|
|
| STAFF
RECOMMENDATIONS |
| Janet
Janet's latest pick is Horse Gaits, Balance and Movements
by Susan Harris. Hardcover (1993)
In the spirit of finding gems that have been on our shelves for a while,
I picked up Susan Harris’s Horse Gaits, Balance and Movement again.
Being privileged to have had lessons with Susan, I know how well she integrates
her knowledge of horse anatomy and biomechanics into her riding instruction.
The icing on the cake is that she carries a sketchpad with her, to illustrate
her points artistically!
Horse Gaits, Balance and Movement brings together the best of what Susan
Harris has to offer. After an illustrated anatomy course in the first
chapter, she analyses each gait in detail, and discusses (always with
her wonderful sketches) different types and qualities of the gait. So
for the trot she covers working collected, medium, and extended trot,
passage and piaffe, then jog, park and racing trot, and finally faults
such as stiff-inverted, on the forehand, false extended trot, and irregular
beats.
She goes on to cover quality of movement, things like impulsion versus
speed, balance, examples of poor movement, how conformation affects movement,
the effect the rider has on a horse’s movement, and how to correct
such problems. The examples are drawn from all disciplines and a wide
range of horse breeds. So there are western disciplines, jumping, dressage,
and saddle seat. There is talk of gaits for Icelandics Pasos and Tennessee
Walkers. Finally there are sections on shoeing’s effect on gaits,
on saddle fitting and on "straightening the rider."
Don’t overlook this book! You may pick it up to learn a horse’s
anatomy in movement: what you come away with is another fascinating lesson
on how to ride your horse better.
|
Code: 692
Price: $27.50
Click
Here For Ordering
|
 |
Sally
Sally's latest pick is Dressage in Harmony by Walter Zettl.
Hardcover (1998)
I was lucky
enough to attend Mr. Zettl’s clinic this summer. I had long intended
to read his book and this seemed the perfect time. First, let me say that
it is even better than everyone has been telling me. Mr. Zettl’s
clear explanations and deceptively simple approach make you say, "I
can do that." It is a way of riding that fosters trust and respect
between horse and rider. Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t anything
wishy washy about this, it tells you, if you do this, correctly, this
is what will happen. The exercises are presented in a progression that
even basic riders (like me!) will feel comfortable with. There are many
exercises to help your horse become more supple and to learn the movements.
This is definitely a book to keep close at hand when schooling. It’s
almost as good as going to one of his clinics!
|
|
|
Diane
Diane's latest
pick is Focused Riding by Robert and Beverly Schinke. Hardcover
(1997)
Here’s
a gem from the past, written to help us in our overall enjoyment and (they
promise) success in riding, whatever the goals and reasons we bring to
this sport that we obviously adore.
The authors are very experienced sports psychologists as well as equestrians,
whose stated purpose is to help us pursue "riding enjoyment and excellence,"
whether it be for pleasure or competition. The book presents training
techniques that integrate mental skills in tandem with our technical ones.
It is an unusual blend of the softer, ‘right-brained-oriented’
and very tangible, organized, task-oriented approaches, with intriguing
results.
There are a lot of things I really like about the book. One is the flexibility.
Though each chapter builds on the subject matter that precedes it, and
the Schinke’s make clear their preference that it be reviewed in
that way, they know that many of us are interested in specific problem-solving.
They therefore provide a "troubleshooting table," listing problems
they are often consulted about, directing us to specific chapter(s) that
can help us solve them. (I actually picked one of these, and became so
intrigued that I read the book.)
Another is its format. First is an explanation of the training technique,
then specific tasks to perform to practice it, followed by case studies
to further clarify what is being presented. Each then ends with a brief
summary, a bulleted list of reminders of key concepts, and a list of further
reading should we be so moved. Oh did I forget the sketches? Included
are amusing sketches of ‘us’ with our horses in the throes of
these techniques.
So, if you are feeling frustrated with the way your training is going,
the way your horse is reacting to you, or simply a lack of focus or time
(balance?) to pursue your partnership with your equine friend in the way
that you’d like, take a look at this book.
|
|
|
