All you need to know to produce a beautifully turned out pony and rider, able to give their best in the ring and catch the judge's eye!Contents include: •Classes and criteria•Buying your pony•Conformation•Basic training•Jumping•Grooming and turn out•Management of the hunter pony•Tack and clothing•Show day•Judges, judging and marking•Class procedure and ringcraft•The working hunter pony course

If you have ever wondered what your horse or pony talks about when you are not around, and you know your Appaloosa from your Andalusian, then this book is for you! Over 100 hilarious cartoons featuring horses and ponies with their views on everything from rugs to hay bags, grooming to jumping and lots more. All straight from the horse’s mouth!This superbly funny paperback was developed from looking at the equestrian world from the view point of the horses and ponies – they stand upright and they talk freely whilst their human counterparts are not about. Cartoons from the Horse’s Mouth is the result of what happens when perfectly good equine science and experience is interpreted by a cartoonist with a great sense of humour.Paperback

A fun, horse themed joke book.

A bumper book of crossword puzzles, word searches, cryptic quotes and equestrian trivia.

A colourful diary type notebook in which to keep details about your pony and what makes him so special. There are fun filled questions with boxes to tick and pages on which to sitck photos or keepsakes. Record all you competition entries at shows, write about your lessons and training. Pages for important addresses and contact details. This book will build into a personal profile of your own special pony.

Describes everything from how to clean a saddle to what to do when a horse bolts. Great photography, detailed illustrations and clear text combine to provide an inspirational guide. Hardback.

A Breakthrough Interactive Method for Alleviating Soreness, Strain and Tension by Jim Masterton. Developed to improve performance in equine athletes competing in high-demand environments--from show jumping, harness racing, and endurance to reining and barrel racing, this interactive touch method of equine message teaches any horse owner to recognize and use the responses of the horse to find and release accumulated tensions. Intuitive and interactive, this unique method enables the horse to actively participate in relieving strained muscles. With direction on where to begin on the horse's physique, step-by-step instruction for employing various techniques included in the method, and detailed coaching for different breeds and disciplines, this guide offers a unique opportunity to connect horse and rider resulting in superior health and performance. Hardback, 256 pages. Publication Date: 30th November 2011.

As true horse people know, while technique and knowledge are essential for good horsemanship, how you feel about yourself is the missing link to the greatest results. Using the proven techniques in this book you will learn how to: resolve your fears when dealing with horses; be the confident person your horse needs you to be; be your own best friend as well as your horse's; stop making excuses. Paperback.

Horse sense for people demonstrates how trust, respect and communication are the keys to fruitful relationships.This book applies a lifetime of lessons that Monty has learned from horses to the way we relate to each other in the workplace and at home.

With the popularity of the cob rising year by year, it's time to extol the virtues of this humble hero of the horse world. Cobs Can! is an instructional training book specifically geared to cob riders who want to improve their flatwork and jumping. Using kind and gentle training methods that work with (not against) the typical cob's nature and build, Omar Rabia shows that it's perfectly possible to train these wonderful creatures to advanced levels. The book includes lateral work in walk, trot and canter, as well as piaffe, passage and Spanish walk. There are tips on jumping and exercises to improve technique. Most of all the book is a celebration of achievement, of what's possible when the versatile cob and a thoughtful rider combine their efforts - proving that cobs really can!

This book discusses ground-pole training for all disciplines and shows how you can make the most of precious schooling time. It provides quick and easy pole layouts, using just a handful of poles. Different exercises are given for each pole layout, so there is no need to move the poles during a session. Exercises range from the simple to the more intricate, with the inclusion of more transitions, lateral work, raised poles/cavalletti, or riding in a different gait. Claire Lilley explains how these pole exercises can help you to ride with precision and improve your horse's way of going, adhering to the scales of training. You can also use the different layouts to check whether you are sitting straight, turning correctly, and executing riding transitions and lateral movements properly. She lists common rider faults for each exercise to help riders self-correct if schooling alone. As an experienced trainer herself, Claire knows that this book will prove an invaluable resource for riding instructors, providing a veritable cookbook of ideas for lesson plans. Poles are a great teaching tool, adding variety to every lesson and helping the teacher to explain lessons to the pupil. Teacher's tips are given for each exercise. Claire says: Try the exercises for yourself and I'm sure you will be amazed at the improvements that can be made both in your riding technique and in your horse's way of going. You will never be bored with schooling again! Colour drawings throughout. 216 pages. Paperback.

