Essential Riding: A Realistic Approach to Horsemanship - Softcover

Price, Steven D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1585740020 ISBN 13: 9781585740024

Publisher: Lyons Pr, 2000

Synopsis

Introduces the basics of Western and English style horseback riding and jumping, discussing habits, behavior, and gaits of horses as well as appropriate attire, safety, and etiquette.

About this title

About the Author

Steven D. Price is the author of fourteen books on equestrian subjects, including the best-selling The Whole Horse Catalog, The Quotable Horse Lover, The American Quarter Horse, and The Kids' Book of the American Quarter Horse. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Chronicle of the Horse, Practical Horseman, and America's Horse.

From the Back Cover

Most how-to-ride manuals assume that the beginner is mounted on a well-trained horse. "Do this, this, and that," other books instruct, "and your horse will respond in such-and-such a way." In the magic world of these manuals, nothing ever goes wrong.But in fact, Steven D. Price points out in the introduction of Essential Riding, "the vast majority of us learn to ride on lesson horses at public stables or on privately owned "backyard" horses . . .. When the beginning rider does "this, this, and that," the horse is just as likely to respond with no more than a yawn . . .. The purpose of this book is to provide a 'real world' perspective for you as a beginning rider."Price introduces us to Fred, the kind of horse most beginners learn to ride on. Fred is a sweet fellow, but a bit bored and stubborn after years of being a lesson horse. You'll learn whether a problem is your fault or the horse's, knowledge that makes all the difference in your equestrian education.Essential Riding begins with a broad introduction to riding fundamentals that apply to all styles of English and Western horsemanship. There's vital information on: finding the right instructor; proper attire; equine behavior as it affects riding; basic rider position; the horse's gaits and how to ask for them; stable and trail safety and etiquette; jumping basics; preparing for horse shows; an overview of the different disciplines; a glossary of horse-related terms; and more.Never has a riding manual contained such commonsensical advice. Aspiring riders of every discipline and of all ages will find everything they need to understand their mounts and more fully enjoy the sport. (6 X 9, 208 pages, b&w photos, diagrams)

Reviews

Here is another book on learning to ride horses--ho hum, right? Wrong, because here is a book that talks about learning to ride the way most people will learn--at public stables or on backyard horses that are inured to being lesson horses. Lesson horses have usually been put through the wringer by beginning riders and are probably not going to respond readily to the rider's signals. Price writes in a commonsense manner, injecting humorous descriptions that are really on the money--trotting is "bumptybump" while cantering is "budabing, budabing." His guide for beginning riders assumes that the reader is learning on a lesson horse and that she or he knows little to nothing about horses and riding. The book is full of practical advice about what to wear (shoes with heels and protective helmets a must), what the horse wears (and why there are different saddles and bridles), how to fall off (everyone does sooner or later), and how to make the horse go (something school horses are often reluctant to do). The author not only explains how to do various horsy things but why. His focus on beginning riders on lesson horses helps novices learn the difference between their mistakes and a wise old school horse's refusal to listen. There are also chapters on beginning jumping and showing, horse sports such as barrel racing and dressage, and games such as polo. An excellent book for beginning riders that belongs in all libraries. Nancy Bent
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Edition details

• Publisher: Lyons Pr
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1585740020
• ISBN 13: 9781585740024
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208