In 1948, the year of the London Olympics, the Daily Mail carried a centre spread of a Lippizaner horse performing a capriole. On the strength of this photograph, the young Charles Harris took a train to Aldershot, where the equestrian events were held, and after narrowly avoiding arrest for loitering without authorization in the stable area, managed to procure a meeting with the rider of the horse, Alois Podhajsky. As a result, and sponsored by Colonel VDS Williams, one of the leading equestrian figures of the day, Charles became the first pupil to complete the 1948 - 52 course at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Every day he wrote down what he had learned, illustrating each point in his own inimitable style, filling two thick A4 notebooks. These numbered notes are faithfully reproduced just as he wrote them, forming a unique and fascinating record of the nuts and bolts of classical horsemanship as taught at the most exclusive and famous riding school in the world. The workbooks are prefaced by a memoir of the author's life, taken mainly from transcripts of conversations with his nephew, Robert Sherman, together with additional contributions from his contemporaries. Born Charles Gallewski in the Jewish quarter of Sunderland in 1915, Charles experienced a traumatic childhood, spending time both at a workhouse and a children's home. After an incident-packed period during which he deserted from the army and changed his name twice, Charles, a talented horseman, gained a fellowship of The Institute of the Horse and his future looked promising. However, his return from the Spanish Riding School found him a prophet without honour in his own country as the equestrian establishment resisted the teaching and discipline of the Spanish School. A fierce and unforgiving opponent when disputing points of equestrian technique and safety, Charles became a thorn in the side of the British Horse Society who having previously awarded him a fellowship, then stripped him of the honour. This memoir, at times painfully frank, often extremely moving yet full of humour, provides a compelling insight into one of the great characters of the horse world: a brilliant, yet always controversial man.

To develop a harmonious partnership with your horse, whether you have ambitions in the competition arena or not, you need to develop a two-way communication system that is clear to both of you. In this new paperback edition of The Building Blocks of Training, Debby Lush, international dressage rider and senior instructor at the Training the Teachers of Tomorrow Trust, offers practical assistance in developing such a system, a progressive and logical one that is firmly rooted in classical training. The ultimate aim is to enhance the horse's mental and physical capabilities and so allow him to move easily and happily forward from the earliest simple steps to the more complicated efforts required further up the competition ladder. With step-by-step guides to every aspect of schooling from lungeing to lengthening (touching on the foundations to move on to the more advanced movements), and with troubleshooting sections to identify why things are going wrong and how to solve them, this book will be invaluable to countless horse and rider partnerships.

Mike Tucker was born into a life of farming and horses. His passion and hard work enabled him to progress from international groom to successful international event rider, top level Eventing official and television commentator. The pinnacle of Mike's career as a commentator was covering Nick Skelton's Gold Medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016 for the BBC. In `The Man Behind the Mike' we learn about Mike's family history and the connection with the Badminton Estate where his grandfather farmed; The Beaufort Pony Club, a huge influence in his life with many top level riders being members; a visit to Australia, staying with the Roycroft family, which proved to be a pivotal moment in his efforts to become a successful event rider; and about Mike's second place at Badminton, which laid the foundations of his credibility as a rider and commentator. The `voice behind the microphone' had the experience and knowledge to commentate with authority and to command respect from the listening public at venues of not just horse trials but also show jumping, dressage, and shows in general. The wealth of experience and lifetime involvement in the world of equestrian sport has enabled him to travel all over the world meeting many different people and sharing his expertise. We are told many funny, revealing, fascinating and sometimes sad anecdotes of his experiences of the successes and failures along the way and we are given a true insight into the real stories behind the headlines, and `The Man Behind the Mike'.

April 1945. As Allied bombs rain down on Europe, a 400-year-old institution looks set to be wiped off the face of the Earth. The famous white Lipizzaner stallions of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, unique and precious animals representing centuries of careful breeding, are scattered across rural Austria and Czechoslovakia in areas soon to be swallowed up by Soviet forces – there, doubtless, to become rations for the Red Army.

Their only hope lies with the Americans: what if a small, highly mobile US task force could be sent deep behind German lines, through fanatical SS troops, to rescue the horses before the Soviets arrive. Just five light tanks, a handful of armoured cars and jeeps, and 300 battle-weary GIs must plunge headlong into the unknown on a rescue mission that could change the course of European history.

