RIDING & HORSEMANSHIP. By understanding how the horse's biomechanics works and how to influence it, most of the misunderstanding between horse and rider is avoidable, and the vast majority of schooling problems solvable. Although in its infancy, equine sport science teaches us how a horse's body and mind functions. The knowledge of equine biomechanics turns horse training and riding teaching into a completely logical process. In this work, Karin Blignault investigates the horse's natural methods of performing movements and compares this with the movements he performs in dressage and jumping.

"This is a book about connections within equitation libraries of interwoven reading and practice. When riding horses, humans can participate in the elite equine capacity to move. An atlas may serve as a map, a guide to cooperative athletic performance between two very different species"--Cover p.[4].

Rider Biomechanics is a collaboration between rider biomechanics coach Mary Wanless and functional anatomist Thomas Myers. Myer's seminal book Anatomy Trains explains how connective tissue joins muscles together into functional chains. Some of these chains extend from head to toe, and they are the 'lines of pull'. Elite riders excel in balancing the tension in their lines, creating a stable balanced structure which can transmit and redirect the forces of the horse's movement. Easy, fluid, sitting eludes less skilled riders - but this book, with its copious photographs and illustrations, provides a route map for reorganising 'lines of pull', sitting, and influence on one's horse. It is through balancing one's own lines that you learn how to balance one's horse, changing his carriage and movement, and discovering the secrets of the few talented riders who naturally possess those skills.

Effective horse trainers strive to improve the performance of their horses while preserving the integrity of the musculoskeletal apparatus. Biomechanics and Physical Training of the Horse supplies an anatomical and functional overview of the topic, enabling trainers to optimize the different exercises their horses undergo during training and competition. Following a brief description of the biomechanics of the muscles underlying equine movement, the book discusses the muscles of the forelimb, hindlimb, and neck and trunk. These fundamentals have direct bearing on the later chapters, which focus on training and the core exercises for a horse. This text is illustrated throughout by the author’s top-quality photographs, diagrams, and his own beautiful anatomical drawings. The book is of lasting value to all professionals and well-informed amateurs who work with horses: veterinarians, trainers and riders, researchers, physical therapists, and educators in equine courses.

This is a comprehensive handbook of the anatomy of the equine locomotor system. This uniquely illustrated guide has been produced in close collaboration with veterinary experts and provides an excellent tool for those involved in veterinary medicine, equine physiotherapy and training of horses. The extensive and clear anatomical plates cover the skeleton, ligaments and muscles and include terminology in English and Latin.

The Dynamic Horse describes the principles underlying the science of biomechanics, then illustrates how these principles apply to horsemanship and equine locomotion using examples that will be familiar to anyone accustomed to working around horses. Through knowledge of biomechanics, the reader will develop a better understanding of how horses move and perform. The Dynamic Horse addresses key concepts including tempo, rhythm, balance, characteristics of different gaits, speed and economy of movement, and jumping mechanics.Written with Dr. Clayton's characteristic clarity, The Dynamic Horse is an excellent companion for her popular text Conditioning Sport Horses.

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.

Because of the great demand for the book: "The Rider Forms the Horse", which was first published in 1939, and the ongoing topicality of this topic, Xenophon Press decided to reissue this unique work. In this book, the authors Udo Bürger and Otto Zietzschmann describe the requirements for successful training and ultimately for a long and healthy life as a riding horse in a very understandable and clear way. The authors explain physiological findings as the basis for riding lessons and explain important clues for training the horse and recognizing and resolving training problems. This is confirmed by the team Olympic champion and former national trainer of dressage riders Klaus Strahlhol: Countless top horses disappear into obscurity due to improper training, never to be seen again, while other difficult and rather averagely gifted horses are transformed into top horses with good trainers. What is needed is an understanding of the connections between muscle activity and the skeleton in the interaction during the various training phases and lessons, regardless of which branch of riding you choose. Target group: For all responsible riders and trainers who are involved in the training of horses as well as for tournament judges and equine veterinarians

The authors, a world leader in equine anatomy and imaging and a horse physiotherapist of international repute, provide a unique blend of basic biomechanics and practical physical therapeutic techniques, to relieve pain and improve performance, particularly in the sporting horse. This subtle and original book will be of interest to all those involved in equine welfare including veterinary practitioners, veterinary students, therapists, horse owners, riders, and trainers.

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.