The ultimate training manual for successful show jumping at all levels, providing detailed training advice for the show jumping horse and rider, whether starting from scratch or wishing to compete at higher levels. Known for his effective teaching methods and down-to-earth approach, Ernest Dillon offers guidance on choosing the right horse, working on the lunge, flatwork schooling and early jumping, and the importance of the rider's position. The author describes how to overcome common problems; more advanced work with combinations and related distances; walking the course; plus collecting ring and jump-off techniques. The numerous sequence colour photographs depict riders from all levels, from novices to experienced Grand Prix competitors. In addition to practical advice, the book offers encouragement and inspiration and is peppered with the kind of training tips that separate winners from losers.

The official handbook for those studying the BHS teaching qualifications has now been fully updated and revised. Written for the BHS by a chief examiner, this handbook provides clear guidelines on how the skills of riding should be taught and how riding school lessons should be conducted. It is aimed at less experienced and trainee riding instructors, especially those involved with weekly riders and covers: - How to develop communication skills and effective body language - Advice on teaching adult novices and children, whether in groups or one-to-one - Valuable multi-option lesson plans - Choosing school horses and keeping them happy in their work - Safety and insurance, and how to cope with mishaps and accidents - Dealing with rider problems, such as nervousness, stiffness, poor coordination, etc.

The BHS Complete Manual of Equitation is the official handbook for all those learning to ride and/or train horses and also for teachers of riding. It is based on the hugely successful BHS Manual of Equitation which was first published nearly thirty years ago and which was updated and reprinted many times. The Complete Manual retains core material from The Manual and this has been updated and new chapters have been added by leading specialists, all of whom are Fellows of the BHS, on The Historical Review, The Scales of Training, The Training of the Dressage Horse, Jump Training and Cross-country Riding. The BHS Complete Manual of Equitation is a complete, authoritative training guide for horse and rider both on the flat and over show jumps and cross-country fences, based on sound classical principles that have stood the test of time.

Not only does the Appaloosa encapsulate colour and beauty, but also it is a truly versatile breed blessed with a willing nature. Anyone who has been lucky enough to own or ride an Appaloosa will agree that there is no other breed that matches its quality or kind nature while still having the ability to display bravery and athleticism. Known for the variety of coat patterns (e.g. blanket, leopard, and snowflake) which set it apart from other equines, the Appaloosa has three additional identifiable characteristics: mottled skin, white sclera to the eye, and striped hooves. The Appaloosa's history has been scarred with war and near extinction, yet the breed is as strong today as it was when running free on the planes of America's Palouse country in the 1700s. With the help and support of the Appaloosa Horse Club, the Appaloosa is becoming recognised and appreciated as a multi -talented athlete worldwide.

This is a frank and encouraging guide aimed at everyone who knows their horse could be better. Key requirements of a perfect riding horse are identified and then explored in depth with a detailed breakdown of how to train each element. The perfect horse requires the perfect rider, and simple yet effective ways to become the rider your perfect horse deserves are discussed so you can train both yourself and your horse. This book takes the reader all the way from choosing the right horse through mastering the basics, lateral work and introducing jumping, all presented in a contemporary 'magazine-style' format. It also provides 'inside' knowledge and essential ingredients with clear step-by-step photography and text to help readers create their perfect riding horse for any discipline or level of ability.

Many horse owners are put off riding to music because it seems too complicated. The task of putting together a routine to ride to appears daunting, as does selecting suitable music, but this book tells you everything you need to know, from choreography and costumes to quadrilles and competition. Schooling to music adds another dimension to daily training, helping both horse and rider to remain calm, developing a sense of rhythm, and fluency in their work. Claire Lilley is an experienced choreographer of freestyle, and here she encourages everyone to have a go at riding to music, even if it is just for fun, and removes the mystery behind creating a routine for competition.

With three full exercise routines for riders at beginner, intermediate, and advanced fitness levels, this guide helps you achieve a good basic riding position that is centered, aligned, balanced, and relaxed. There are clear explanations and photos of each exercise plus three tear-out workout guides, so you can exercise anywhere. An improved seat enhances your riding experience, helps eliminate back pain and post-riding soreness, lessens fatigue, minimizes the risk of injury, and improves your performance.

