Harry de Leyer first saw the horse he would name Snowman on a truck bound for the slaughterhouse. The recent Dutch immigrant recognized the spark in the eye of the beaten-up nag and bought him for eighty dollars. On Harry's modest farm on Long Island, he ultimately taught Snowman how to fly. Here is the dramatic and inspiring rise to stardom of an unlikely duo. One show at a time, against extraordinary odds and some of the most expensive thoroughbreds alive, the pair climbed to the very top of the sport of show jumping. Their story captured the heart of Cold War-era America-a story of unstoppable hope, inconceivable dreams, and the chance to have it all. They were the longest of all longshots-and their win was the stuff of legend.

There are plenty of books about exercises for riders to increase their strength and flexibility and improve their riding. There are also plenty of books about pain and how to help it. This is the first book to join the two, speaking the language of both rider and pain sufferer, and acknowledges the necessity of continuing to care for your horse, even when one of your legs has gone numb and you can't stand up straight. Whether you are a professional competitor or someone who has just bought their first horse to love, the information and advice in this book is equally relevant. Pain is not discriminatory and so this book should literally be read by anybody who is involved with riding or caring for horses in any way. The flow of the book does allow for the reader to start at the beginning and read it all the way through. However, it is also assuming that most readers will be very busy and just want to find out about how to help their particular issue. So they will be able to easily go straight to the section that they are looking for. There are also cross-references throughout the book to direct the reader on where to find out more information if they would like to. "Nikki's treatment has really changed my life. The advice that she gives in this book will help you to work with your body and to enjoy riding your horse without pain."; Sarah, Duchess of York "Giving you all the information you need to keep yourself pain free, this book is a must-have for horse riders of all disciplines."; Laura Renwick, Team GB show jumper

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.

Girl on a Pony is the gritty, humorous, unflinchingly courageous story of five children growing up on a cattle ranch in the remote Valley of the Dry Cimarron in northeastern New Mexico near the little border town of Kenton, Oklahoma. Narrated years later by the oldest daughter, LaVerne, it is a vivid and authentic portrait of ranching life between the two world wars, from 1925, when the family moved to the Goodson Ranch from a half-dugout claim shack in Colorado, to 1936, when they began to disperse.

During those years, people in the region endured blizzards, sick and maddened animals, drought, the Dust Bowl, and the Great Depression-with stoic good humor. In Girl on a Pony, cowboys go about their daily tasks, teaching the children all they know. Women endure the hardships of life in an isolated area, coping with the brutal labor ranch life requires of them, and maintaining touches of beauty and civilization where they can-creating lawns from relentlessly rocky soil, holding dances for their children, and painstakingly tatting when all else fails.

Horses are fascinating and perceptive creatures. Developing a thorough understanding of how a horse interprets the world around them and deliberately being self-aware as a rider, are the essential skills to a successful and fulfilling partnership. In The Psychology of Horsemanship, well-known equestrian author and horse expert, Claire Lilley, shares her passion and knowledge about horses and riders developed from over forty years' experience in the equestrian world, and more recently several years in the mental health profession. Divided into three sections, the book covers: Equine psychology - the horses's senses, primary responses and emotion; Training psychology - the rider's communication, training and learning from past experiences; Relational psychology - the goals, the development and the challenges faced in successful horsemanship. With high-quality photographs, diagrams and extended real-life examples, this book explores the application of psychology to the world of horses and how the understanding and evolvement of the horse-rider relationship impacts on both mental and physical development.

'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.

Learn all there is to know about horse riding, from horse care and show jumping to what it takes to master dressage, with this comprehensive guide from DK. 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 mastering advanced riding skills. Revised and updated to include all the latest techniques and equipment, you'll find 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. Presented in spectacular visual detail, this book 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.

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 world of modern dressage includes an entire canon of doctrines, which are never questioned, either individually or in form of the system, which they present in their entirety. Everybody seems to have a clear and complete comprehension of their meaning. However, what does it really mean to drive the horse 'onto the bit'? Does a stronger application of the rider's aids really encourage the horse to place its hind legs further under its body? Is the term collection really synonymous with the increased forward engagement of the hind legs under the centre of balance? Jean-Claude Racinet subjects these and other questions, regarding the anatomical and biomechanical points of view, to a critical analysis and uncovers many things in this context, which contradict each other. This book, a summary of decades of extensive experiences as a rider, offers a long-overdue contribution towards the discussion of the sense and nonsense of the training doctrines commonly used and applied in the modern form of dressage. It deals effectively with prejudices and is aimed at supporting the art of horse-orientated equitation.

At the core of this book is a series of 'state of the art' experiments in which the author participated, designed to establish whether certain classical ideas about true collection could be scientifically proved. Discussion of the results leads into an exploration of how working towards collection informs the progression of training and the way in which the exercises are implemented. This pursuit of collection is likely to take a purer form if it is motivated by artistic values rather than by the rider's ego. In this fascinating and thoughtful book, the author urges readers to focus on their own individuality, rather than being motivated or misled by external pressures; to 'collect' or 'centre' themselves, as they work towards a similar state with their horses.

