Riding/training books that influenced you the most

[thehorsedream]

Hi all! All of us love to read horse stories and horse training books. I always read reviews if I can before buying the books to try and get an idea as to if they will help me or not. But what I’d love to hear is something slightly different.

What book had the most impact on your riding or training? This can be several books that were the most important at various points in your riding experience.

I’ll start off with saying that the current book I’m reading, Jane Savoie’s Dressage 101, has really changed how I look at my cues and balance while riding. I’ve never had the cues for each movement broken down in this way. It makes me slightly envious that I didn’t start off with a classical training as I can see how having this knowledge earlier on would have changed how I ride. Better late than never for learning though!

Which ones are yours? Please make sure to put the name of the book or as much of the name as you can remember and author if their name isn’t in the title.

[skippy77]

Definitely Hunt Seat Equitation by George Morris. I wish they would make a kindle version of it.

[Jackie_Cochran]

“Common Sense Horsemanship” by Vladimir Littauer. This book got me into the Forward Seat, which I am still riding decades later even though, since I have MS, I no longer jump or gallop.

“The Way to Perfect Horsemanship” by Udo Burger. This book finally explained to me how effective aids are timed to the horse’s stride.

[pony_baloney]

Mary Wanless’s Masterclass book. Not sure if it’s in print anymore but it explains the biomechanics of riding in a way I understand.

[scruffy_the_cat]

Museler’s Riding Logic

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=scruffy the cat;8487291]
Museler’s Riding Logic[/QUOTE]

That was our riding Bible in Europe half a century ago, the one book we were tested by to get our riding instructor certificate.

[fordtraktor]

Hunter Seat Equitation
Steinkraus’ Reflections on Riding and Jumping
Jim Wofford’s book about riding and Jumping XC

I have read a lot but I go back to these over and over on my nightstand.

[hoopoe]

Jane Marshall Dillons “School For Young Riders.”

i wanted to to be Kit ( inner city kid, here) and was so disappointed , when I got to adulthood , to find the crest release was the be all and end all.

[JoZ]

As a child – The Complete Book of Horses and Ponies by Margaret Cabell Self
As a dreaming teen – Riding and Jumping by Bill Steinkraus and My Horses, My Teachers by Alois Podhajsky
As an older adult – Centered Riding by Sally Swift

[Draftygirl]

The Art of Horsemanship by Xenophon. I have a ton of instructional books but this is the one I’ve read from cover to cover and it only took an hour or so out of my life. It’s amazing how such an old volume holds up to this day. I really love the part about when to use what bit.

[OTTB2]

I am a HJ but by far,
The Faraway Horse by Buck. Before you can try to train the horse you need to understand what the horse thinks. When we get new lesson kids at our barn the “homework” we give them is to watch the movie Buck.

[Janet]

“Give Your Horse a Chance” be d’Endrody.

“Effective Horsemanship” by Noel Jackson.

[rockymouse]

Bill Dorrance’s “True Horsemanship through Feel.”

[Noviento]

Saddle Seat Equitation by Helen Crabtree.

[sid]

Basic Training of the Young Horse by Klimke
Centered Riding by Sally Swift
Round Pen Reasoning by John Lyons
Tom Dorrance’s book (forgot the name) I’m old and it’s long gone. :lol:

[Magicboy]

Sally swift and Mary Wanless. Books and website and videos

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

In addition to Sally Swift, Mary Wanless, and the Dorrance brothers:

The Compassionate Equestrian by Allen Schoen and Susan Gordon; and
Riding with Life by Melanie Smith Taylor.

Oh! And It’s Not Just About the Ribbons by Jane Savoie.

[pluvinel]

The 3 early books by Mark Rashid…(the ones in paperback)

1. Considering the Horse: Tales of Problems Solved and Lessons Learned
2. Horses Never Lie
3. A Good Horse is Never a Bad Color

[Salty]

Another vote for Give Your Horse a Chance. I’ll never live long enough to learn everything that’s in that book.

[Garythesquirrel]

John Richard Young - Schooling for Young Riders

British Horse Society - Manual of Horsemanship