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 idealised 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 confident rider is vital to the overall performance of the horse/rider partnership and John Haime's Ride Big is a great tool for any rider to help improve their confidence in equestrian sport." - Oliver Townend, FEI #1 World-Ranked Eventer, Olympic Eventing Gold Medalist Tokyo 2021 An easy-to-implement framework proven to grow rider confidence, tested by the world's leading equestrian athletes. Without confidence, achievement in competition is unattainable. When confidence is lacking in any sport, equestrian included, chances are your career will be short. Renowned performance coach John Haime has written the book to counter this challenge, providing the mental tools riders need to be better under pressure of all kinds and consistently succeed. Haime invites readers to dive into three clear and informative areas of exploration: The Confidence Base: Firm up the fundamentals. The Confidence Builders: Systems and tips to help you build confidence. The Confidence Threats: An inside look at what to watch out for in riding and in competition. Throughout, those who have reached the highest levels on horseback in a number of disciplines share their stories, including Michael Jung, Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Laura Tomlinson, Harry Meade, Oliver Townend, and Beth Underhill. These Olympians, champions, and medalists explain what they do in the saddle and how their techniques for performing under world-class pressure might help other riders develop a similar kind of confidence. Perhaps even more valuable are the struggles these top competitors share, giving readers the rare opportunity to see how even "the best of the best" are human, too. The way riders develop confidence in their equestrian lives is transferable to everything they do: a confident rider can be a confident business person, confident worker, confident spouse, confident parent, and confident friend. In this way, Ride Big! (TM) instills a skill of worth and promise that extends far beyond the show ring.

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.

A comprehensive guide to the care and management of horses and ponies. The aim of this volume is to provide a reliable source of information and advice on all practical aspects of horse and stable management. The manual has been compiled by a panel of experts each drawing on considerable experience and contributing specialised knowledge on his or her chosen subject. Filled with reliable information and advice on modern stable management practices, the book provides a sound foundation for Horse Knowledge and Care. Throughout, the emphasis is on the adoption of correct and safe procedures for the welfare of all who come into contact with horses, as well as for the animals themselves. Coverage includes: The Horse Care of the Horse Watering and Feeding Saddlery and Tack Specialist Care of the Competition Horse The Horse at Grass The Stable Yard

What is the best thing the Queen has every done for British horses ? - introduced Monty Roberts to British breeders and trainers. What happens when a top racehorse refuses to race ? - they call in Monty. Who can get a wild horse happily accepting a saddle and riders in half an hour ? - Monty. Where do senior executives of Disney go for a brainstorming weekend ? - Monty's California ranch. Who was Elizabeth Taylor's riding double in NATIONAL VELVET ? Who was James Dean driving to see when he was killed ? Who communicates with horses better than anyone else in the World ? - Monty Roberts.

Following the highly acclaimed Kottas on Dressage, this book offers advice on the correct way to introduce work on the paces, exercises and movements, together with in-depth analysis of common problems and the ways to correct them. The author makes the points that many errors, so easily attributed to the horse, are rooted in faulty posture or aiding on the rider's part, and emphasises throughout the importance of focusing on these issues at all stages of training. Constant emphasis is also placed on the need to be mindful of the horse's mental and physical ability to copy with what is being asked of him - there are reminders throughout that, often, the best way to achieve progress is to take a step back and ensure the building blocks are in place that will facilitate the next step forward. The need to consider various aspects of conformation is also stressed - not all horses are perfect specimens, and the overall training of any horse will be enhanced if due consideration is given to individual considerations. Dressage Solutions takes the reader through many stages of training, from ensuring that the basic paces are correct, through introducing the lateral exercises, developing the canter, rein-back, piaffe and passage, to a final chapter that explains some of the long-established movements of the High School. This is a journey that will provide much food for thought, and a great deal of invaluable advice, for all riders who have progress and their horse's well-being at heart.

Rider Biomechanics begins by explaining fascia - the 'cinderella of body tissues'. Until recently, this was ignored by science, consigned to its apparent role as the body's packing material. However, research shows that, in reality, this biological fabric links muscles into functional chains, rather like strings of sausages. Recent research has shown that the horse's fascial system is remarkably similar to our own, with equivalent 'lines of pull' that affect posture, movement, stability and mobility. Inevitably, the problems inherent in sitting and riding well are magnified when there is imbalance within and between the fascial 'guy-ropes' of rider and/or horse. We should realise that imbalance in either partner can send the other 'out of true', whilst the 'equipoise' of one partner helps the other to regain that poise. By working through this book, you will learn to access and rebalance your own fascial net to significantly improve your stability, skill and 'feel'. Practical exercises, enhanced with copious photographs and diagrams, show how to balance your front and back, left and right - yielding skills that simultaneously address the equivalent imbalances in your horse. Mary explains how effective force transmission within the fascial system enables riders to push their hands forward, taking away the temptation to pull on the reins. Later chapters show how twists and distortions in both human and horse can be addressed through accessing the fascial lines that wrap diagonally around the body. Lastly, a look at the core of both partners shows just how profound their connection can be.

