Full color glossy new book written by Steve Bowers for MBI Publishing. 160 pages, over 200 color photos and illustations by professional photographer and computer generated graphics expert Marlen Steward. This book makes a nice companion to our "Harnessing, Hitching, and Driving the Draft and Driving Horse" video set because it covers many of the same topics in written and photo format. You'll be able to take this book to the barn with you to figure out things like: names of harness parts; harnessing steps and adjustments; hitching dynamics for teams and singles, in both pleasure driving and draft type harness; various rein handling grips; different rein setups for teams, singles, and multiple hitches. This book shows hitching equipment for draft horse showing, too. The somewhat complicated steps taken for attaching a horse to a vehicle with shafts is clearly shown in step by step progression. Finishes up with actual driving advice, covering everything from "How to Start Off" to "Backing Up" so your horses stay light on the lines and strong on the traces.

Reviews of Farming With Horses

Ann Streett-Joslin (Colorado)

Natural Horsemanship Principles Applied to Driving, March 8, 2007   

Steve Bowers is a master at driving. His straightforward, logical approach keeps the principles in this book clear and easy to implement. Bowers keeps both horse and driver safe and working together. Whether you're heading for competition or just work around the ranch, this is a must read. You can apply "Farming with Horses" to any driving discipline.

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Dwight Bennett, DVM (Fort Collins, CO USA)  

Best book on driving horses, February 24, 2007

This is the best book on driving horses that I have ever read, and I've read everything on the subject that I can find. The information is not confined to farming with horses. There is valuable information on training, hitching, aligning teams and many other things that is applicable to any type of horse driving. This is a must book for beginners and experience professionals as well.

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Kathleen Conklin (albany, ny USA) - See all my reviews

a MUST HAVE for anyone who drives equines!, February 22, 2007

"Farming with Horses" is THE ONLY book i have found that explains, in depth, the engineering behind the correct way to hitch. it is lavishly illustrated with color photos and graphics. i have recommended it to drivers of single horses all the way up to 4-in-hands. Don't be put off by the title...it is a MUST HAVE reference for anyone who drives carriages as well as farm machinery.

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“A Teamster’s View: More and Different”

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You'll notice right away that a teamster's view is a unique one. Not only is there the background stuff that makes up a normal view of where you are going, there are also those prominent features: your horses' backsides. A teamster's view is vastly different from: a car driver's view; a trucker's view; or a tractor driver's view because of the presence of those butts. That is one of the reasons that we named this book, “A Teamster's View: More And Different”.

Although there are many who admire those who know how to use horses, there are relatively few who have success at using horses. It is clear, from the widespread lack of knowledge and skill, that many would-be teamsters have adopted a way of viewing that is similar to how they view the kind of horses that are in an internal combustion engine. They want to look over the horses, without really knowing or caring what the horses are doing. Such viewing is not good for the horses or their drivers.

The main thing that determines whether using horses will be a blessing or a curse is the knowledge and skills that you possess. Steve Bowers has been teaching about driving horses for more than twenty years, and he has been training horses for more than thirty years. In this book you will find a collection of some of his more popular articles he has written about using horses. Steve hopes that the reading and the study of this book will help make it so that your experiences with “A Teamster’s View” will always be “More and Different” in a very satisfying way!

llustrations by Larry Helburg and Marlen Steward

List of Chapter Titles:

Suspension In The Hitch: You'll learn how to adjust the toggle chains and the harness so the horses are safely and comfortably suspended between the pulling and stopping systems of the harness.

Collars and Their Use: Notes on how to get the kind of collar fit that will not make your horses uncomfortable.

Lateral Alignment: For comfortable use, your horses need to be positioned by the neck yoke, doubletrees, and lines so they can travel straight.

Coupling Line Adjustments: You can't call yourself a teamster unless you know a lot about how team lines are used and adjusted. This article explains it all in simple, straightforward language.

Longitudinal Alignment - Getting Even: Do you have one horse that wants to do all of the work, and another that is perfectly willing to let him? This chapter tells why horses do that and how to correct this unsightly problem.

