Breaking and Training the Driving Horse: A Detailed and Comprehensive Study (Wilshire Horse Lovers Library)

Rating:
Summary: Fairly well-written book on Harnessing the Horse
Review: Book centers on light horses, however heavier breeds can benefit from the training tips. The black and white photos were a bit dark, but sufficient to illustrate the author's points. Illustrations of where the harness parts fit were the best part! Covers mainly carriage-type harness, but touches on other types. A book that was sorely needed in the equestrian field.

Rating:
Summary: LESS THAN DETAILED STUDY
Review: Did I read the same book as the rest of these folks? Wefound the "illustrations" to be amateurish drawings with very little clear detail and the photos were from afar and grainy with no discernable detail. The sections on how to harness, and particularly the fit of the harness, were poorly organized and without enough details. Basically, the book is very wordy but without giving enough clear step-by-step instructions and sharp diagrams and photos to really make the reader certain that they are proceeding correctly.

In reading and preparing for the first few lessons I felt secure that I had JUST enough information from the book to carry out her instructions. In practice, we got as far as the training shafts. We constructed them per her measurements, and tried to follow all of her instructions. Unfortunately for a rank novice there was not enough detailed information about how long the traces ought to be on a correctly fitted harness or how far and high from the horse's back legs the cross member should safely be positioned. Our first session in the "poles" was nearly disasterous. We were left with many questions regarding the correctness of our harness and/or should we have modified it in some way to make the exercise more successful. We found ourselves peering at the grainy photos straining to glean some detail that might explain why our set-up didn't fit her description. In reviewing the material we found that should we survive to hitch the horse to a cart, we would be uncertain as to similar details about distances, heights, lengths, etc.




Rating:
Summary: Great Beginners Book
Review: Doris L Ganton presents all of the wonderful information in this book in a clear, easy to understand format complete with pictures and detailed drawings to depict exactly what she is talking about. Great book for the first time driver, or someone new to training. This is an excellent buy!

Rating:
Summary: Great Beginners Book
Review: Doris L Ganton presents all of the wonderful information in this book in a clear, easy to understand format complete with pictures and detailed drawings to depict exactly what she is talking about. Great book for the first time driver, or someone new to training. This is an excellent buy!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent starter book for the novice
Review: Good pictures to go along with the guides to each part of the harness and its use. Very helpful book.

Rating:
Summary: Should be called Beginning Driver's Bible
Review: I am currently breaking in my miniature mare using this book. The diagrams are clear and shows you where the harness GOES!!! I highly recommend this book for any beginner and those who have been out of the game for a while and need a refresher!

Rating:
Summary: Very helpful and clear
Review: I am currently breaking in my miniature mare using this book. The diagrams are clear and shows you where the harness GOES!!! I highly recommend this book for any beginner and those who have been out of the game for a while and need a refresher!

Rating:
Summary: Should be called Beginning Driver's Bible
Review: I have trained four horses to drive, am just starting on my fifth. This book is with me all the time because I don't want to miss a step or make sure I have gotten into a sloppy habit. Driving is a great sport and it is a good idea to learn from the best and that is Doris Ganton.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book for Beginner Drivers
Review: I read this book several years ago when I decided to break my hunter to drive. The initial harnessing of my horse was literally "by the book" due to the wonderful pictures. I had horse, cart, and harness; but the harness didn't come with directions of what to hook where! This book saved the day. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent How To
Review: I read this book several years ago when I decided to break my hunter to drive. The initial harnessing of my horse was literally "by the book" due to the wonderful pictures. I had horse, cart, and harness; but the harness didn't come with directions of what to hook where! This book saved the day. I highly recommend it.