Dressage training has changed little over the centuries and the principles laid down by the Riding Masters are as pertinent now as they have ever been. Understanding Dressage Training provides essential reading to those wanting to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of successful training. Everything you do on top of your horse, and how you do it is considered 'training' because you are forming habits for both the horse and yourself. For a balanced partnership between horse and rider it is important that it is fully understood what it is that you are aiming to achieve and exactly how you go about achieving it.

Riding skills guru Mary Wanless looks at a series of common rider faults or problems and, through words and photos, explains how to correct them. Each fault or problem is demonstrated by a different rider - some working at basic level, others advanced. Mary gives each rider a lesson, taking them through the (often subtle) changes they have to make, and recording their progress with specially taken photographs. Readers can witness the changes taking place and understand through Mary's gifted teaching, how to make the necessary shift to improve their own riding skills.The 'before' and 'after' pictures show not only the improvements in the rider's position and effectiveness but also in their horse's way of going, for the two are interconnected. Among the topics for in-depth discussion are rider position, muscle tone and stabilisation; how our minds and bodies learn new techniques or change old habits; rider asymmetry; mental attitudes; lateral work; advanced work; and faults such as tipping forward, leaning back, hollowing the back, rounding the back, and pulling on the inside rein.

Top Secret Tips Unveiled Within!
This work is geared towards the occasional handicapper looking for help, but takes you through the entire process, so, beginners can use it, too.
The entire process is clear and concise with plenty of examples and worksheets to guide you.
If you are going to play the horses, you need to read this!

This is the 51st "Threshold Picture Guide" where Perry Wood gives much needed advice on common riding problems. It gives practical tips on how to improve your horse's behaviour under saddle, making him safer to ride and a pleasure to own. Subjects covered include bucking, rearing, head-tossing, shying, jogging, bolting, napping, refusing to jump, nose poking, difficult to mount, hard-mouthed, overexcited and inattentive to the rider.

Lungeing and Long-Reining, published in association with The British Horse Society, is a step-by-step guide to training, exercising and suppling horses from the ground, written by Britain's leading exponent of the art. The book begins with advice on handling untrained youngsters and works through a logical training progression, culminating in advanced dressage movements. Straightforward guidance is given on: Training foals and young horses Lungeing equipment and technique Introducing long-reins and early lateral work Backing and riding young horses Lungeing over poles and fences Advanced long-reining; including cantering, rein-back, shoulder-in, travers, half pirouettes, half-pass, renvers, canter half-pass, canter pirouettes and tempi flying changes. Piaffe and passage Olympic dressage rider and trainer Jennie Loriston-Clarke has broken and schooled countless dressage and jumping horses, and initially uses lungeing and long-reining to establish the horse's basic education and create mutual respect between horse and handler. The knowledge she has gained over the years while working with novices and older 'difficult' horses sent for retraining, is distilled in this book into simple instructions, so that others can avoid making costly mistakes when training their horses. The goal throughout is to produce a horse that is confident, keen and happy in his work - which should be the aim of every trainer. Illustrated with specially commissioned sequence photographs, this book will prove particularly valuable in the early training of young horses, as well as in improving or retraining older horses, and refining dressage movements in advance horses.

Real Riding offers different ways to approach traditional and natural principles of horsemanship. The emphasis throughout is on employing empathy and understanding and looking at things from the horse's point of view. It sheds light on common misconceptions, difficulties and contradictions, and the pages are crammed with exercises, simple "tricks" and things to do that can make a real difference. Perry Wood aims to put harmony with horses within grasp of every rider and brings the art of riding into the 21st century.

"This is a much needed book on the Weight Aids which should be close to the heart of all who teach and coach riding." - Patrick Print OBE FBHS This book is designed for all riders from the very novice to the most advanced. Sylvia Loch teaches through illustrations and photos how each tiny shift of the riders weight will affect the horses balance. The weight aids are generally taught only to higher level students especially those learning the more advanced skills. Yet, by including them from the beginning, novice riders will develop a much greater understanding of their own bodies and abilities and those of the horse from day one. In Sylvia's words...: The time has surely come to show all riders how their body-weight impacts on the horse for good or bad. Feel and balance should govern the whole ethos of equitation. In this book, I show through pictures how the giving of the aids can transform the horse in each and every movement so that our communication with this wonderful animal takes us to new levels of understanding and empathy. The Rider's Balance is well written and easy to understand, and is yet another classic riding book from one of Britain's leading classical riding advocates, Sylvia Loch.