The Case Of The Disappearing Stub Line: You'll wish you had read this article if you ever have a stub line get hung up in a hame ring! Why are stub lines so short in America? This chapter tells all.

Multiple Hitches: How to line up three abreast two different ways, how to use an offset tongue for three abreast, line arrangements for up to six abreast, and, six abreast in both wheel and leader.

The Bicycle Horse Driving Simulator: We've invented a practical means to learn the skills needed to drive the multiple hitches described above, plus tandem and four up!

The Pole Strap Loop - A Safety Brake: Learn how to use a little known loop in the end of the pole strap to greatly increase the safety of driving horses in draft horse harness.

The Foot Rope: Increase the safety level for both yourself and your horse when hitching to vehicles that first month or so with this simple, effective and humane device.

The Kick Strap: You don't think it looks safe, sitting there within the kicking range of a driven horse? Neither do I. That's why I always use a kick strap!

Nerd Dressing Your Horse: For those who ride draft horses (or any breed). Learn to place your riding saddle so that your horse doesn't act like a nerd - or like he was saddled by a nerd.

Loading Horses Like A Star: Loading tips for getting your horse into the trailer without it taking all day.

Too Much Or Too Little: Are you overloading your horses and making them prone to being balky? Or are you under loading your horses and making them prone to being balky?

Learning To Separate: Horses love to pull! But if your horses pull on the bit as hard as they pull on the traces, you haven't trained well.

The Guaranteed Horse: I used to guarantee the satisfaction of the buyer with their new horses - until I experienced owning a horse named Billy several times in one month!

Are You Hitched Yet?: Have you ever bought trained horses that didn't seem so well trained after you gave them a couple of days off? There is a concept called "training before using" that prevents much of that kind of behavior.

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To Order Call Toll Free 1-866-360-1212
Outside USA Call 970-484-9419
or
E-mail: sb@bowersfarm.com

This book is paperback 6" x 9”, 212 pages, lots of black and white illustrations.
$20 Per Copy, Plus Shipping ($5) = $25.00 Total/ copy (US addresses only)

Shipping and handling to Canada costs $10.
Shipping to other countries costs $15.

Bowers Farm Latest News Link

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"The Brayer" March - April 2003 Issue, Review of our book: The first thing you might notice about this book is the cover. It features an interesting shot from over the teamster's shoulder at the rear ends of three big draft horses. Once you read the preface, you realize that's what the title and subject are all about -that view of draft butts in front of you. Not a dashboard, not a set of handlebars, but living, moving horsepower. There are a lot of basic books on driving on the market - different types of harness, how to hitch (putting to), basics on driving your horse. All excellent for the beginning. This book needs to be step two in your library. Not only is there the basic info as stated above, but more detailed information on how to fix problems (what to do if you have a long-bodied horse hitched with a short-bodied one) along with the "hows" and "whys" of some of those leather bits wrapped around your horse (or mule). If you never intend to drive a team, you might not see that this book is all-important. However, not only are there interesting facts, we always feel that if the book is generalized on a subject (a horse book can have general info applicable to mules) there is probably something you can team from it. If nothing else, you might take an interest in learning about driving a four-up of bicycles! (Got your attention?) Reasonably priced at only $20, this softbound book has 212 pages with black and white illustrations and photos. So far I (Leah) have read through it several times, and keep picking it back up. That's the sign of a good book for me. Having just purchased a Percheron mare and looking into driving her, I have been looking at every driving and harness book with a new light. This one even had a chapter on riding your drafter - something I look forward to doing with my own new mare. Look into this book whether you drive a team or single - you might find it amusing, useful, or a downright lifesaver. Available from The Bowers Farm, Inc, 4269 N. Co. Rd. 13, Fort Collins CO 80524. Website www.bowersfarm.com, or call toll free 866-360-1212.