So begins Operation Cowboy, the greatest Second World War story that has never been fully told. GIs will join forces with surrendered German soldiers and liberated prisoners of war to save the world’s finest horses from fanatical SS and the ruthless Red Army in an extraordinary battle during the last few days of the war in Europe.

The autobiography of one of the World's leading Welsh Cob Breeders. A fascinating insight into the life of Ifor Lloyd. Welsh cobs are world famous. Ifor details some of his dealings; showing and exporting animals to far flung lands and the challenges of making a living as a breeder. -- Welsh Books Council

THERE ARE MANY BOOKS AND DVDS devoted to the technical training of horse and rider - how to perform movements correctly, clear obstacles, communicate efficiently, and in other ways attain the idealized image of an athletic partnership that results in competitive success. But this book is different: its focus is how the rider and trainer can make it easier for the horse to perform optimally. This includes improved understanding of what are reasonable expectations for a particular horse at a certain level of schooling, how to improve his fitness (including strength and conditioning), as well as background on how injuries may develop as a result of interaction between internal and external factors, such as genetics, conformation, management, and training. Relying on her veterinary background, in-depth research, and dozens of interviews with top riders and trainers from around the world - including Beezie Madden, Carl Hester, and Pippa Funnell, to name just a few - Lonnell provides guidelines for nurturing a happy, healthy equine athlete. With special focus on conscientious pacing when building the horse's physical capability over time, diversification of schooling practices, detail-oriented management and care, and putting the horse's needs above competitive ambition, readers are given a solid grasp of what it takes to truly reach the pinnacle of equestrian sport - and remain there - on a consistent basis. Throughout, gorgeous colour photographs of world-class horses and the people who work with them visually demonstrate the success of these methods.

A great foundation for any aspiring equestrian, providing safe, modern and current foundations to progress from in the equestrian industry. Filled with practical knowledge in horse riding, knowledge and care, the first volume in our foundation series is a must for anyone looking to learn the highest standards of equestrianism from the world leading British Horse Society education team. Recommended reading for the British Horse Society Stage 1 award in horse care and riding for those wishing to start their career in the professional industry.

Volume 2 in our foundation series aims to develop the skills for aspiring equestrians, building on improving efficiency, depth of knowledge and understanding of equine care and management. Volume 2 introduces lungeing a horse for exercise, with practical riding skills progressing to basic show jumping. This title develops our Complete Horsemanship foundation series to include the initial principles for teaching and coaching in the industry. A great addition to any aspiring equestrian, this book also provides the recommended reading for the British Horse Society Stage 2 qualification in horse care, riding and teaching.

An in-depth approach to developing your professional career pathway as a groom, coach or rider. This title introduces the practical element of cross country jumping, further develops your lungeing technique and considers requirements and knowledge for management and care of the horse and yard. Volume 3 expands on the BHS Complete Horsemanship foundation series to support an equestrian professional.

A modern and revised approach to riding safely in all environments, Ride Safe is the foundation for any horse and rider to be safe when riding out and about in all environments including on the road, along bridelways and warming up at competitions. Ride Safe provides a comprehensive understanding with practical examples, tips and guidance towards the Ride Safe Award assessment; ideal for all riders from occasional recreational riders to elite equestrians.

Through Rider Biomechanics one gains a complete understanding of the biomechanics of the rider via a new understanding of fascia, - the fabric of the body that links muscles into functional chains, rather like strings of sausages. Within both human and equine bodies these form 'lines of pull', affecting posture, movement, stability and mobility. Through clear 'how to' descriptions, coupled with copious illustrations, the reader learns how to rebalance the tension within and between one's own 'lines of pull'. The ultimate task is to use this developing awareness to rebalance the tension in the horse's 'line of pull', gaining much more influence over his carriage and movement. The secrets of talented riders are laid bare.

In this long-awaited follow-up to the highly praised Cobs Can! Omar Rabia introduces the idea of a systematic, progressive series of exercises designed to develop suppleness, collection, obedience and ride-ability in cobs. He discusses the prerequisites of starting this journey and the reasoning behind working cobs in-hand before ridden work is commenced. While the exercises are set out in a progressive order, each exercise offers particular benefits and works on 'target areas', so you can choose exercises that will most benefit your cob before moving onto others in the series. Progression within each exercise is explained so that riders know when to move onto the next step within the exercise.

the myth of the rugged, handsome man on a horse riding the western range is romantic, but frankly is an unrealistic view of the true life of the cowboy. The real story is that cowboying was truly a hard life. with all the hardships they endured, they appreciate the well-turned one-liner, the hilarious story or the delightful short joke. After the story-telling the classic one-liner always keeps the cowboy laughing.

