Hello all, I am a new driver who has just purchased a 2 wheeled trail cart. I drove my pony as a child but that was 50 years ago. I have a nice little pony, 12.2 haflinger type. My question for those of you who have more experience than I do … are there any books you would recommend for me to read on driving and driving dressage. I am thinking that is the way I will go as we have crops in the fields during the summer and I am relegated to pasture/road driving. I like trail driving the best but I thought the dressage driving would make us more flexible and be interesting to do. Very likely won’t compete, but just do it for fun.
I would recommend “Carriage Driving” by Bean and Blanchard https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/162045727X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494213538&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=carriage+driving&dpPl=1&dpID=51QHOgAZzCL&ref=plSrch Very thorough and informative.
Thank you CERT. I appreciate your input. I was looking on Amazon and saw that one. I’ll place an order for it.
Welcome to the world of driving! I would recommend the same book, it was my bible getting started and I loved the focus on developing self carriage.
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There is no good book that could teach you to drive but yeah when you are attempting for the license they give you a book. I remember I had read every Dissertation Service to learn traffic rules and regulation.
Thank you for sharing.
Another source of information on the web is Andy Marcoux’s site www.coachmansdelight.com There is articles to read and information about his webinairs. The webinars are very good and inexpensive ($25) This is my 6th season driving and I get a lot from these classes.
We really liked the German Federation book: Driving, the 5th book in their series related to training horses for various disciplines. Very detailed, comprehensive. Covers Multiples clearly. They have their systems which are consIstant in turning out consIstantly trained horses. Horses all work the same for the rider or driver. This is an older book, 1991, but maybe you could find it used or there is an uplated version now.
We were not really that impressed with the Heinke Bean book, use of the buggy to get ‘amazing’ results. Have not read the updated version. Some of the things she showed in drawings were not really possible for horse to do in that setting, that vehicle. Multiples section was not wonderful either, with drop poles and neck yokes used for Pairs. She was using old equipment, trying to attain modern results undreamed of by buggy builders of old times. Lots of folks find the book enlightening, creates new thinking.
@SofiaWoodstone I reported your post as it seems totally unrelated to the thread & honestly, Spam-ish
@newdriver Welcome back!
I am also interested in learning/refining my Driven Dressage & agree Andy Marcoux is a great resource.
A clinic of his I audited (over 10yrs ago) is how I became intrigued by Driving.
Dressage from a vehicle? Who knew!
Since you say you enjoy trails/roads, look into joining a local club.
I belong to 2 - 1 is more social & mainly does drives in park district settings & on roads & each other’s property. And does a Killer Potluck.
The other is more geared to competition & puts on CDEs, CTs & clinic GTGs.
Members of both are fun people & share their knowledge to relative-Newb me.
Best of both worlds 
.
ETA:
Oops. Did not realize this was a Zombie
Bumped by SPAM :mad:
Hello,
Can I learn to ride a horse by myself from books and with amateur tips or do I need classes with a coach? I do not plan to do this professionally, but I want to learn how to ride a horse properly.
Hi little_Annie, reading about riding is a good first start, but you should definitely get lessons from a qualified instructor! A good coach will have calm horses that are well-trained for beginner riders. It’s not just about learning how to be a good rider, it’s a safety issue too.
You might want to try posting on the Off Course Forum, as this forum is specifically about carriage driving. If you’re comfortable sharing your location, someone on here will have good recommendations for riding places near you. Good luck!
In addition to Heike Bean’s book mentioned above, I’d also recommend The Essential Guide to Carriage Driving by Robyn Cuffey and Jaye Allison Winkel ( really good guide for beginners) and Driven Dressage with the Single Horse by Sandy Rabinowitz.
