Guidelines giving details of the road driving assessment recommended as a minimum competence for driving horses/ponies on the public highway.

4 sides A4

Level 2 takes the candidate through the preparation of driving an unknown horse and includes selecting harness, maintaining the vehicle, dress and turnout plus harnessing up and putting to. The unit also includes driving a known horse to a vehicle of the candidate's choice.

20 pages/A4

The Preliminary Test is divided into units which can be taken together or separately. Covers - Prepare to Drive, Practical Driving, Horse Knowledge and Care (Practical Performance) and General Knowledge and Understanding. It is recommended for those in private driving, pleasure driving and driving trials at club level.

12 pages/A4

These are the official British Driving Society syllabi for candidates taking the full range of proficiency tests.
The Advanced Competence syllabus contains compulsory units featuring Training the Driven Horse, Practical Driving, Vehicles and Harness with the choice of one optional unit from pair driving (advanced level), driving with four reins (tandem) or drivng with four reins (team).

37 pages/A4

by Sallie Walrond

The ideal book for newcomers to carriage driving takes the mystique out of the subject and lays a sound foundation towards understanding the techniques of harnessing, rein handling and putting to etc.

24 pages/over 60 illustrations/soft back

with Paul Fielder

Paul Fielder has produced horses from novice to Olympic level and author Penny Hillsdon writes in a clear and straightforward manner backed by large colour step-by-step photographs taken by Bob Langrish.

24 pages/full colour/soft back

by Caroline Douglas & Anne Norris

A sequel to the popular Harnessing Up, Driving guides the novice whip through the stages of learning how to drive a single or pair from holding the reins and whip to common rein handling faults. The concise easy to understand text is complemented by clear informative photographs and provides invaluable information for those who wish to either learn to drive or improve their techniques.

24 pages/47 colour photographs/soft back

by Sallie Walrond

A follow-on to Starting to Drive. It offers valuable advice to newcomers and experienced drivers alike, and suggests solutions to numerous common problems such as napping, sore shoulders, fear of traffic, driving in company, pulling, refusing to stand s

24 pages/full colour drawings/soft back

with Paul Fielder

This title follows the progression in training the horse and divides the basic technique into four steps to improve the horse’s balance and carriage. The author also explains transition and half halts plus equipment.

24 pages/full colour/soft back

by Caroline Douglas & Anne Norris

An invaluable guide to the most efficient method of putting on single harness and adjusting it correctly with easy to understand text and clear photographs. Invaluable to the beginner with no knowledge of harness or driving, this book will also provide the experienced driver with useful tips and information.

24 pages/71 colour photographs/soft back

by Sallie Walrond

Common-sense advice on a wide range of driving topics with the aim of avoiding common mistakes and becoming a safer and more proficient driver. Information on correct harness fitting and care, vehicle maintenance, rein handling, preparing and showing.

24 pages/full colour drawings/soft back

Caroline Douglas & Sophie Adkins

A detailed guide to the most efficient method of harnessing and putting to a pair safely and correctly. The booklet also includes useful information and tips on selecting the horse/ponies and a carriage, harness. The step by step text is complemented by clear photographs of driving a pair in traditional carriages and modern vehicles.

24 pages/ 55 full colour photographs/soft back

by V & R Ellis & J Claxton

A delightful introduction to driving in its various forms. The authors combine to provide a wealth of knowledge coupled with a bubbling enthusiasm for all sporting and recreational aspects of driving and for the animals who play an essential role in it.

177 pages/profuse line drawings/ paperback

by Sallie Walrond

Drawing on her vast experience as an international judge of carriage driving, Sallie Walrond explains the judging procedures of every conceivable class including carts, coaches, mountain and moorland, donkey, junior whips, disabled drivers and horse driving trials.

119 pages/photos/illustrations/paperback

The set of 4 booklets as described below, for *Special Offer*

These are the official British Driving Society syllabi for candidates taking the full range of proficiency tests.
To include Preliminary - Intermediate - Advanced and the Road Driving Test (4 in total)

by Minta Winn

A new super book for 2008. This step-by-step guide to 'Learning to Carriage Drive' by Minta Winn follows her articles that have been featured in the Carriage Driving Magazine over the past 2 years, now compiled into this super book. Together with excellent photographs from Sally Taylor. Wide Range in content and covering nearly all aspects of driving and learning to drive, including the various levels of skills and competence that can be achieved through the different BDS tests available.

