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.

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.

This detailed, practical guide to handling, breaking and training young horses, based on the experiences of a top trainer and world-class competitor, is an invaluable aid and source of inspiration. The whole process of raising a young horse successfully at times seems fraught with difficulties. When should one introduce the roller, and then the saddle, prior to backing? At what stage should lungeing start? How does one avoid over-facing a young horse, and asking too much too soon? Loriston-Clarke answers all these questions and many more. Backed with details on how she trains her own top-class horses and the problems she has overcome, she gives sound, practical advice on every aspect of working with youngsters. Jennie Loriston-Clarke was one of Britain's leading dressage riders and trainers and has competed in four Olympic Games. A Fellow of the British Horse Society, she also holds the National Pony Society Diploma, and is an examiner for both societies. Jannie lives in Whitchurch, Hampshire, England.

It is no wonder that more and more riders are discovering the old tradition of long reining for themselves. It helps the horse to improve his balance and ability to collect without the weight of the rider, and it lends itself well to training difficult movements in a horse friendly manner. Dr. Thomas Ritter explains the correct aids from the beginning through Haute Ecole in practical terms. Thanks to the discussion of frequent mistakes and their corrections, long reining novices and experienced trainers alike can find much new information here. The author's passion and enthusiasm for long reining are evident throughout. Many helpful tips invite you to experiment!

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.

The aim of this guide is to show riders wishing to improve their competition performance how to avoid throwing away marks through common errors. It demonstrates how, with careful preparation, newcomers to dressage can learn to perform well, right from the first dressage test. The text covers training and preparation, mental rehearsal of the test, paces and rhythm, riding the test movements, arriving at a show, riding the test and analyzing the judge's comments.

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.

Andrew Nicholson is one of the world's leading events riders. He rode in his first Olympics aged 23 in Los Angeles in 1984, and has represented his native New Zealand in six Olympic Games and six world championships, winning medals of every colour. Andrew is respected and admired by his peers and sporting fans as a brilliant rider and competitor. At the age of 54 he is at the peak of his powers and, with the best team of horses he has ever had, is focused on winning one of the very few prizes to elude him an individual gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. This book tells the story of the boy from a farm in New Zealand who came to Britain as a raw 19-year-old and conquered one of the most demanding sports in the world. Illustrated with superb photographs of Andrew's career and life with horses, it reveals how he got to the top and how hard he still strives to up his game. We discover the personalities of his top horses, and the secrets he has learnt in his 35 years as a horseman.

Anatomy, particularly functional anatomy, is a vital and dynamic subject, an appreciation of which leads not only to superior husbandry and welfare, but also to a better understanding of the anatomical challenges associated with riding, training, overtraining, injury and rehabilitation. Using Alexa McKenna's fabulous illustrations, this book shows the correlation of the skeleton, muscular system and locomotion, providing a clear insight into the functional and dysfunctional horse. It also addresses the largely misunderstood concept of 'perfect conformation' and looks at the effect on function of the rider and tack, using cutting-edge diagnostic techniques such as thermal imaging and gait analysis. Again with the emphasis on the visual, readers will be able to appreciate how muscles function in differing athletic disciplines by analysing the heat generated in musculoskeletal structures after exercise. This will also highlight the importance of post-competition recovery. The book concludes with a range of useful techniques to improve the function of any horse, including stretches, taping, wrapping and other proprioceptive techniques to increase balance, flexibility, awareness and posture.

This text aims to provide a collection of exercises, on the flat and over fences, specifically designed for use in training more experienced riders and horses, whether in groups or as individuals, or schooling at home.

In recent decades, knowledge in the field of equine physical therapy has accrued as different types of bodywork have steadily gained acceptance in the horse world. An understanding of anatomy and biomechanics, and a grasp of the variable options available to both keep the active equine healthy and rehabilitate following an injury or layoff have become integral aspects of general horse health management. Equine physical therapy expert Helle Katrine Kleven understands the need for a reference that supports the horse owner as she strives to keep her horse sound in body and mind, and at the top of his game. In this highly illustrated book, she begins with a comprehensible introduction to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, as well as an instructive conversation covering biomechanics basics, then explores the major areas of therapy in detail. Readers will find practical how-to guidance in the most popular therapeutic modalities, as well as cutting-edge alternatives that are currently gaining ground: fascia work, stretching, massage, stability and strengthening exercises, laser therapy, kinesiotaping, and much more. With this incredible course in preventive and rehabilitative techniques, horse owners and professionals will be thoroughly prepared to ensure their horses' comfort and well-being.

