Coaching Days & Ways

A historical survey traces the rise, techniques, and culture of horse-drawn coaching, charting innovations that increased speed and reliability. It examines changes in team composition and road construction and describes daily realities of coach travel, from heavy, poorly sprung vehicles to the skillful yet sometimes brutal methods of veteran coachmen. Contemporary anecdotes and press accounts illustrate accidents, racing, and regulatory responses. Later sections contrast older practices with modern show coaching and rapid team changes, and the text is illustrated with period sketches and paintings.