World-renowned equine expert Linda Tellington-Jones' healing equine bodywork and innovative training methods have revolutionised the horse training landscape over the last 50 years. Her unique blend of hands-on TTouch (a collection of circles, lifts, and slides done with the hands over various parts of the horse's body), combined with humane groundwork and under-saddle exercises, has helped solve training and behavioural problems for horses of every breed, every discipline, every age, and all levels. Now she is presenting a thoughtful recipe for starting the young horse without stress, helping to establish the very best beginning, in hand and under saddle. Unfortunately, not all horses have the benefit of the right foundation, which can lead to misunderstanding, mistreatment, and unhappiness for both human and horse. With this in mind, Tellington-Jones also curates her own experience working with older horses ready for a second chance at life, providing the necessary tools for filling in training 'holes' and reconfirming lessons that may have been poorly taught or forgotten. The result is a book with all the right ingredients and its heart in the right place: Whether starting right or starting over, Tellington-Jones's field-tested, compassionate answers are an excellent way to find connection while ensuring the horse a lifetime of success in the company of humans.

Whether you are a novice or more experienced rider, hacking out is one of the most pleasurable ways of spending time in the saddle. From tacking up to cooling down, this book is an essential guide to happy hacking on- and off-road.

Pony Care: A complete guide to buying and caring for your first pony will appeal to both owners and their parents. It has been cleverly written by Alison Pocklington, who has previously been awarded the Horse and Hound Groom of the Year and published the very successful first book, The Essential Guide to Professional Horse Care and Grooming. Now, as the mum of a horse-mad child and riding instructor to many, Alison is only too aware of the pitfalls of finding the right horse or pony to match the rider. This great little book offers sound practical and in-depth advice, tips and guides to get horse and pony ownership off on the right foot. Most children who learn to ride dream of owning their own pony. Pony Care offers parents an in-depth guide for what is actually involved in successfully buying, owning and caring for a pony. With advice on finding the right pony, buying the necessary equipment, livery options, daily care, feeding, shoeing, health, exercise and, when the time comes, how to go about selling the pony. Common mistakes can be made when there is a lack of knowledge or experience, in seeking the wrong advice or being in too much of a hurry. Alison Pocklington shares a wealth of experience complete with tips and checklists. 'This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone who has had the tireless and repetitive call to buy from their pony-mad child.' - Lucinda Green MBE

Training Strategies for Dressage Riders is a unique guide to the art and technique of dressage, written by one of the most renowned equestrian trainers in the world today. It offers a complete training system for both horse and rider, paying special attention to how a rider’s actions can influence a mount. The book provides practical, in-the-saddle advice on a wide range of dressage topics, including:

• The art of classical equitation
• The development of the rider’s seat and aids
• Developing the basic gaits
• Gymnastic improvement
• Horse insubordination
• Clinics and competitions judging

Whether you want to prepare for dressage competition or simply improve your riding skills, this is a matchless guide.

Storey's Guide to Training Horses is a one-stop reference for every aspect of horse training, including a complete program for turning a shy and gangly foal into a calm, confident, well-balanced equine partner. Now with full-colour photography, the third edition includes step-by-step guidance on all the essential training procedures for both English- and Western-style riding, including haltering and leading, saddling and mounting, and addresses the finer points of gaits, lightness, and collection. Best-selling author Heather Smith Thomas draws on her decades of equestrian experience to anticipate every situation that might arise and provide answers to addressing all the potential challenges of training different types of horses.

Training Showjumpers has been the standard textbook on showjumping since it first appeared in 1978. This second edition has been updated with new photographs and a revised text. Anthony Paalman is internationally known as a showjumping trainer, consultant and course designer. He is an advocate of the Natural Method of training horses and riders derived from the classical principles of the European cavalry schools. His book is a complete guide to showjumping training, from selection and early training of the young horse right up to participation in the highest grade of competition. Contents include: Purchasing a Showjumper * Stabling * Shoeing * Tack * Breaking * Lungeing * Free Jumping * Schooling 'On Foot' * Jumping-Dressage * First Year Jumping Training * First Year Schooling Schedule * Novice Competitions * Advanced Jumping-Dressage * Improvement and Re-Schooling * The Second Showjumping Season * Junior Riders * Course Design

Experience the thrills, challenges, and fun of Western riding! Beginning riders and Western riders of all ages and skill levels will love this complete guide to the exciting world of Western riding. Veteran rider and trainer Charlene Strickland takes you step-by-step through the process of becoming an effective rider, from evaluating a horse to dressing for style and safety. Choosing a Western Horse * Quarter Horse *Appaloosa *Paint *Palamino and more Tacking up * Fitting a saddle * Choosing a bit * Tack care * Proper attire Tips and Techniques * Choosing an instuctor * Conditioning * Training * Problem Solving Competitive Events * Trail riding * Equitation * Endurance riding * Horse show

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.

