Do you know what the oldest horse race in Britain is, where the term 'gee-gee' comes from, or who is credited with bringing racing to Ascot? Fact-packed but light-hearted in style, this reliable reference book and quirky guide reveals little-known facts, details of classic races, famous riders, racing records, amusing anecdotes and criminal goings-on. A compendium of the fascinating, strange and entertaining, The Little Book of Horse Racing can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about this ancient sport.

Stretching is a necessary part of any athlete's exercise and maintenance routine. Long recognized to promote flexibility and prevent injury in humans, stretching can bring the same benefits to horses when made part of their daily care. This illustrated handbook makes it easy for riders and owners to include simple exercises that improve performance and increase longevity in their usual training schedule. Optimal equine performance requires strength, flexibility, coordination, and resilience. The practice of stretching makes it possible to develop and maintain all these elements in harmony. It also provides valuable transition time from hours that may have been spent in a stall to the gymnastic expectations we have for horses under saddle: rhythm and elasticity of the gaits, willingness to go forward, beautiful and dynamic movement, reliability and surefootedness, and more. With clear descriptions of the anatomical and physiological principles of stretching, readers gain an understanding of the exercises that may be best for their horses and disciplines in mind. Then, detailed instructions are provided explaining: - Simple, quick-to-do joint and muscle evaluations. - Stretches targeting specific muscle groups. - Stretches to promote suppleness and relaxation. - Stretches to warm up and prepare for work. - Stretches for cool down and recovery. Color photographs demonstrate evaluations and stretches step-by-step, supplemented by detailed explanations of what you may discover in your horse's reactions. Perhaps best of all, readers are provided a therapeutic reason for more hands-on time with their horses, and new ways to listen to him, to understand him, and to ultimately improve his well-being and performance.

Anneli Drummond-Hay's autobiography is a fascinating insight into the making of an equestrian champion through her struggle for survival.

It is a heart-warming story of a war baby with aristocratic connections, who grew up with very little money and even less love. She never went to school, she had no friends growing up, but she did have a gift with the horses in which she sought solace.

The big love story of her life was one particularly special horse, Merely-AMonarch. He was invincible in eventing, but as female eventers were not permitted to compete in the Olympics in that era, Anneli switched to show jumping. She came so close to going to three Olympics but was foiled at the last moment each time, despite winning just about everything else in the sport.

Besides her wonderful horses, Anneli gives an amazing account of the people she met - from Harvey Smith to the Queen, in front of whom she was asked to lend her horse for the British Olympic effort, and refused; to her asking a favour, in person, of Colonel Gaddafi.

The jet-set life of an elite show jumper may be glamorous but there are more lows than highs, whether it's her top ride being stolen, a potential plane disaster above the Alps, or the sudden death of a star horse.

As The Princess Royal so rightly says in the foreword to this book: 'Thank goodness Anneli decided to write her story.'

United States Army Olympic equestrian competitions have been largely overlooked in historical writings. This book tells the stories of the triumphs, the contributions, and the failures of the U.S. Army Olympians, and also captures the humor and good times as well as the drama and disappointments of the U.S. Army Olympians from the 1912 Games in Stockholm, to the 1948 Games in London. The stories are rich in detail, and include the controversial 1936 Summer Games held in Berlin, Germany. Many personal vignettes as told by team members enhance the story.

A vital book for equine coaches. Drawing on tried-and-tested coaching practices used successfully in other sports, this book provides an introduction to coaching specific to the equine environment. The coaching process as a whole is addressed for both the horse and rider.
The UK Government Coaching Task Force highlighted the need for the development of coaching across all sports, which led to the introduction of the UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC). Soon any coaching of horses and riders will need to be done by qualified individuals only. Equine Sports Coaching is ideal for those studying for the UKCC or other qualifications in equine sports and leisure coaching.
Key features:
* in line with UK Coaching Certificate qualifications
* covers performance analysis, periodisation of training programmes, sports psychology, and communication skills
* advises on the personal development of the coach to support career development in this field

First Published in 1996. This is a lexicon of Arabic horse terminology covering Egyptian, Bedouin and Classical Arabic. The Egyptian data for this book were collected in Cairo between October 1982 and September 1983, December 1983, December 1984, and March to April 1988. Most of this time the author spent exercising and training Egyptian and European horses, and later, teaching horse riding.