Hazel had been scared of horses all her life, and an earlier attempt to overcome her fear had ended in failure. She was still overcoming fear in other areas, travelling around the world with her job, reporting on areas recovering from war, famine, disease and catastrophe. And eventually she took up riding again - only to face bigger fears, when illness struck her. Even worse, her father's dementia grew so bad that her mother had a heart attack and Hazel had to put her father into a home. As poor health threatened to derail her career, and family tragedy looked likely to break her heart, she was loaned a big old horse called Duke. He stood far taller than her at every point, and she was afraid. Yet somehow, as she rode him through the Hampshire countryside, she found solace and healing. Gradually her fears began to subside.

German rider and equine veterinarian Dr. Gerd Heuschmann is well-known in dressage circles - admired for his plain speaking regarding what he deems the incorrect and damaging training methods commonly employed by riders and trainers involved in competition today. Here, he presents an intelligent and thought-provoking exploration of both classical and 'modern' training methods, including 'hyperflexion' (also known as Rollkur), against a practical backdrop of the horse's basic anatomy and physiology. This book is his appeal to: Riders - to use only gentle, progressive training methods in accordance with the time-tested principles of classical riding. To: Judges - to sharpen their eyes and recognize unnatural postures or forced movements and evaluate them accordingly in competition, while rewarding classically trained, correctly gymnasticized horses. To: Governing organizations - to review their regulations and uphold stipulated "ideals" on both national and international levels. To: Spectators - to reject sensational performances and flashy tests when the methods used to obtain them have not had the health and welfare of the horse in mind. Dr Heuschmann provides readers with a thorough discussion of the correct physiological training of the horse, walking through the elements of contact, lateral movement, and other important aspectrs of a classical training foundation. He explains how impulsion and correct collection can indeed be developed safely and to the horse's benefit - and tested at the highest levels in the show ring - if only we use care for our equine partners and allow time to achieve their physical best.

The perfect guide to improving your horse's confidence, understanding, concentration, suppleness and obedience both on the ground and from the saddle, based on how horses think and respond to training. Dip into the 101 exercises to help you understand and solve a particular problem, or work through them in sequence to develop a solid foundation. Learn both theory and practical skills - from the simplest fundamentals that everyone around horses should know, to the refined techniques of the expert horseman, providing a clear road map' for the journey towards the Art of Horsemanship. Strengthen the partnership between you and your horse from the ground and the saddle with these fundamental horsemanship exercises. Improve your horse's concentration, temperament, suppleness and obedience by using the 101 exercises to solve a particular problem, or string them together to form an individually tailored training program. The exercises progress from the basic to more advanced ideas, harnessing your horse's natural behaviour to help you both work together with incredible results. Strengthen the partnership between you and your horse from the ground and the saddle with these fundamental horsemanship exercises Improve your horse's concentration, temperament, suppleness and obedience by using the 101 exercises to solve a particular problem, or string them together to form an individually tailored training program. The exercises progress from the basics to more advanced ideas harnessing your horse's natural behaviour to help you both work together with incredible results. Includes a foreword by Jane Holderness-Roddam

"All I can say is that there was something - right from the first. A stubby little mare, bright bay with remarkably large ears. A white star on her forehead shaped like Madagascar, and a huge arse..."This is the story of an extraordinary relationship - and an extraordinary horse. When Barnes buys Dolly Dolores VII, he knows he has got something special. She is feisty, restless, mysterious - sometimes crazily unpredictable. But she is also, to her owner's delight, a jumper of mesmerising poise and skill; she canters like a ballerina, gallops like a wild thing. Then, one day, Dolly does something so startling, so inexplicable that she brings her owner to breaking point. Barnes is faced with a terrible decision... The Horsey Life is about a friendship pushed to its limits; but it is also filled with larks and joy - a book which takes you right to the heart of the world of horses and those that love them.

Dominance without punishment, collection without rein pressure, these apparent contradictions are explained as this charismatic new author demonstrates his revolutionary method of teaching and training based upon precisely defined body language. The method, a way of communicating in a visual language understood by the horse, assists the rider to develop a 'presence' and to achieve interaction with the horse. It is classically based and embodies both holistic and spiritual principles. Packed with marvellous colour photographs this book has already been a bestseller in Germany, France, Spain and Scandinavia and will enthral every horse owner.

Exhibiting grace and poise as they master the intricate movements of dressage; galloping like the wind at more than thirty miles per hour; soaring over huge competition fences; running tirelessly across every type of terrain - horses are simply stunning athletes. Naturally fleet of foot, they have strength, stamina and intelligence to match. We ask a great deal of these amazing creatures when we ride them in competition, and our horses always deliver. The Sporting Horse is a glorious celebration of the athletic abilities of these beautiful animals, and the unique relationship that has evolved between horse and rider. Working side-by-side for centuries, horse and man have achieved a lasting synergy - and nowhere is that more evident than in the sporting arena. Taking each of the four key sporting characteristics - athleticism, speed, agility and endurance - veteran journalist Nicola Swinney explores how hundreds of years of selective breeding and careful training have developed and refined the horse's natural ability to perform a diverse range of sporting pursuits. From dressage to polo, snow sports to carriage driving, steeplechasing to barrel racing, the book reveals how horse and rider work as one to achieve sporting excellence.