"If you buy that horse, you're buying your daughter's death warrant," Jane Pohl's father was warned at the army barracks in the spring of 1941. But the potential that his teenage daughter Jane saw in the small, temperamental Thoroughbred was enough to convince him otherwise. Earlier that year, when Fitzrada arrived at the army base where Jane's family lived, the horse was stubborn, unpredictable, and dangerous. Any man who dared addle him up soon found himself face down in the dirt. Jane, excited to ride any horse and up for the challenge, had the most success with Fitz. She was patient and consistent, and the horse responded well at last, showing a great affinity for jumping. Then, inexplicably, a terrible riding accident resulted in serious injuries for both Jane and Fitz, and the army decide that it was time to destroy the horse. Heartbroken, Jane pleaded with her reluctant father: the only way to save Fitz was to buy him from the army. Jane Pohl's foresight proved to be correct. Jane and Fitz went on to take the Virginia show-jumping circuit by storm, winning 37 jumper and 6 hinter championships. At a time when women were rarely seen in jumping classes at horse shows and were not taken seriously by male competitors, Jane and Fitz helped to break down barriers against women riders competing in the Olympics. In 1946, Jane and Fitz found themselves at the Jumper Championship at the prestigious National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden-the highest jumping title in North America. The road there for horse and rider was a five-year test of faith, patience, and understanding friendship.

Renowned for their amazing athleticism and unparalleled work ethic, and famed for their big hearts and willingness to go the extra mile, Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) have proven to be the ultimate equine partners in a host of disciplines. In this revised edition-which experts have labelled 'breakthrough racehorse literature', 'superior', 'a winner', and the ultimate training manual'-readers learn everything they need to transition an OTTB from life at the track to life out back. Author, Anna Ford, Thoroughbred Program Director at New Vocations Racehorse Adoption, begins with a discussion of the typical Thoroughbred's early years, then explaining: reasons for retirement, common injuries, health issues, basic feeding and nutrition, and safe handling. Ford goes on to provide step-by-step instructions for building the solid educational foundation the OTTB needs to excel in a new career, whether as a highly trained competitor or a pleasure mount. While hundreds of quality photographs illustrate conscientious and professionally tested training methods, dozens of case studies share how other individuals have successfully retrained ex-racehorses. With recommendations from top equestrians, this book is the go-to reference for anyone interested in pursuing a partnership with an OTTB athlete.

The fabled King Ranch of South Texas was renowned for its breed of horses, the King Ranch Quarter Horses. Here is the complete story of the ranch and its horses, how they were bred, and what they have achieved. We meet the Old Sorrel, the horse without a name who became the foundation stallion of the ranch Quarter Horses. The King Ranch produced winning show horses (Hired Hand, Anita Chica, Peppy) and race horses (Miss Princess, Nobody's Friend) and, above all, top-quality cow horses famed for their levelheadedness and ability to work in close partnership with their riders. Today they and their descendants are working cattle and winning competitions worldwide. For those who love Quarter Horses, and especially for those who own a Quarter Horse descended from the King Ranch and wish to know its history, this book will be a treasured volume.

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.

Jane Houghton Brown shows how to teach both horse and rider to successfully clear show jumps and cross-county fences with confidence--at all stages of horse and rider development from novice rider to advanced-level competitor. The book will serve as a specific reference for the career instructor following the British Horse Society examination system. For the rider, the book will also be a manual for the training of young horses or the retraining of older horses. This book shows how successful techniques can be taught effectively at all levels of competence, setting out key points, objectives and solutions to problems at all stages, including how to tackle fear and build confidence.

Improving basic riding technique is all about perfecting it over time. There is no quick fix; it takes months or even years to develop. You have to learn to work as a team with every horse you ride, whether you are a novice rider just starting out, or an advanced rider wanting to improve. This book will give you a greater insight as to how three aspects of riding - stopping, moving and turning - are used both separately and interlinked to enable you to establish a correct training regime, whether you are starting a young horse, or retraining an older individual. The outcome of being able to stop, go and turn with ease is a horse that is well balanced, attentive to the rider's aids and able to work through his back, and this can only be achieved under a ride with a correct position and clear aids. This book shows you how.

