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"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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Carriage Driving
Happy with the book and the condition it arrived in. However patients is needed for shipping time, it took several weeks.

Great book...
Best book of its kind, this book seems great from browsing through it.
Just dont expect it to actually get there in any semblance of time even if you paid extra money for shipping, amazon will fail you. This book however will not.

best driving book ever, wish I had an autographed copy!
After many years of driving minis, I thought I 'knew everything' - no, no, no.This book extensively covers everything one should know from buying the Right tack to lessons from the beginning lunging lessons on to the top.Very pleased I picked this book.

Excellent book on classical driving
This book is easy to understand for the beginner yet is full of quality classical driving and training principles. It also incorporates natural horsemanship(so old it's new again!) principles. Highly detailed but not overwhelming. Excellent book. This should be the bible of Carriage Driving.

Very good information
I have only read portions of the book at this point but plan to read all of it. I am completly ignorant of harness driving but recently purchased a miniature horse that I plan to finish in carting. This book has been an excellant resource. It is very detailed, but easy to understand. It mentions things to keep in mind that might not be obvious (like if you're new to harness or your horse is, you should have a bucking strap on your harness to save you a lot of frustration). I also like her approach to working with the horse - it is definately working WITH the horse and not BREAKING the horse. I have not read any other driving books yet to compare, but I am happy that I started with this one. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Carriage Driving
Very happy to add this book to my collection.Lots of informtion - a real treasure. ... Read more

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Seeing the need for a truly practical guide to carriage driving, the authors combined their over thirty years' of driving experience in the writing of The Essential Guide to Carriage Driving. Generously illustrated with over 350 photographs and diagrams and covering topics ranging from the selection and fitting of harness and vehicle to preparing for competition and driving multiples, this book is sure to become an indispensable resource. ... Read more

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Comprehensive and entertaining guidebook describes how a well-turned out carriage should look and be handled. Wealth of information about horses, harnesses, coaches, stables and liveries, plus "suggestions to the inexperienced." Over 100 captioned period photographs of coachmen, carts, gigs, phaetons, landaus, runabouts, much more.
... Read more

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Hitch your imagination to an intriguing new mystery series set in the world of competitive carriage driving--an elegant yet cut-throat realm in which gorgeously costumed drivers and their magnificently harnessed horses vie for championships in the challenging obstacle course of the show ring.

Jane Austen, meet Mad Max.

Fans of the long-running Mossy Creek Hometown Series will gallop to bookstores for this spin-off equine mystery series by veteran Mossy Creek author Carolyn McSparren, a nationally known novelist and expert carriage driver, who owns and shows carriage-driving horses in her home state of Tennessee.

Open your barn doors and fasten your (buggy's) seatbelts for THE CART BEFORE THE CORPSE.

Famous southern carriage-horse trainer Hiram Lackland, a handsome widower, dies mysteriously after retiring to a farm outside Mossy Creek. His estranged daughter, Merry Abbot, also a horse trainer, arrives to settle his estate. But Merry quickly plunges into bit-chomping dilemmas when her father's friend and landlord, mystery-novel maven Peggy Caldwell, insists he was murdered.

Before Merry can so much as snap a buggy rein, a handsome and annoying GBI investigator, Geoff Madison, is on her case. Then there's the troublesome donkey: Don Qui. Short for Don Quixote. And the fact that Hiram was teaching all of Mossy Creek's lonely women how to--ahem--drive his carriage.

Can Merry rein in the truth? What kind of horse play was her rakish dad involved in, and why would someone want to giddy-yup him into an early grave?

Stay tuned for the answers in this first episode of, "As the Carriage Wheel Turns." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Horses and Murder
This is not a bad read but neither is it a good read. I expected much more from a book that is the first in a new series. I found the writing amateur though it did improve a bit as the story progressed. There was the odd spot that made me laugh out loud and once I got past the first few chapters it kept me interested enough to finish it. But I always finish reading what I start whether I like the book or not. If you like light murder mysteries, horses and are looking for a quick read that isn't going to tax your brain, this book will suffice. If you want something deep and profound and that really makes you think, this book is not for you.

Cozy quick read for a rainy-day
"The Cart Before the Corpse" by Carolyn McSparren is a new spin-off book of the Mossy Creek Hometown series. Having not read those books I was a bit afraid I'd find myself out of my depth before I even have a chance to get started. I was happily mistaken - you don't need to know one single thing about the series this spins off from to pick up the reins and start in on this new series.

I love horses and reading about their handling and various competitions, equipage, grooming, and the like, but I'm not terribly knowledgeable about the proper terms...until now. This book doesn't assume that you come from the world of horse shows, driving and carriages but it also doesn't "talk down" to the reader to explain things. The explanations all fit in very well without breaking the flow of the story and I know a lot more now than I did about it all. For some reason I had a preconceived notion that the book would be in a bit more of a "primitive" setting. It wasn't that way at all - much to my delight - I like a good historical or "primitive" set book, but I generally prefer to not mix those with my mystery/investigative reading.