A protege of the legendary Vladimir S. Littauer and for more than thirty years director of the riding program at Sweet Briar College, Paul D. Cronin is a well-known and highly respected trainer and riding instructor. Schooling and Riding the Sport Horse is Cronin's clear and practical guide to getting the most out of your horse in a humane and sensitive way. Beginning with a brief history of educated horsemanship from the earliest published riding masters of the sixteenth century, Cronin clarifies the differences between forward riding and classical dressage, and how at times the two have become inappropriately mixed. He then gives an in-depth presentation of the American forward riding system that is the basis of hunter/jumper riding and examines the ways in which a rider's position and controls are essential to the training of the horse. In the system as Cronin explains it, the three basic pillars are position, controls, and schooling. In clear language, he walks the reader from the beginning stages of training through advanced jumping and cross-country work. He sets out proper methods of early schooling of the young, green, or reclaimed horse, based on freedom of movement under the weight of the rider at the walk, trot, canter, and jump; of gaining the horse's trust and cooperation; and of establishing agility and calmness in the horse at all gaits and over fences. Schooling and Riding the Sport Horse is an important book on horsemanship for riding instructors, trainers, and amateur riders alike.

Over the course of her riding and horse training career, Kathrin Roida has progressively gained a deep appreciation for the benefits of gymnastic exercises, particularly those that can be taught to the horse from the ground. "In-hand" training has long been used to help develop the dressage horse, conditioning and suppling his body while at the same time preparing his mind to grasp the movements that may eventually be expected. Roida relies on these techniques when working with young horses, which she prepares for under-saddle training with exercises first learned on the ground, improving balance and enhancing confidence by refining the horse's sense of his body and where it is in space. Roida also uses in-hand techniques to vary the training of the fully schooled riding horse and to solve problems that may be more safely dealt with from the ground. In this book she details her methods, sharing the stories of a number of horses of different ages, breeds, and training backgrounds, and demonstrating the steps to teaching them: shoulder-in, travers, renvers, pirouettes, half-pass, piaffe, passage, canter work, the Spanish walk, and much more. Throughout her conscientious attention to what is best for the horse ensures that not only do the lessons result in a horse that is healthy in body but also one that is healthy in mind and happy in his work.

Every equestrian wants to know: what is the difference between the horse that "dances" when you are on him, and the one that doesn't? According to Visconte Simon Cocozza, trainer and examiner for the La Federation Francaise d'Equitation (FFE), it all comes down to the horse's posture. The horse's ability to use the powerful mechanisms already built into his body relies not upon the strength we can see on the outside but the strength on the inside. This invisible and complex arrangement of internal "core" muscles control the horse's posture, suppleness, and agility. Their good condition is the key to the dance. Equine core muscles are very difficult to isolate with the traditional training techniques common to horse sports. However, by examining what we do with the human body when faced with a weak core, we can find new methods for conditioning these areas of the equine body. Visconte Cocozza has taken principles of the human practice of yoga and used them to develop novel ways of reaching deep within the horse's body and gently "unlocking" areas that may be a little "rusty" while at the same time improving core fitness. In Core Conditioning for Horses, he provides step-by-step instruction explaining easy mounted exercises that enhance the horse's posture, and boost his confidence in his body and movement, making him easier to ride, and ultimately, the dance partner you've always imagined.

Fully updated and revised, The Rider's Pain-Free Back provides the guidance you need to overcome chronic soreness, injury, and ageing. Proves essential to understanding the diagnosis, treatment, and pain management of riders back troubles. Neurosurgeon and lifelong horseman Dr Warnson provides step-by-step instructions for a do-it-yourself physical therapy plan that promises results.

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!

This is a complete guide to horse breeds around the world, and how to ride horses for sport, show or pleasure. It features expert advice on saddles, bridles and bits, training aids, equestrian clothing and protective equipment. It shows you how to look after your horse on a day-to-day basis, including exercise routines and grooming techniques, and information about basic health care and first aid. The noble horse combines speed, strength and beauty with intelligence and a willing nature, and this beautiful box set contains four books for every horse enthusiast. An Illustrated Guide to Horse Breeds of the World is a round-up of the world's breeds, such as Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. The Practical Rider's Handbook covers the basics of riding, from mounting to dressage. Saddlery & Horse Equipment is an illustrated guide to tack and clothing. A Practical Guide to Caring For Your Horse explores the practicalities of equestrian care, such as feeding, watering, plaiting and shoeing. Together, these books form an essential collection for all horse riders.

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.

This is an invaluable guide to every aspect of horsemanship, from the diverse and specialist equipment for both horse and rider to learning to ride and competing in riding competitions. The first section of the book is a directory-style approach to the full range of horse equipment. Saddles, bridles and bits; training aids and gadgets; clothing and protective equipment are all discussed in detail. The second section is a step-by-step presentation of riding techniques, and the final section covers the world of horse riding competitions. This section examines the wellknown sports of show-jumping, polo and dressage, as well as the more obscure competitions, such as endurance riding, vaulting and driving.