing in equine-related coverage, horse farms, country estates, equine liability, and commercial carriage operations.
These different areas of my professional life all connect to the same purpose: helping horse owners and drivers make educated, thoughtful decisions for their horses and their goals.
Above All:
The Horse Always Comes First
I don't believe there is a single perfect method, a piece of equipment that solves every problem, or a shortcut that can replace good foundational training.
I believe in observation, education, patience, consistency, and the willingness to change our approach when the horse tells us something isn't working.
I believe the best horsepeople never stop being students themselves.
And I believe that when we take the time to understand the horse in front of us, rather than simply expecting him to meet our demands, we create something far more valuable than a well-trained driving horse.
We create a willing, confident partner.
That's the kind of horsemanship I strive to practice, the kind of horses I strive to develop, and the kind of education I am proud to share.
​
Jess Buchanan Tanglao
Tanglao Carriage Driving | The Virtual Box Seat