Merry is a strong female character, if you like your female characters to be simpering "let the guy take the lead and sweep her off her feet and solve her problems" types, this is probably not the book for you. She's not so strong that she doesn't have emotions, break down, cry or freak out, but she handles what must be done first, then falls apart if she feels she needs to. She just wants to do the best she can in the face of her fathers death, to do right by what he was trying to accomplish near the end of his life, to find out who killed him, why he was killed, and somehow figure out what to do now that she can't ever truly reconcile with her father now that she's finally reached the point in life when she's ready to allow him back into her life.

In addition to Merry, the other primary characters are well developed and at points during the novel get to tell things from their point of view. While primarily from Merry's viewpoint, you do occasionally get a glimpse of what others are doing - this can help advance the storyline while keeping Merry out of the loop of the ongoing police investigation and further "fleshing out" who these other characters are when they're away from Merry from their own standpoint. The sections are all clearly marked with who's point of view it's being told from, so there is little to no confusion about the sudden switches in locale and method of thinking about the investigation.

I am definitely looking forward to more books in this new spin-off series.

Terrific read
I don't read a lot of mystery but I'm so glad I got this one. I enjoyed the characters and the story line. The end was totally unexpected and awesome! This was a quick read, recommended for everyone.

From Steve at J. Kaye's Book Blog
"The Cart Before the Corpse" by Carolyn McSparren, is a murder mystery spin-off of the Mossy Creek Hometown Novels.Mossy Creek Hometown series are books of anthologies by different authors set in Mossy Creek, Georgia.It's a Southern rural hometown that claims "it ain't going nowhere, and don't want to." Populated by colorful local as well as retired out-of-town folk, the characters are all a bit flawed, and truly southern.

McSparren love horses, carriages and mystery, not necessarily in that order and combined all three in "The Cart Before the Corpse."Southern carriage-horse trainer Hiram Lackland, a handsome widower, dies mysteriously after retiring to a farm outside Mossy Creek. His estranged daughter, Merry Abbott, also a horse trainer, arrives to settle his estate. Peggy Caldwell, Hiram's landlord and friend, who happens to be a mystery-novel buff, claims he was murdered.

This fast paced, action-packed mystery is filled with odds and ends of the horse carriage world.If you don't know what that is, you will have a good understanding after reading this.The only thing missing was the fresh scent of horse `apples'. This was the first Mossy Creek story I've read and it covers all you need to know.Even though this is the first of the series, it is complete in itself.This was a good, enjoyable read.

Clever cozy mystery with wonderful setting and rich emotional content
Horse show manager Ms. Merry Abbot may not be having the best of days. A runaway horse causes havoc to her well made plans and news of her estranged father's death follows closely afterwards, necessitating a trip to Mossy Creek. Although most people assume Hiram Lackland's death was accidental, Peggy Caldwell disagrees.From the position in which she discovered Hiram's body, Peggy Caldwell is all too certain that Hiram's death was a case of murder.Geoff Wheeler from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation tends to agree with her.As the only heir in her father's will, Merry realizes that suspicions might be too easily directed at her.As she tries to put her father's affairs in order, Merry Abbott also sets out to discover the motive and culprit behind her father's murder.Will she uncover the important clues in time before she becomes the next victim?

Carolyn McSparren's THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE is a cozy mystery with all the excitement of a clever whodunit puzzle with the added bonus of a rich emotional content to draw one into the delightful cast of characters, setting and the story itself.Told mostly through Merry's first person point of view, some clearly marked chapters are told through Peggy Caldwell and Geoff Wheeler's third person point of view.Rather than disrupting the flow of the narrative, Carolyn McSparren uses these moments well, allowing the reader to gain additional insight into the character's personalities and at other times creating a smoother narrative flow of events.Although Merry has been estranged from her father, his death becomes a catalyst for inner changes within her.As she prepares for his funeral, she comes to know other sides of the man and indeed, discovers more about herself in the process.Carolyn McSparren combines a delightful sense of humor with emotion as Merry Abbott sorts through the funeral preparations and the minute details involved in transfer of his assets.Southerners (and misplaced Southerners too!) will find a special delight in Carolyn McSparren's ability to capture those particular Southern customs, especially funeral customs, engraved in our hearts. THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE takes the reader right into the heart of the world of horse carriage-driving with all sorts of fascinating details from horse breeds to carriage types.Above all, each and every detail brings a depth to the story.Merry Abbot is a woman devoted to horses, not only in her profession but also in her heart.THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE is a mystery for all horse lovers, from those intimate with carriage-driving to readers who just have a soft spot in their heart for these magnificent creatures.Carolyn McSparren just knows how to bring out pertinent, moving details while also integrating them fully into her characters' personalities and the events of her story. THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE draws one into the Mossy Creek world of the book, making one want to return to the book each spare moment possible and revisit the characters.What a delightful ending!This reader is anxiously awaiting the next Merry Abbot mystery!

