Recommended Reading

Here are a few selected resources that Capt Barry finds interesting and hopes you find helpful:

Ride the Right Horse
Understanding the Core Equine Personalities & How to Work with Them

by Yvonne Barteau

What an exciting book!  By rating horses’ personality traits as degrees of Social, Fearful, Aloof, and Challenging, and in how passively or aggressively they display these traits, the author has come up with ways to help equines bloom in their training and in their relationships with people.  This book explains why one horse my be perfect for your trainer but not perfect for you, or vice versa, or why some horses find success with only certain people.  The case studies are excellent and inspiring.  The information in this book will take horse owners to the next level in understanding and knowing how to work with horses. Finally a book that will help us choose our equine partners based on more than just conformation and gut instinct!

The Horse Training Problem Solver

by Jessica Jahiel

The logic organization of the questions, as well as the detailed information in the questions aid in easily finding a topic of interest. The extensive and complete answers in this book make it a valuable asset to anyone training their own or others' horses.  Beginners to advanced riders will all find answers that expand their knowledge on solving those training problems.   Terrific book!

Longeing the Rider for a Perfect Seat
    A How-To Guide for Riders, Instructors, and  Longeurs

by Linda Benedik
    Author of the best-selling Yoga for Equestrians

This step-by-step guide to both longeing others and being longed
unveils the secrets behind the most beautiful--and functional--riding in the world. By combining traditional mounted exercises with yoga, conscious breath work, and hands-on bodywork, Linda Benedik's unique rider-longeing program helps the rider create a personal balance that leads to a deeper connection with the horse while at the same time developing a stable, correct, elegant, independent seat--every rider's goal.

The Rider's Pain-Free Back

by James Warson, MD

A terrific book on how to avoid and/or handle back pain in the rider and still RIDE!  This comprehensive book includes detailed descriptions and illustrations on stretching exercises to do before and after riding.  Exercises for strengthening the back are clearly demonstrated as well.  Details include information
on specific types of horses and equine sports that are best for dealing with specific back problems.  A great prevention plan is included that would be of interest to any beginning rider, regardless of age.  This book is very informative, even on the meaning of medical terms and anatomy.  It’s a must-read for any rider with back problems and good preventative reading for all riders and instructors.  Highly recommended by Capt McKie.

Balance in Movement -
How to achieve the perfect seat
 

by Susanne Von Dietze

Susanne Von Dietze is a physiotherapist and riding instructor.  Her background in physiotherapy enables her to understand the complex physical relationship essential between horse and rider.  She frequently tours both the United States and Europe giving lectures and holding clinics on the subject of balance and movement.  Von Dietz currently competes in dressage at the Prix St. Georges level.

by Holly Hugo-Vidal
with Sue M. Copeland

When you approach a fence do you hold your breath? As your horse covers the last few strides, do you see a distance, or do you see a disaster?  Jumping doesn't have to be frightening.  This visual, step-by-step guide will help you vanquish your fear by teaching you how to:

- Build a strong, secure and effective riding position for success over fences
- Improve your control on the flat, to improve your control at the jump
- Develop confidence by working over ground poles and flower boxes before you tackle real fences
- Use easy, progressive gymnastics to develop your eye
- Successfully jump single fences, as well as straight and bending lines
- Get the skills you'll need to successfully jump a course
- Troubleshoot common over-fences problems, such as refusals, rushing and spooking

Follow this program faithfully, and you may never have a bad fence again!

by Jennifer Bryant

In order to take your riding skills (dressage skills) to the next level, this book is what you need. Jennifer Bryant's book is the perfect compliment to your dressage training. Her relaxed tone makes it an easy and fun read as well as enormously informative. Clear instructions enhanced with pictures and drawings makes the text very clear and easy to understand. Chapters include information on the history of Dressage, basic Dressage training, physical fitness for both horse and rider (with even some fitness exercises shown for the rider), and much more. The book also discusses whether or not you are "Dressage material" and what you should know before and during your first Dressage show.

by Angie McGhee

This compilation of short stories and cartoons by Angie McGhee is the culmination of more than a dozen years as a humorous columnist for Trail Blazer magazine, Endurance News and other publications.

Read and chuckled at worldwide, Angie's stories highlight not only her own experiences in the world of endurance, but find anyone who reads them identifying with almost every theme.

Angie's book also includes musings on her first pony, horseflies and bad housekeeping, as well as dozens of humorous cartoons depicting situations almost every endurance rider can identify with and laugh at.

"Natural communication between horse and rider"

Site Last Modified:  April, 2008