Horsedrawn News Review Our new book was reviewed in the August issue of Horse Drawn News! We are posting it here. Many thanks to editor/publisher Tammy Honnell ! If you have driving horses, especially the draft breeds, Steve Bowers is a name you should get to know if you don't already. I first met Steve at the 2001 Horse Progress Days in Montgomery, Indiana. He was doing what he does best, talking about the common sense handling of draft horses: driving them, understanding them, the safety factors of doing it right and basic techniques that have taken him decades to learn. Some people are just born to do certain things in their life, and Steve was born to handle the draft horse. His common sense approach to basic driving skills is unsurpassed by any clinicians and trainers I have seen work or speak. The one thing that sets him apart from many, is one simple phrase that I quote from his book: "Having a great relationship with your horses is worth more than having horses that are slaves." HDN has been honored to have Steve head up the "Educational Series" since I met him, and from where I sit, Steve has changed more lives than any other writer we have showcased. I get countless calls from people with horse problems, or, as Steve calls them,"People Problems". These calls come in from all over the country from owners with all harness horse breeds needing answers to their questions and a yearning to know how to do it right. In referring these calls to Steve, and with the "Educational Series" articles he so generously offers HDN readers, the response has been overwhelming. Some had all but given up the driving sport and written their horses off as "the next one to sell". But Steve, his books and his articles have turned many of these situations around from negative to positive for countless frustrated people AND their horses. Steve is often comical about the way he sees life. His style of writing is not only funny in telling the truth about how we sometimes go about the art of driving, but his techniques and ability to relate them in a way which will be applicable is extraordinary. From advice on collars and their use, to multiple hitches, Steve covers just about every concern and question a teamster will have. Traveling across the country to share his rich knowledge keeps Steve Bowers pretty busy, but he is never too busy to answer a question or return a call. He simply enjoys this gift he possesses, and the books and videos he offers can bring him into your home for the one on one knowledge so many seek him out for. Up close and clear photos and illustrations are abundant in the book, and the instructions are easily followed and easy to read. A kinder man you will not meet, and a genuine love for people and horses is at the core of all he teaches. If you buy a book this year, it needs to be this one. You won't find another one like it, and it's this editor's bet it will be your favorite! It certainly is mine.

Thank you for getting the good word out about training!

Sincerely,
Susan Cannon
Ishpeming, MI

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Dear Steve,
Teamster's View safely arrived... I have read the book with great interest and have improved as a horseman. I read about longitudinal alignment and recognised something that I have been up to. One of my horses... I enjoy the down to earth discussion which makes the fine tuning of driving horses. Thank you very much. I wish I could have written this book myself! ...
Yours,
Peter E.
Sweden

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Steve:
My wife purchased your book and video for my birthday. I wished I would have had it a couple years ago, it would have saved me hours of torment and misguided mistakes. Reading your book I was very interested in the kick strap... It is unbelievable all the stuff I have read and people I have talked to, and I did not even know how to properly adjust the traces and harness for a proper fit. Thanks again for your knowledge. I will try to put it to good use.
John M., Oregon

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Steve,
Great book, keep up the good work!
Ken S. Jupiter, FL

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Steve,
The book is excellent. It will be my constant companion as I progress as a "teamster".
Thank You, Susan C. Westcliffe, CO

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Steve,
...You have a way of expressing yourself with wit and wisdom that are of God. To Him be the glory! I'm so glad you put the Lord and man and the beasts we love in their proper order...
Barb N. Harrisonville, PA

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Steve,
..."A Teamster's View" is clearly written and helpful. I especially like the mixture of information and philosophy. The foot rope method and the chapter on separation are critical pieces of information. I can see how a lot of the correct training would be needed to achieve separation...
Best Regards, Doug LM. Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

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Hi Steve,
...I've only been driving for two or three years now and this is just the kind of book I've been looking for. I hadn't been able to find any good sources of technical information related to harnessing, at least in terms of the whys. I've asked I don't know how many teamsters,"How long should a pole be?" and "How do you properly adjust the harness?" I would expect to get a lot of different answers. and I did. But no one explained the whys.

When I read your articles in "Draft Horse Journal" I knew I had to have this book. I wasn't disappointed. It's a great source of information and I'm sure I'll refer to it often....
Best Regards,
Dave G. Sparta, WI

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