Learn how to cultivate and hone that winning edge. Have you ever dreamed of taking your horsemanship to the next level; have you ever left the arena thinking you could have done better - or wondering why you didn't? International author, horse riding champion and judge Joanne Verikios shares her years of expertise and experience in this insightful book. Winning Horsemanship will show you how to achieve the success you desire and deserve. Learn how to master yourself, your horse and the secrets of winning! You will discover:- How to double your enjoyment of your horse... in and out of the arena- Tips and secrets of successful ring craft used by top trainers and riders- How to avoid painful, costly mistakes that can hold you back - or get you hurt- The psychology of confidence (and how to share it with your horse)- How simple changes in what you think can change the way your horse behaves- 7 proven steps to prepare your horse for any competition- Subtle ways to take control and say goodbye to poor performance forever Have more fun with your horse.
First published in 1959, The Way to Perfect Horsemanship was immediately recognized as a classic work of equestrian literature. It offers insight into the psychology of the horse as well as its muscular system and the mechanics of movement. It explains in detail the basic principles of training, the fundamentals of riding, and the effect of training aids. Everyone, from trainers to occasional riders, will benefit from this book.
The original version of this book was first published in 1983 and sold over 100,000 copies. In recent years, however, reining has changed and Al Dunning has fine-tuned his methods and techniques of training in order to stay among the top competitors. This brand-new edition, considerably larger than the original book, reflects the changes in Al's training program through updated copy and more than 300 new photographs. (8 x 11, 216 pages, b&w photos, diagrams)
Discover how to increase the effectiveness of the time you spend in the saddle, whether you are a beginning hunt seat rider or a seasoned competitor. Geoff Teall—noted judge, trainer, and clinician—helps you put together an unbeatable package, including: Setting riding goals Finding the right horse and instructor Developing confidence and facing your fears Dressing for success in and out of the show ring Walking any course Seeing distances Jumping from a turn Angled jumps and end jumps Combinations, in-and-outs, and more Whether the first step on the road to a medal, or a tool to revitalize an experienced rider’s passion for the sport, this book will help you put the pieces together for that perfect, polished round.
When owning, training, riding, and showing horses, there is a certain “look” to which one aspires. World-class “turnout”—a horse in peak condition, perfectly coiffed and luminous with health, outfitted with gleaming and well-fit tack appropriate for his sport—can take your breath away. And while it can certainly play a significant role in a competitive rider’s success, it is just as appealing to have any horse “groomed to the nines,” whether he’s headed for an afternoon lesson or just out on the trail. Achieving this superior look is not just about clean tack, shiny brass, spotless stockings, or perfect braids. The most important steps are in the day-to-day nitty-gritty of grooming and caring for the horse: noticing “something not-quite-right” about the way the horse looks or moves before it becomes “something wrong”; brushing and combing and trimming a little every day so the horse’s skin and coat remain healthy; knowing how to prepare a horse properly for training, and how to cool him down afterward. Now, two of the best professional grooms in the business share their trade secrets, with over 1200 color photographs accompanying the ultimate modern-day guide for all riders who want their horses to look and feel their best.
A unique and groundbreaking analysis of how to succeed in equestrian sport, this book unpacks the winning habits of successful equestrians to form a toolkit for readers to develop their own winning habits. Applying psychological understanding in peak performance, this book is bolstered by interviews with top contemporary professional show jumping athletes to explore and show how leading equestrians have interpreted various methods and built them into approaches for their own training. Theoretical concepts such as mindset, deliberate practice, focus and flow are broken down and translated into practical steps for a more powerful and effective way of thinking, training and performing. Renowned equestrian mental coach Annette Paterakis reveals factors of success, as well as answers common questions, from building lasting confidence to responding to failure. Smashing the myths of talent and hard work, Paterakis offers a refreshing take on mindset, focus and approach to success both in and out of the show ring. An essential read for anyone who would like to learn about or improve their mental game, this book is uniquely suited for equestrian riders, coaches and other athletes, as well as offering supplementary reading for applied sport psychology courses.
Jean-Claude Racinet has devoted his life to the vindication of "L'equitation de L'egerete" (riding in lightness) which fosters balance by relaxing the horse-more so his mouth-excluding force in the wielding of the aids. Also written by Racinet: Total Horsemanship, Racinet Explains Baucher This practical manual, describes the horsemanship of French Tradition - characterized by lightness - from a down-to-earth point of view. Born in Paris in 1929, Jean-Claude Racinet is a graduate of St. Cyr, the French West Point, Class of 1950. He was a member of the French contingent in Korea (1950-53), where he was wounded twice. As an officer of the French army, he spent seven years in Tunisia and Algeria (1954-61) and four more years in Europe. While he spent most of his army career during the time when the military was getting rid of their horses, he managed, between and during his sojourns overseas, to successfully attend the Superior Equitation Course in the Cavalry School of Saumur (1953-54), winning the title of Champion of Tunisia in open jumping (1956), and to become a member of the Jumping Team of the Military School in Paris (1953). Riding teacher and trainer as a civilian after 9165, he was more particularly known by his retraining of difficult horses and later as an equestrian journalist by his always witty and sometimes scathing articles in the French equestrian monthly L'Information Hippique. In the United States since 1983, Jean-Claude Racinet became a successful teacher, trainer, lecturer, clinician, and author. Xenophon Press published in 1994 his highly popular book Another Horsemanship, now in its second printing. Jean-Claude Racinet has devoted his life to the vindication of "L'equitation de Legerete" (riding in lightness), which fosters balance by relaxing the horse - more so his mouth - excluding force in the wielding of the aids. In fact, the very essence of riding in the French Classical tradition. softcover, 125 pages, illustrated. Excerpt from the book: When one pushes on a horse with the legs, he goes forward, and so does the bit. So, not much should happen as concerns the coming "onto the bit" of the horse, unless one pushes and pulls at the same time. Now, if you push and pull together you give your horse two opposite orders; "go - don't go," and he can only be confused by the contradiction. Most of the time, he will choose to obey only one of these two orders - the one that fits best his character. All you're goig to get is a dull horse who will respond with less and less generosity to your legs' orders. Or, if the horse decides to obey your legs, he will have to put up with your hands' traction and will become heavier and heavier on the bit. Or both. If by contrast, you systematically open your fingers as you give an impulsive order with your legs, your horse will feel free, and will be more inclined to obey. This suppresses a major obstacle to impulsion.