Carolyn McSparren's THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE is a spin off of the popular Mossy Creek Hometown novels.If you are new to this series, rest assured that THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE works as a stand alone and an easy entry into the world of Mossy Creek, all the more so since Merry Abbott is herself a visitor when she arrives.However, once one gets to know the characters and setting, one might very well find oneself eager to revisit this world, either the main Mossy Creek series itself or another Merry Abbot mystery.

COURTESY OF BOOK ILLUMINATIONS ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

A wonderful introduction into the world of carriage driving.
This book lets you get by cheap!!But does not cut corners, or risk safty!!! ... Read more

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Originally published in 1882. An early guide to the history and use of harness for riding, driving and horse drawn carriages. Includes remarks on the traction, and the use of the Cape cart. Also contains important directions to Grooms and Coachmen regarding their duties and their dress. Numerous hints on driving. Well illustrated with explanatory drawings. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.Keywords: Horse Drawn Carriages Farm Books Coachmen 1900s Grooms Traction Drawings Artwork Cart ... Read more

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HINTS ON DRIVING HORSES By Captain C.Morley Knight A READ COUNTRY BOOKS CLASSIC REPRINT Originally published in 1884, this extremely scarce early work on driving horses is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. READ COUNTRY BOOKS have republished it, using the original text and illustrations. 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 more simple, and consequently, more safe, 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 two hundred and twelve pages divided into 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 advise 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. READ COUNTRY BOOKS are republishing many of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.Keywords: Driving Horses Pleasurable Pastime Country Books Line Drawings Tyro Morley Ribbons Reprint Illustrations Wisdom Read Books Hints On Driving Country Classic ... Read more

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Chapters: Carriage, Combined Driving, Harness Racing, Horse-Drawn Vehicle, Horse Harness, Cart, Shaft Bow, Draft Horse Showing, Fei World Equestrian Games, Harness Saddle, Sulky, Clay Trotting Horses, Blinders, Troika, Mossman Collection, Tandem, Nic Zuidlaren, Roadster, Fine Harness, Crotal Bell, Croydon. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 118. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters (palanquins) and sedan chairs are excluded, these being litters or wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light, smart and fast or heavy, large and comfortable. Carriages normally have suspension using leaf springs, elliptical springs (in the 19th century) or leather strapping. A public passenger vehicle would not usually be called a carriage terms for these include stagecoach, charabanc and omnibus. The word carriage (abbreviated carr or cge) is from Old Northern French cariage, to carry in a vehicle. The word car, then meaning a kind of two-wheeled cart for goods, also came from Old Northern French about the beginning of the 14th century; it was also used for railway carriages, and was extended to cover automobile around the end of the nineteenth century, when early models were called horseless carriages. A carriage is sometimes called a team, as in "horse and team". A carriage with its horse is a rig. An elegant horse-drawn carriage with its retinue of servants is an equipage. A carriage together with the horses, harness and attendants is a turnout or setout. A procession of carriages is a cavalcade. A Gala Coupé, 18th century; Royal Museums of Art and History, BrusselsSome horsecarts found in Celtic graves sh...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=229714 ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Good general information butNOT AN" INSIDERS" VEIW OF WHAT A JUDGE IS LOOKING FOR
I bought the book with hopes of learning what a judge is looking for in a carriage driving class. This book did give some details such as a painted cart needs to have a black harness, a formal cart needs more of a "high energy" horse put to it and a more informal cart such as a road card needs a more laid back horse. These details were helpful but I was looking for more "insider" information to give me an edge when I begin to show. After the general information above, in my opinion it became redundent by repeating the same things in the chapters that discuss each carriage type. It was more of a "TURNOUT/PRESENTATION" type book then an insiders look at what judges value. It is a very good book to read if you are looking from the type of information I mentioned, and would have received a 5 star if that had been what I thought I was buying but I gave it a three star because of my above comments. The pictures are really nice to give you an idea of different cart types and the chapters on different driving classes were interesting also but if you are driving just singles , or just a pair then most of the information , maybe 5 of the 28 chapters ,would be of interest. ... Read more

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Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Palaestra, published by Challenge Publications Limited on January 1, 2009. The length of the article is 3619 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Carriage driving for individuals with disabilities--part 1.(Cover story)
Author: Jennifer Lindskoog
Publication: Palaestra (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2009
Publisher: Challenge Publications Limited
Volume: 24Issue: 3Page: 19(6)

Article Type: Cover story

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning ... Read more