The Business of Coaching with Horses is the definitive business guide for equine-assisted professionals to reach more clients so they can feed their horses and change the world! Horse coaching and therapy benefits are unique and sometimes 'mysterious'. In The Business of Coaching with Horses, Equine Alchemy Certified Coach and Facilitator Schelli Whitehouse illustrates exactly what it takes to experience balance, abundance, and a sustainable equine-assisted coaching practice. Schelli's own life journey and work with horses has become an integrated celebration of purpose and prosperity as she works to see equine-assisted coaching and therapy become a valuable 'go-to' modality for personal and professional transformation-as popular as yoga and Starbucks! Through colorful personal stories, client case studies, and advice from industry experts, The Business of Coaching with Horses guides equine-assisted practitioners through 7 essential skills for building a thriving business with horsepower. Complete with an online companion workbook, Schelli helps readers establish and build upon their own foundation of personal core principles and unique expertise in order to provide value, structure, and transformation for their ideal clients. Part business branding, part money mindset mastery, and part service design, The Business of Coaching with Horses is a loving kick-in-the-pants and a journey to the heart of success for any Horse and Soul Business.

With scientific research to prove their point, trainers Andrea and Markus Eschbach show readers how they can train and ride horses in a way that is safe, even when they are using very little equipment/minimal tack. This book is your first step toward your dream of riding your horse bareback, without a bit, and even without a bridle, while still feeling secure and in control.

There are still many unknowns in the breeding of Thoroughbreds, but the international research coalition known as the Equine Genome Project is facilitating many new exciting discoveries. Dr Matthew Binns is a leader of the project, an enterprise set up to map the equine genome, and with racing historian and bloodstock authority Tony Morris has written this important book on the theory, practice, art and science of Thoroughbred breeding. This long-awaited book describes how man came to express pedigree and to develop theories about it, and how practical breeders behaved in the light of their understanding. It explains why many theories - including some still widely granted credibility today - are fallacious, examines the very real progress in knowledge since the principles of genetics were discovered, and focuses on the exciting developments of the last few years, when eminent geneticists have applied their expertise to the subject of the Thoroughbred. It has been the authors' endeavour to present that information in a form that may be readily understood by anyone who shares a love of the Thoroughbred and a fascination with what makes him what he is. Packed with absorbing history and cutting-edge science, this is a fascinating and illuminating book.

In this sequel to Cowgirl Dreams, Nettie Brady, now Nettie Moser, is working with her husband Jake to prepare for a busy rodeo season when she's offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to London to perform with the Tex Austin Wild West Troupe. When fate once again interferes with her dreams, Nettie finds herself overcoming challenges only to set aside her passions. As Nettie and Jake work to keep their horse herd from disaster and to preserve their way of life, the realities of the Great Depression separate them. Based on the life of the author's grandmother, a real Montana Cowgirl, Follow the Dream, reveals the story of the real Montana in the mid-Twentieth Century and continues the sweeping family saga begun in Cowgirl Dreams.

From the leading authority on the subject, "Saddlery" is a comprehensive account of the range, scope and variety of articles available, all put in perspective within the context of their use.For many years a standard recommended book for examination reading, this completely revised, enlarged and updated edition will guide the student and horse-owner through the bewildering variety of saddlery, horse equipment and clothing, describing its construction, purpose and correct usage by means of the uniquely informative text, clear line illustrations and new colour photographs.With every conceivable aspect covered, and now including information on the use of synthetic materials, new bitting systems, the developments in saddle fitting, innovative riding aids and Western riding (and much more), this is the definitive guide to equipping horse and rider for every eventuality.