Do you struggle with pain, a lack of mobility, or a position in the saddle that just won't improve? Do you ever feel like you cannot find the right exercise routine to help your body and your riding, let alone fit it into your busy schedule? Biomechanics for the Equestrian wil show you how to prepare your body for life in and out of the saddle by changing the way you move throughout the day. Discover what is causing your lower back pain or the stiffness in your hips and learn how you can move yourself away from discomfort and towards performance, without having to find extra time in your day. Key topics covered include: the physiology of movement; understanding your body; the riding connection; alignment; expansion breathing; mobilization; strengthening and integrating exercises into a busy day. Working with the mechanics of the human body and how we were all designed to move, you will learn how to build a sustainable and functional body that can sit in the saddle with comfort, strength and balance.

Eventing Explained is a unique, all-around view of how to start eventing for riders of all ages wanting to compete in their first affiliated horse trials. As well as being packed with top tips and exercises for riders in all three phases, it is also an ideal aid for parents or other halves of would-be event riders whose weekends will never the same again once they hit the eventing circuit A who's who section includes, amongst others, the responsibilities of the course designer, builder, secretary, regional coordinator and organizer in running a horse trials, and how their roles are relevant to a competitor. As well as information on getting your horse fit, there are also sections on rider fitness and sport psychology to prepare for the event and to do your best on the day. Color-coded so you can pick out relevant sections at a glance, Eventing Explained is the must-have guide for riders wanting to compete at BE80, BE90 and BE100 levels (formerly Training, Introductory and Pre-Novice levels).

Over thirty years after the first publication of Reiner Klimke's classic work comes this new fourth edition, with completely new photos and updated by his daughter, Ingrid. Based on sound practical and theoretical advice, this instructional handbook gives advice on establishing a specific training plan for recreational riders as well as competition riders to enable them to train their young horses successfully. Every aspect of the education of a young horse is covered, including: basic education and handling from foalhood; lungeing and free-schooling; backing and training under saddle; developing impulsion from suppleness; assessing and improving basic gaits; cavalletti work; jumping training; cross-country training and, finally, preparing for the first competition.

With the popularity of the cob rising year by year, it's time to extol the virtues of this humble hero of the horse world. Cobs Can! is an instructional training book specifically geared to cob riders who want to improve their flatwork and jumping. Using kind and gentle training methods that work with (not against) the typical cob's nature and build, Omar Rabia shows that it's perfectly possible to train these wonderful creatures to advanced levels. The book includes lateral work in walk, trot and canter, as well as piaffe, passage and Spanish walk. There are tips on jumping and exercises to improve technique. Most of all the book is a celebration of achievement, of what's possible when the versatile cob and a thoughtful rider combine their efforts - proving that cobs really can!

This introduction to the principles of classical riding contains exercises on how to adopt the classical seat and use classical training methods to improve your horse's way of going, in hand, on the lunge, and under saddle. Every type of horse and pony can benefit from this type of training.

This is a one-stop guide to training aids which outlines when they are useful and why they are an aid to training, not a substitute for it. Sound advice is offered on using training aids safely and their functions, pros and cons, and the aids discussed include martingales, the Market Harborough, the Chambon, elastic schooling reins, the de Gogue, draw reins, the Pessoa and Feeline systems, and more. The author also addresses training aids for riders. This handy book is an indispensable training aid in itself! * A concise guide to the training aids on the market, their uses and their pros and cons * From the traditional martingale to the most recent innovations, this handy book gives all the essential information on the subject * Clear, informative photographs illustrate throughout

For a horse or pony to perform well - whether that be in eventing, endurance, show jumping, reining or any other of the myriad disciplines within the modern equestrian world - he has to be fit for the job. Fitness is vital whether you aim to compete at international level or local weekend competitions, because a fit horse will stand a better chance of staying sound, both physically and mentally, and will have a longer and more active life. The same criteria apply if you choose not to compete but to ride purely for pleasure. The happy hacker or trail mount is still a working animal and needs to be prepared and maintained accordingly. After all, a Formula One racing car and a weekend run-around both need correct fuel and to be kept in good working order. In "Getting Horses Fit", Carolyn Henderson, with the assistance of competitors, equine science experts and experienced owners, explains what fitness means and how to achieve it, enabling owners to work out an individual fitness programme suitable for their own horse, whatever their level of activity. The topics include: assessing your horse; health and condition; disciplines and their demands; feeding for fitness; environment management; building strength and suppleness; interval training; tack and equipment; travelling and competing; lungeing and long-reining; poles and gridwork; hands-on techniques; and diet and fitness for riders and the mental approach.

As an instructor it takes time to develop a repertoire of exercises to suit all ages and abilities. This book has the answer: it provides a wide range of ideas for lesson plans, with notes on how these can be adapted and developed for different levels of recreational rider, from beginner to advanced, whether children or adults.The lesson plans are organised into teaching subjects to allow instructors to go straight to a chosen topic and find exercises to suit riders of different abilities, along with teaching tips for a professional delivery.