Women and their horses -- a symbiotic relationship based on trust, camaraderie, friendship, and love. In "Why We Ride," Verna Dreisbach collects the stories of women who ride, sharing their personal emotions and accounts of the most important animals in their lives.
This collection of stories includes the heartfelt thoughts of a range of women -- those who rode as children, those who spent their girlhood years dreaming of owning a pony, and those who have made a lifelong hobby or career out of riding. Each story reveals how horses have made an impact in the lives of these women. With a foreword by best-selling novelist Jane Smiley, "Why We Ride" offers a reflective view on the relationships between women and horses.

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

Among the earliest known works on choosing, caring for, and riding horses, this book is still hailed--2,300 years after it was written -- as one of the most complete, thoughtful, and accessible guides of its type. Civilization has changed radically in the centuries since it was written, but the equestrian arts have remained essentially the same. Much of what we presently accept as common wisdom about horsemanship derives from this volume.
A student of Socrates, Xenophon was an accomplished cavalryman and one of the foremost scholars of his day. This translation by Morris H. Morgan offers a fluid interpretation of the ancient Greek's advice, plus 38 carefully chosen illustrations. Equestrians and other horse lovers as well as military history buffs and students of Greek culture will find "The Art of Horsemanship" a treasury of practical tips and enlightened observations.

Learn all there is to know about horse riding, from horse care and show jumping to mastering dressage. Suitable for both novice and advanced riders, and for equestrian fans of all ages, this book will guide you through every stage of the riding process from the first time in the saddle to advanced riding skills. Featuring all of the latest techniques and equipment, this comprehensive and fully updated edition covers everything you need to know about basic horse training, dressage training, and mental and physical preparation - for both horse and rider - as well as how to find and develop your ultimate horse. Dive deeper into this brilliant book about horses: - llustrated in full colour throughout, with specially commissioned photographic sequences and artworks that show every riding technique with unparalleled clarity. - Includes detailed, updated sections on dressage, showjumping, cross country, and young horse training as well as how to find and develop your ultimate horse. - Combines a practical approach to technique - including illustrated troubleshooting sections - with a deep understanding, and invaluable analysis, of horse behaviour. - Presents standard riding methods in a fresh and imaginative way with overlapping "action" photo sequences. - Explains the symbiotic relationship between horse and rider that is at the heart of all successful riding. Presented in spectacular visual detail, it is the ultimate guide to perfecting your equestrian skills. Featuring tips from internationally renowned horse trainer William Micklem, Complete Horse Riding Manual is a truly thoroughbred guide that is a must-have for any horse lover.

*THE TOP 10 BESTSELLER FROM THE MOST DECORATED BRITISH FEMALE OLYMPIAN IN HISTORY* 'Refreshingly honest [...] a highly enjoyable, fascinating read.' Horse and Hound _______________________________________________ "To ride into that arena, next to a sea of British flags and hear the roar of clapping and cheering, was so exciting. It's a sound I will never, ever forget." Charlotte Dujardin and her charismatic horse Valegro burst onto the international sports scene with their record-breaking performance at the London, 2012 Olympics. The world was captivated by the young woman with the dazzling smile and her dancing horse. But no one quite knew what it took to get there, nor how hard the path to success would be - until now. Dujardin began riding horses at the age of two, but dressage was firmly the domain of the wealthy, not the life of a girl from a middle-class family. Her parents sacrificed all and with a undeterred focus, Charlotte left school at 16 to follow her dream. When she was invited to be a groom for the British Olympian Carl Hester, she began to ride Valegro, a dark bay gelding and an unbreakable bond was formed. This is their incredible story.

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

Paddock Paradise is natural horse care advocate Jaime Jackson's groundbreaking adventure in natural boarding for horses. Based on Jackson's research on wild horses, this book outlines a revolutionary model for safe, natural horsekeeping, hoof care, and the healing and rehabilitation of lame horses. The premise of Paddock Paradise is to stimulate horses to behave and move naturally according to their instincts. Natural movement is the key to having physically and mentally healthier horses. This unique model is adaptable to virtually all size horse properties, regardless of climate, and is suitable for all equine breeds.