Using the same down-to-earth style that has made his eventing clinics so popular, Wofford uses his book to instruct on what to look for when selecting a mount and when choosing the right tack and equipment.
Olympic gold-medal-winner Ingrid Klimke was born under a bright star when it came to fulfilling dreams of equestrian greatness. Her father, the renowned Dr. Reiner Klimke, was an Olympic rider himself, and he instilled his principles of training and riding with the good of the horse in mind in his daughter at a young age. Ingrid has furthered her father’s esteemed legacy, modernizing two of the classic works by her father—the bestselling The New Basic Training of the Young Horse and Cavalletti—and tirelessly championing a balanced, fair, and caring system of training the horse that ensures his physical and mental well-being even while preparing him for the very top levels of international competition. And now Ingrid has written a book of her own, detailing her personal system of bringing a horse along through the stages of progressive development, and providing readers guidelines and exercises to ensure success without stress at each milestone. The result is surely a joyful partnership between rider and horse that will go the distance.
A rare insider’s look at the life of a professional sportsman as he tries to reconcile the passion that drives him with livelihood, family, and aging. Three-time Olympian Jim Wofford grew up with horses, beginning with his childhood on a Kansas farm in the forties. The son of an Olympic show jumper, Wofford and his siblings all found themselves pursuing a “riding life”—one of reward and growth, of challenge and disappointment, but mostly of learning to understand and work with a complex animal as an athletic partner and friend. Over the years Wofford developed as an international competitor, successful coach, and sought-after commentator. Known for his wit, irreverence, and whip-smart observations on the sport and its participants, as well as the state of the “outside” world, his magazine columns were soon as legendary as his performances in the saddle. Now Wofford brings his immense talent for telling tales—all of them (mostly) true—to the page in a lively and absorbing look back through time spent in and out of the saddle. With lessons in horsemanship both simple and profound interwoven with fascinating stories from his many diverse adventures around the world, readers enjoy a peek inside the wild ride that can be the life of an international equestrian while pondering weighty questions, such as how to make decisions for the good of the horse and how to find a soulful connection with him. Although these questions may never be fully answered, readers discover something about themselves as they see how philosophical investigation contributed to Wofford’s own evolution over time. An honest, funny, poignant read certain to entertain and educate every horse person.
With an astounding eighteen medals in eight international championships and team gold medals at the Olympic Games in 1976 and 1984, Jack Le Goff created the standard by which modern–day equestrian teams are measured. But Le Goff's techniques could be unforgiving–tough, brutal, and abrasive–earning him critics as well as converts. In this, his autobiography, Le Goff tells the whole story, from impoverished beginnings in Morocco, to the tragic death of his father, to his successes as a competitive equestrian. Readers will enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of high–level international equestrian sport, as well as an entire section devoted to Le Goff's much admired and extremely successful training philosophy.
When it comes to producing top three-day event horses, Ginny Leng and her back-up team have the finest record in the world. In this book, Britain's leading event rider explains the training methods that gained her the world championship and three European titles. These were won on three different horses, all introduced to novice eventing and taken up through the grades by Ginny.
This fabulously illustrated book covers training, conditioning, and competing in all three phases of events: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. In addition, Dutton includes full chapters describing the special needs of the event horse, with tips and advice from the top experts who make up his internationally respected eventing team—his groom, his farrier, and his veterinarian. You'll find guidance in everything from daily maintenance to braiding and turnout, and from hoof care and studs to common health issues and "vet box" care of your horse during competitions. With tips for finding the right event prospect, whatever your level of experience, as well as Dutton's own schooling exercises, both on the flat and over fences, the book promises to give you the leg up you need for a safe and confident start in the sport.
Take a Good Look Around by James C. Wofford, is a book about life in the outdoors. Readers who are used to his books on training horses will find a new side of the author, a side that has rarely surfaced until the publication of this, his latest work. The book is based on the author's experiences as a lifelong trainer of horses and as an avid hunter and fisherman. It includes descriptions of the Olympics, accounts of hair-raising experiences in Alaska, and stories of hunting all over the country . . . all told from the author's humorous point of view. Horse lovers will find a great deal in this book to interest them, and lovers of the outdoors will find Wofford's accounts of fishing and hunting amusing, interesting, and often poignant.
This marvelous book, borne of a unique collaboration between Dr. Allen Schoen—a world-renowned veterinarian and author—and trainer and competitor of many years Susan Gordon, introduces the 25 Principles of Compassionate Equitation. These Principles, conceived by Dr. Schoen and Gordon, are a set of developmental guidelines, encouraging a level of personal awareness that may be enacted not only through the reader's engagement with horses, but can be extended to all humans and sentient beings he or she encounters. The 25 Principles share stories and outline current, peer-reviewed studies that identify and support methods of training, handling, and caring for horses that constitute a safe, healthy, non-stressful, and pain-free environment. Through their Compassionate Equestrian program, the authors encourage all involved in the horse industry to approach training and handling with compassion and a willingness to alleviate suffering. By developing deeper compassion for their own horses, and subsequently, all equines, equestrians transcend their differences in breed preferences, riding disciplines, and training methodologies. This leads to the ability to empathize and connect more closely with the “global collective” of horses and horse people. In doing so, a worldwide community of compassionate equine practitioners and horse owners will emerge, which will not only benefit the horses: People involved with horses are found in many influential segments of society and have the potential to affect wide circles of friends, acquaintances, and co-workers from every walk of life. These are simple changes any horse person can make that can have a vast impact on the horse industry and society as a whole.
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.