111 pages/photos/paperback

German National Equestrian Federation

The English translation of the official driving instruction manual. Provides precise and detailed instructions for training the driver and the horse using the world renowned German training system, based on the Achenbach method. All types of turnout are included. Well illustrated with line drawings.

128 pages/line drawings/hard back

by Jennie Loriston-Clarke

A step by step guide to the art of training and suppling horses from the ground, written by Britain's leading exponent of the art. This book will prove particularly valuable in the early training of young carriage horses, as well as in improving or retraining the older horse. The aim throughout is to produce a horse that is confident, keen and happy in his work - a goal which is perfectly possible to achieve.

112 pages/210 illustrations/hard back

by Amanda Saville with foreword by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

This new book contains everything that the beginner needs to know about the sport of horse driving trials. Beginning with advice on acquiring the right pony and equipment, schooling to achieve results, through to how to turn out correctly at National level. 'Sports Driving' gives a complete picture of the sport from starting flags to finish. A great read, informative with humour!

192 pages/Illustrated in colour/hard back

by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

The author gives advice and encouragement on all aspects of training, preparation and competitive driving, and the book is written with wit and insight laced with sound common sense. Well illustrated in colour with additional line drawings, the book will assist both novice and more experienced to become more proficient and safe in competition.

122 pages/illustrated in colour/hard back

by Paul Doliveux

The first book on this subject since C Morley Knight's book of 1884. Driving tandem was popular in Queen Victoria's time and is now enjoying a revival. The elegant turnout requires special tack and harness and a different driving technique. Covers randem driving, competition and showing.

154pages/10 x 8/ colour photographs/hard back

Heinrich Freiherr von Senden

NEW - This superbly written book by Germany's best known carriage driver and trainer. He has been training horses to harness since 1970, with the emphasis on kindness and safety. Has clear, concise instructions backed by sound reasoning. Included are professional tips and problems that may be encountered along the way, along with the solutions. A very useful, informative, interesting addition to any carriage driver's bookshelf.

126 pages fully illustrated with full colour photos

by Sallie Walrond

This completely revised, enlarged and updated edition of Sallie Walrond's classic work features a series of step-by-step colour photographs by talented equestrian photographer Anthony Reynolds. Easy to follow text takes the reader through basic lungeing and bitting techniques, shows the correct way to introduce both harness and vehicle and demonstrates by means of the author's own tried and tested methods, the way to produce an animal who will go willingly and happily in harness. Safety is a priority at every stage and training for road work is included.

160 pages/colour photos/line drawings/illustrations/hard back

by Sallie Walrond

Reprinted 2002. Sallie Walrond's concise, easy to follow text is complemented by numerous colour photographs taken specially for the book by equestrian photographer Anthony Reynolds. There are also line drawings by the late Anne Grahame Johnstone. Chapters include The Horse, Harness, Tilbury Tugs, Harnessing Up, Bitting, Vehicles, Putting to before dealing with how to fit the horse to the harness and the vehicle. Rein handling is also discussed before the author moves on to showing, pair driving and moving on to tandem driving. A must for the novice and an excellent reference book for the more experienced whip.

192 pages/colour & black & white photographs/line drawings/hard back

by Tibor Pettko-Szandtner von Felsodriethoma

An indispensable manual of carriage driving in the Hungarian style with the most amazing detail of every aspect of the history, culture and art of that country’s famous and effective methods. Beautifully illustrated with both detailed line drawings and photographs the author’s enthusiasm for the noble, elegant and practical style of Hungarian carriage driving is very evident. His depth of knowledge and love of the driving horse, from single to five-in-hand makes fascinating reading.

308 pages/200+line drawings & photos/hard back

by Fairman Rogers

A reprint by The Carriage Museum of America of a book published in 1899. It is beautifully produced with over 30 reproductions of paintings, etchings, prints and plans.The book examines the development of the coach and its character. Carriage parts are looked at in detail along with the drag, mail coach, diligence, break, barouche, landau, phaeton, jaunting car, omnibus and cape cart. Other chapters include costs, weight, draught, harness, putting to, whips and driving. Commercial coaching including timetables and livery are featured.

579 pages/line drawings/paintings/hard back