Explore the knowledge and teachings of the old masters in this well illustrated and easy-to-understand riding book Based on the knowledge of the old riding masters, such as Xenophon, Pluvinel, and Steinbrecht, the "Academic Art of Riding" is rooted in the belief that one must train one's horse not only physically, but also mentally, according to the motto: "Two spirits who want to do what two bodies can." Fine communication with the horse as a partner is not only the way to accomplish this, but also the result. The described gymnastic exercises are made to build up the horse and keep it healthy. Starting with the horse's basic training and work in hand, the reader also gets insight into lateral movements, piaffes, and exercises above ground. Furthermore, methods for training and physiotherapy for horses in need of correction, as well the correct seat of the rider, are described. There is also included a checklist which allows the rider to assess their horse.

Karin Blignault has combined theory and experimentation to develop a system of training (and teaching) that is straightforward, fast and brings real results. The methods described in this book teach riders to achieve rhythm, balance, suppleness and the round flexor frame in their horses - and quickly. Most riding books, including those by classical masters, focus on 'what to do' rather than 'how to do'. This book is different. For example, Karin explains how you can apply your body in riding, rather than focusing primarily on your body position, and thus your riding position automatically becomes correct. She believes that riders should learn to control the whole horse as soon as possible and uses four exercises to teach riders control of the horse's head, his shoulders, his ribcage and his hindquarters. The results are immediate. These exercises are the building blocks of the shoulder-in and the half halt, which are the cornerstones of balanced riding. They are used to improve every movement in dressage and jumping.

Carol Mailer presents foolproof jumping exercises suitable for every combination and size of horse and pony, devised specifically to help riders and their mounts hone their skills, improve their performance and exceed their expectations. Whether you want to jump a little higher or wider, iron out faults, or shave a tenth of a second off a jump-off time, these exercises can help. The set-ups are not complicated and if approached with a workmanlike attitude, they can make the world of difference to a horse's jumping performance. Moreover, the exercises will help eliminate the need to have a top-notch trainer standing by at all times to supervise the work. Indeed the exercises are so straightforward that a sensible rider will be able to use poles and grids to analyse why they are making mistakes, and far more importantly, learn how to correct them quickly and easily.

While there are many excellent books that help the rider to address the technical goals of dressage, Ride from the Heart can transform the way in which the reader communicates with his horse. Rider and trainer Jenny Rolfe has written this book to share the experiences she gained in Portugal, a country with a long and spiritual history of classical training. For many years Jenny has been writing articles about classical horsemanship and her innovative techniques - particularly communication through breathing - which aim for ultimate lightness and empathy in riding have been met with much interest. Through techniques used in loose work, work in-hand and under saddle, the reader will be on the way to enhancing a sense of 'feel', which in turn will encourage oneness and a spirit of dance between horse and rider. The book underlines throughout, the importance of maintaining a bond of leadership, respect and friendship with our horse and within the pages are important tools for achieving these goals. Wherever you are within your level of training, this book will help to enhance and enrich your relationship with your horse so that art may be formed through love.

The Difficult Horse provides many insights as to why a horse may develop unwanted behaviours. 'Problem' behaviour is usually more of a problem for the handler than the horse, which is likely to have established patterns of behaviour as a way of helping himself feel safe in situations he finds mentally and/or physically stressful. As well as explaining the reasons for a horse's reactive and sometimes dangerous responses, this book suggests a number of practical exercises that can help to address a wide range of commonly encountered issues. Even if you consider your horse to be problem-free, these exercises will still be invaluable in helping you and your horse to develop a closer, more pleasurable and successful relationship.

This book discusses ground-pole training for all disciplines and shows how you can make the most of precious schooling time. It provides quick and easy pole layouts, using just a handful of poles. Different exercises are given for each pole layout, so there is no need to move the poles during a session. Exercises range from the simple to the more intricate, with the inclusion of more transitions, lateral work, raised poles/cavalletti, or riding in a different gait. Claire Lilley explains how these pole exercises can help you to ride with precision and improve your horse's way of going, adhering to the scales of training. You can also use the different layouts to check whether you are sitting straight, turning correctly, and riding transitions and lateral movements properly. She lists common rider faults for each exercise to help riders self-correct if schooling alone. As an experienced trainer herself, Claire knows that this book will prove an invaluable resource for riding instructors, providing a veritable cookbook of ideas for lesson plans. Poles are a great teaching tool, adding variety to every lesson and helping the teacher to explain lessons to the pupil. Teacher's tips are given for each exercise. Claire says: "Try the exercises for yourself and I'm sure you will be amazed at the improvements that can be made both in your riding technique and in your horse's way of going. You will never be bored with schooling again!"