"[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.
1. Understanding Your Horse.
2. Equine Mechanics.
3. The Bit.
4. Finding and Fitting the Right Harness.
5. Choosing the Right Carriage.
6. Auxiliary Reins and the Whip.
7. Basic Ground Training.
8. Hitching.
9. Handling the Reins.
10. The Lateral Bend.
11. Longitudinal Bend (Development of the Topline)
12. Transitions.
13. Impulsion, Straightness and Collection.
14. Driving for Pleasure and Competition.
15.Pair Driving.
Bibliography and References.
Index.