In Advanced Dressage Training, Grand Prix rider/trainer Angela Niemeyer Eastwood outlines the hows and whys of advanced training in a practical, logical fashion, with the aim of helping you to create harmonious partnerships with your horses. Dressage has moved beyond the basics of just riding and training a horse, and now encompasses many complementary disciplines, including psychology. This has always been part of the most successful athletes' repertoires and is now acknowledged as being one of the main contributory factors to excellence in any sport. Technical skills need to go hand in hand with mental commitment, discipline, dedication and resilience. Mindsets can be changed - what is needed is knowledge, support, imagination and perseverance. This book introduces the idea that aids are just that: they let the horse know what the rider wants. When this is understood, the horse should be allowed to do whatever has been asked of him - alone and unaided - until something else is required or the horse needs a reminder. The pursuit of excellence - not perfection - is what dressage is all about. Advanced Dressage Training offers advice and encouragement towards the improvement and development of you and your horse as an advanced partnership, taking you towards excellence in the process.

Every human enters this life and begins a journey. The path travelled is unique to each individual, and for some, the main streets and popular thoroughfares provide all that's needed to nourish a life well lived - food, fuel, friendship, family. For others, though, there is a desire - in fact, a need - for something more. In the form of a wandering, lyrical, autobiographical narrative, world-renowned horseman Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling exposes the inner turmoil, the burning questions, the fear, the doubt, and the darkness that pushed him off the roads most travelled in search of answers. In search of meaning. As he reflects on cultures past and his present surroundings, his words linger on visual, sensual, and inspirational clues, bringing his personal experiences alive on the page in emotional detail. His thoughts string together like clicking beads, brilliantly illustrating the passage of time and the interconnectivity of all beings. And ultimately, Hempfling comes to a truth, which for him brings heaven and earth into sharp focus. It is the horses that show him the way.

This marvelous book, borne of a unique collaboration between Dr Allen Schoen - a world-renowned veterinarian and author - and trainer and competitor of many years, Susan Gordon, introduces the 25 principles of compassionate equitation. These principles, conceived by Schoen and Gordon, are a set of developmental guidelines, encouraging a level of personal awareness that may be enacted not only through the reader's engagement with horses, but can be extended to all humans and sentient beings he or she encounters. The 25 Principles share stories and outline studies that identify and support methods of training, handling, and caring for horses that constitute a safe, healthy, non-stressful, and pain-free environment. Through their Compassionate Equestrian programme, the authors encourage all involved in the horse industry, worldwide, to approach training and handling with compassion and a willingness to alleviate suffering. These simple changes, that any horse person can make, can have a vast impact on the horse industry and society as a whole.

This book - the very first on the topic - offers 101 fun and effective exercises that will improve every Western horse's suppleness, balance in movement, and responsiveness. Each exercise is presented with illustrated, step-by-step instructions and a full arena diagram, and exercises are organized by focus: softness, looseness, rider development, engagement, adjustability, and ground work. This book is the ultimate reference for this new sport.

Egon von Neindorff dedicated his life to the knowledge and promotion of the classical art of riding. He never wanted to be a reformist but purely an interpreter. He truly understood the philosophy of classical riding and was therefore able to teach his numerous national and international students to develop their own style. The essence of classical dressage requires a deep affection for the horse as well as understanding, sensitivity, humility, and devotion. In this book, von Neindorff illustrates in more than 30 chapters his profound understanding of the natural training of horses. It encompasses a body of knowledge that was previously only taught at his riding establishment in Karlsruhe.

At last a book that demystifies the communication system between rider and horse. Equestrian sports physiologist Eckart Meyners, and Hannes Muller, head instructor for the German National Riding School, show how good riding is a three-dimensional dialogue. Beginning with a thorough explanation of the classical training scale and a six-step program to build balance and rhythm, Meyners and Muller go on to three basic riding techniques -the flexing technique, the bending technique, and the half-halt technique, which they believe to be the foundation for all training. These are the primary skills for riding in dialogue with a horse. Throughout, exercises are provided to refine technique and work through the training scale, finally achieving the skill level necessary for horse and rider to work in collection.