Written with both the experienced and the casual rider in mind, ""Florida on Horseback II"" offers more of what readers loved in ""Florida on Horseback"", both written by equestrian Cornelia Bernard Henderson. This volume covers all of the available trails, state parks, beaches, and horse rental venues from Ocala - the unofficial ""horse capital of the world"" - north to the state line, east to Jacksonville, and west to Pensacola. Adventures abound, including Big Shoals State Park, Devil's Hammock, Eglin Air Force Base Property, and Mickler's Beach. The guide is a handy companion for an experienced rider's weekend kit or an amateur's library. And for those without horses of their own, suggestions on nearby horse rental venues are included. Henderson provides an overview of the Florida ecology riders will encounter in their travels, as well as a profile of each destination. ""Florida on Horseback"" includes directions, maps, photographs, and thorough descriptions of facilities and trails. A quick reference rating system and information on sun exposure, difficulty level, and camping accommodations makes this a must-have guide for trail riders and horse campers. Whether you're a local exploring some of the state's wilderness or a tourist looking to gallop along a beach, ""Florida on Horseback"" will help you enjoy the millions of acres in the state open to riding.

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 book is designed for training jumping riders and horses, whether schooling at home, or under instruction in group lessons or as individuals. It provides a collection of exercises, on the flat, and over poles and fences, as well as detailed background information on jumping technique and tips on how to achieve a clear round in faultless style. The book includes: the five stages of the horse's jump (approach, take-off, jump, landing, departure) the effects of the rider's position (i.e. what happens when the rider is tight with the reins, sits down too quickly, moves too quickly over a fence, or is in front of the movement or left behind it) fences to improve the horse's jump overcoming typical problems and faults flatwork exercises to improve the horse's canter and turning ability pole work grids and related distance influencing the canter lead over a fence building and riding courses indoor cross-country practice tables of distances notes on fence building.

Whether it's for fishing or hunting, nature-watching or camping, or simply to get off the beaten path, there is no better way to travel through the backcountry than on horseback. And riding a sure-footed, responsive mount that has been trained to carry you and your equipment over the most rugged terrain is the best way of all.
To make sure that you and your horse are on the right foot, Dan Aadland, a seasoned horseman and packtripper, shares his expertise and experiences in The Complete Trail Horse. Beginning with advice on selecting a good trail mount (and why Tennessee Walking Horses and other laterally-gaited horses are especially suited for such work), the author delves into equipment, techniques, and strategies for training both the saddle horse and the pack horse to cover demanding and often dangerously steep inclines and descents, narrow ledges, and other features of backcountry terrain in a safe and efficient manner.
The book then moves on to tack and other items specifically designed for trail riding, more advanced training techniques (including contending with spooky, laggard, and overenthusiastic horses), and taking part in trail competitions. Concluding sections contain valuable information and insights into how to organize and then pack gear for the greatest comfort for yourself, the horse you'll ride, and the packhorse you'll lead.
Written with authority and enthusiasm, The Complete Trail Horse is the first--and the last--word on ensuring that you and your horses will be prepared for and can therefore enjoy to the fullest your trips through the backcountry and back home.
Dan Aadland, the author of Treading Lightly with Pack Animals: A Guide to Low-ImpactTravel in the Backcountry, is a frequent contributor to Western Horseman and other equestrian publications. He and his wife, Emily, live in Absarokee, Montana, where they breed Tennessee Walking Horses and organize packtrips.

Horses came to America from Spain, England, the Low Countries, and Arabia. Here they interbred and flourished as never before. "Out of the melting pot have come four entirely new breeds that rank among the finest horses of the world. Three of them originated through the painstaking and intelligent efforts of American horsemen, one through a freak of nature." That "freak" was a little bay stallion born when George Washington was president. This chunky, short-legged horse proved to be not only hardy and gentle but also able to outpull and outrun any other horse in New England or New York. Plagued by his owners' bad luck, the horse spent most of his twenty-eight years hauling freight but sired many offspring who also showed the strength, endurance, speed, heart, and peculiar conformation of the original Morgan horse. Based on extensive and careful research, this book tells the stories of the origins of the Morgan, the Standardbred, the American Saddle Horse, and the Tennessee Walking Horse as well as their progenitors--Figure, Messenger, Hamiltonian, Black Hawk, Dutchman, Lady Suffolk, Cockspur, Denmark, Tom Hal, Copperbottom, and Roan Allen--and the breeders and fanciers who recognized their special qualities.