This is the first volume in a series of course books for career students and exam candidates preparing for the Stage 1 exam of the British Horse Society. It includes an examination planner, in-text self-assessment questions, BHS syllabus checklist points throughout the text, and examination tips from BHS examiners including common mistakes made. This book deals with the stable management syllabus and the ridden elements of the test.

This is an invaluable guide to every aspect of horsemanship, from the diverse and specialist equipment for both horse and rider to learning to ride and competing in riding competitions. The first section of the book is a directory-style approach to the full range of horse equipment. Saddles, bridles and bits; training aids and gadgets; clothing and protective equipment are all discussed in detail. The second section is a step-by-step presentation of riding techniques, and the final section covers the world of horse riding competitions. This section examines the wellknown sports of show-jumping, polo and dressage, as well as the more obscure competitions, such as endurance riding, vaulting and driving.

'Poignant and compelling, an equine Bridget Jones.' Racing Post Being a stable lass is probably one of the hardest jobs in the country, and yet for Gemma Hogg it is the most rewarding. She works in the beautiful Yorkshire market town of Middleham and if her colleagues are occasionally challenging, then the horses are downright astonishing. Now, in Stable Lass, she takes us into the closed world of a top racing yard, from the elation of having several winners in one day to the almost indescribable grief of losing a horse. Like most stable lads and lasses, Gemma arrived in her yard as a teenager fresh out of racing college and had to cope with living away from home for the first time, as well as adapting to the brutal long hours, backbreaking work and often treacherous weather. She describes falling in love with Polo Venture, the first racehorse in her care, the pure exhilaration of riding him on Middleham Gallops for the first time and what happens when a horse takes against you, from the growling gelding Valiant Warrior to the potentially lethal Broadway Boy. She brings to life the characters around the yard, from straight-talking boss Micky Hammond to the jockeys starving themselves to make weight, the wealthy owners and the other stable lads and lasses who come from a range of different places and backgrounds. Stable Lass by Gemma Hogg is a unique look into the world of horse racing filled with heart-warming stories and amazing thoroughbreds - some loveable, some cantankerous, all impressive.

It is an often-forgotten fact that horses played an important part in Winston Churchill's life. They were his escape in childhood, his challenge in youth, his transport in war, his triumph in sport and his diversion in old age. Renowned author, broadcaster and former jockey, Brough Scott, follows in Churchill's hoofprints from galloping his pony in Blenheim Park, to topping the riding class whilst army training at Sandhurst, taking part in a famous cavalry charge in Sudan, playing polo in India, hunting foxes in Leicestershire and breeding racehorses near his home in Kent, after a minor interlude out of the saddle to tend to the historic task of winning the Second World War.

This book is a comprehensive history of polo in Argentina, from its beginnings in the 1870s to the summer of 2013. The history of the early pioneers is explored with data not previously published, gathered from contemporary sources. International competitions include the Olympic Games, the Cup of the Americas and the World Championships. Particular attention is given to the major clubs, the Argentine and Hurlingham Open Championships and the National Handicap Tournament. Several of the elite players merit individual or family mini-biographies. Several myths in Argentine polo are debunked, based upon careful analysis of contemporary sources. Travels abroad by Argentine teams are fully described as are the foreign teams that competed in Argentina. The contents of the book are enhanced by the author's personal observation of significant events and his friendship with many of the participants in the story. This work represents the first book devoted to polo Argentina in more than sixty years.

Taking My Time tells both the tall tale of George Baker's life as a jockey, and the story of a second life emerging from the aftermath of his horror fall on the White Turf at St Moritz in 2017. As a rider, George scaled the highest of highs in the saddle with St Leger victory aboard Harbour Law cementing his place among the sport's elite, despite having the body of a man surely destined for another occupation. Tortuous battles with the scales were ultimately won, popularity among peers and punters was assured and life was good and getting better. Until the terrible accident which left him with serious head injuries forced him to restart; he had to live again. He was the same person but different. New obstacles had to be cleared and trauma both physical and mental needed to be met and overcome. The story is told with the wit and wisdom that has come to characterise George Baker, and his wife Nicola recounts, with humour and humility, the toll taken on the those closest to him and the perilous nature of life at his side.