Driving Horses

Driving Horses is the classic reference guide for people who drive horses, whether on the farm, in competition, or as a business. If you've never harnessed a horse before, how do you make sense of all those straps and buckles? How do you hitch a pair so they pull evenly? How do you hold the reins? Driving Horses explains what you need to know to work with your horses safely and efficiently, so you- and the horses - get the most out of each day. Driving horses like a pro is all about the details, and this guidebook is built on details. With more than 250 color photos and diagrams alongside clear, step-by-step instructions, Driving Horses covers all the bases--from different types of harnesses and collars, to how to get a harness on and off your horse, to how to select the right work horse. Learn how to hitch a horse to an implement, how to maintain correct lateral and longitudinal alignment, how to grip the reins, and much more. Whether you've been around horses all your life or are just starting to work with them, you'll find this handbook essential.

Originally published in 1884, this extremely scarce early work on driving horses is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. This excellent little book was written in an era when "handling the ribbons" was not only a pleasurable pastime but was almost the sole means of transport - hence any hints on making driving simpler, and consequently, safer, were of inestimable value. In view of the steadily growing interest in this pastime and the constant demand for information on harnessing and driving, this book will prove of great value with its detailed wisdom aimed at both tyro and expert. The book consists of twelve Comprehensive Chapters, each illustrated with explanatory line drawings: Harness. Driving-Single Harness. Driving-Double Harness. Curricle and Cape Cart. Driving Four Horses-Position of Coachman. Four Horses-The Reins. Four in Hand. The Whip. Starting. Pulling Up. Turning. Useful Hints. Tandem Driving. Tandem Harness. Breaking to Harness. Etc. This is a fascinating read for any driving enthusiast or historian of this mode of transport, but also contains much information and advice that is still extremely useful and practical today. Many of the early equestrian titles, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing many of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

"A book that will take the most novice beginner and permit him or her to progress to any level of driving with a clear understanding of how and why things are done." --William E. Miller, M.D., President, American Driving Society "[The authors] obviously know their subject well and treat it with much sensitivity and wisdom. I only wish I had this book before I started my driving program." --Sasha Rockefeller The modern bible of carriage driving . . . now back by popular demand Widely renowned as the definitive book on training the driving horse, Carriage Driving offers an easy-to-follow, practical guide to this increasingly popular sport. The philosophy is simple but remarkably effective: If driving is as much fun for your horse as it is for you, he will be a willing partner in the endeavor. With that in mind, Carriage Driving focuses on building a strong physical, mental, and emotional relationship with your horse. Equine mechanics, selecting the right bit and tack, harnessing, and ground training are just a few of the topics addressed. Drivers at any level will benefit greatly from this groundbreaking book, which has stood for more than a decade as the preeminent resource on training a balanced, responsive, and safe driving horse.

Writing at the turn of the century, Francis T. Underhill provided horse and carriage owners with a comprehensive guidebook that described how a well turned-out carriage should look and be handled. An expert in coaching and equipage, Underhill wrote with enthusiasm and a thorough knowledge of the subject, offering his readers a wealth of information about horses, harnesses, coaches, stables, and liveries, as well as useful "suggestions to the inexperienced." Republished now in its entirety, this delightfully entertaining volume depicts in more than 100 black-and-white captioned photographs of scores of vehicles: a "turned out" road coach, hooded gig, an elegant George IV phaëton, a Paris lady's chaise, hansome cab, landau, coupé d' Orsay, omnibus, depot wagon, buckboard, a smart "lady's country trap," and many more. In addition to elegant carriages, practical buggies, and cozy carts, this remarkable archive provides a fascinating visual commentary on nineteenth-century culture and life, recalled in vintage photographs of coachmen and grooms, stable and coachroom interiors as well as "night and dress clothing" for the properly accoutered horse. Reprinted from a rare original edition published at the height of the age of horse-drawn transportation, this authentic sourcebook will be welcomed by model builders, transportation buffs, artists in need of authentic period illustrations, and anyone interested in the bygone era of leisurely pre-automobile travel.

As pets or show horses, for driving, therapy, or guide animals, Minis are ideal whether you have limited space or a larger property. The Book of Miniature Horses is full of information on finding and selecting Minis; their care, exercise, training, showing, and breeding; their use as therapy animals; and more.

A comprehensive overview of the sport of carriage driving, written with the novice driver in mind. Covers topics such as equipment selection and fitting, basics of driving, safety, skill development, preparing for competition, sleighing and driving multiple hitches.