Throughout recorded history, the horse has played many roles in human life. He has been mans partner in war, his servant in work, his teammate in sports, his inspiration in art. So it is only natural that literature includes many masterpieces about horses and horsemanship.
The Greatest Horse Stories Ever Told gathers together the best of the equestrian genre. It includes stories and articles by Pulitzer Prize-winners Red Smith, Maxine Kumin, and Jane Smiley, and tales by jockey-turned-mystery novelist Dick Francis and veterinarian-turned-writer James Herriot. Here also are reflections on fox hunting by Steven Budiansky and Anthony Trollope; a profile of Buck Brannaman, the inspiration for The Horse Whisperer; an inspirational piece from Ellie Phayer; and a story about the Spanish Riding Schools dancing white horses by Felix Salten (author of Bambi), as well as writing from Tom McGuane, Bill Barich, humorist Cooky McClung, and classic western authors Will James and Zane Grey.
Heartwarming, adventurous, profound, and funny, this anthology is a treasure trove that includes favorite writers and little known or long-forgotten gems, illuminating our fascination - and captivation - with horses.

Master the 40 basic elements essential to all riders in the classic disciplines of dressage, jumping, and eventing with this book and 90-minute DVD showing action sequences for each fundamental. These fundamentals include correct seat, leg, and hand positions for the rider; the three basic gaits of walk, trot, and canter; how to perform halt and half-halt; how to direct a horse's movement correctly and energetically; the stages of the training scale (rhythm, looseness, contact, impulsion, straightness, and collection); and how to perform basic schooling figures in the arena, from circles and serpentines to diagonals. Each fundamental is defined and explained in text and photos throughout the book, as well as in the 90-minute DVD, with an emphasis on how to avoid common errors. The DVD won a Telly Award for excellence in video production.

A step-by-step introduction to safe harnessing, putting-to and basic driving technique. Topics include putting on a collar, saddle and crupper; girthing up and fitting the breeching; fitting reins, the bridle and blinkers; bitting; putting to correct rein handling; mounting and dismounting; moving forward and turning; driving on the road, and unharnessing.

Straightforward advice on how to safely negotiate a wide variety of cross-country obstacles. Chapters include walking the course, the start and first fence, rhythm, balance and impulsion, and types of jumps.

From an expert, all the tips involved in preparing horse and rider for the show ring are in this picture guide. Chapters range from choosing the right class and horse and rider preparation to arriving at the show and competing in the ring.

Provides guidance on how horse and rider can avoid problems with the various fences found on a typical cross-country course. The book explains how to deal with lost confidence, refusals, running out, water aversion, standing off, falls and slow finishing times.

This is a commonsense guide offering advice on a wide range of driving topics, aimed at avoiding common mistakes and becoming a safer and more proficient carriage driver. Chapters include correct harness fitting and care, vehicle maintenance, driving on the road, tips on preparing for a show, taking part in show classes, and eventing.

An expert shares his insights and applies them to the handling of young horses and their early training--from first bridling to turning on the rearhand--an essential reference for every Western-style rider.

There is no book - there can be no book - that will infallibly point the way to successful bloodstock breeding. Yet in the General Stud Book, the sport of horse racing has produced a genetic record extending over more than two centuries and a score of generations that contains an ordered store of facts about the hereditary qualities of one living species - data that no scientific body possesses. Here is the recorded experience of the man who, above all others of our time, has deciphered the riddle of its manifold pages: Federico Tesio. Tesio and Nearco and Ribot are the names of the greatest breeder, the outstanding sire, and the most consistent winner of the twentieth century, and perhaps of all time. The astonishing and prolonged success of the Italian stud at Dormello was the result not merely of an encyclopaedic knowledge of recorded facts about equine dynasties and the history of the thoroughbred but of wide practical experience in all parts of the world and acute, sustained and minute observation of the characteristics of particular horses and bloodlines. The essence of Tesio's philosophy and something of his genius has been distilled into this gem of a book.

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

A collection for equine enthusiasts *An all-new collection of the best of the classics *Editor was anchor of horse sports in ESPN *Fresh, new series design A perfect gift for riders, writers, or literary buffs, Horse Stories is an essential collection of some of the most compelling stories ever written about America's horses.

This book offers a comprehensive gallery of ideas for improving the training of any horse.The chapters deal with a range of topics progressing from improving stable manners and ridden skills, to checking your own riding habits and honing your mental approach to schooling.It is published in an accessible format with easy-to-access information and cross-referenced advice.It is fully illustrated in colour throughout, with practical photography accompanying the detailed advice at every stage.