Understanding and solving riding, handling and behavioural problems by Sarah Fisher and Karen Bush. The Difficult Horse provides many insights as to why a horse may develop unwanted behaviours. 'Problem' behaviour is usually more of a problem for the handler than the horse, which is likely to have established patterns of behaviour as a way of helping himself feel safe in situations he finds mentally and/or physically stressful. As well as explaining the reasons for a horse's reactive and sometimes dangerous responses, this book suggests a number of practical exercises that can help to address a wide range of commonly encountered issues. Even if you consider your horse to be problem-free, these exercises will still be invaluable in helping you and your horse to develop a closer, more pleasurable and successful relationship. Topics covered include: The causes of stress.Lifestyle and stress management. Reading a horse's 'body language'. Addressing phobias. Uses of TTouch and NLP. Paperback, 176 pages with 120 colour photographs. Published 19/10/2012.

This Guide describes the Preliminary Teaching Test, the first teaching assessment in the British Horse Society Stage Examinations. All sections of the syllabus – the Theory, the Group Lesson, the Lecturette, the Lunge and Lead Rein lessons, are explained comprehensively. This includes the preparation, study, practice and the format followed on the Test Day, so that each candidate can enter the Test with confidence in their own ability.The book also gives background information on the qualities and skills required by an instructor. From teaching group lessons, beginners to novices, flatwork and jumping, to teaching lunge lessons and children’s classes. It explains in clear and concise language the points the instructor needs to assess in each rider; how to correct common faults and problems.This book is therefore vital for all those working towards their Preliminary Teaching Test, those preparing to start their teaching career and for anyone who wishes to learn about teaching, equitation, horse management and the basic organisation of an equestrian centre. Written in the same ‘reader friendly’ style as the other books in the series, this book is designed to be enjoyable and interesting as well as being fully informative.Students and instructors can increase their teaching techniques; achieve new levels of performance through realising and fulfilling their own potential and abilities. By explaining the essential qualities of observation, perception and the skill of communication, so vital to teaching this Guide creates confidence, so that readers can empower and teach their pupils with enthusiasm, creativity and enjoyment. Teaching is a skill; this book offers the foundation from which you can learn, understand and create this skill for yourself.Hazel Reed is a BHS Assistant Instructor (Reg’d). Through the years Hazel has worked at various Equestrian Establishments and has competed in dressage and cross-country events.

Richard Maxwell highlights the importance of the relationship between human and equine body language and shows the handler how to use it to build a successful and trusting partnership with his horse. Paperback.

Kelly Marks achieves spectacular results with an enormous variety of different horses. She knows that if you want a horse to have ’Perfect Manners’, it’s your responsibility to make it clear what you want – it’s not up to the horse to guess. The secret of success is to communicate with horses in their own language, establishing a relationship of empathy and trust. This book shows how to reach that perfect mutual understanding with your horse – and how to behave yourself in a way that means your horse will too.-Includes exercises you can do with your horse to help avoid problems developing -Teaches valuable techniques, such as ground tying and head lowering, to make everyday handling much more pleasurable.-Looks at ways of dealing with many common problems, such as catching, clipping, loading a horse into a trailer, and preparing a horse for the vet.-Gives many practical examples, illustrated with photographs, along with case studies of horses and people that Kelly and her students have helped.Throughout the book , Kelly’s enthusiasm, humane attitude and unequalled expertise shine out, making this a lively, practical read and essential reference for every horse owner.Kelly Marks is a former European Champion Jockey and show jumper. Since being discovered by the world famous ‘Horse Whisperer’ Monty Roberts, she has made helping horses and people understand one another her full-time occupation. She is the originator of the Monty Roberts Educational Courses worldwide and the founder of ‘Intelligent Horsemanship’, an organisation dedicated to promoting the understanding and fair treatment of horses. Kelly travels around the world demonstrating her methods and is also the popular equine problem-solver featured on the prime-time BBC TV programme Barking Mad.

The successful bond between horse and rider is the basis for all work together. In this book Kelly Marks shows the reader how to create a happy and productive partnership.Kelly describes the process known as ‘join up’, explains how body language affects the horse and the common mistakes to avoid. She also uses her interest in human psychology to look at the dark side of human treatment of horses and gives advice on stress relief and controlling anger.Kelly Marks is a former European champion lady jockey and show jumper who started working with Monty Roberts in 1993. She is the founder of Intelligent Horsemanship – an organization committed to promoting the understanding and fair treatment of horses. Monty Roberts says of her work, ‘I could not recommend a better teacher of my methods anywhere in the world than Kelly Marks

Karin Blignault has combined theory and experimentation to develop a system of training (and teaching) that is straightforward, fast and brings real results. The methods described in this book teach riders to achieve rhythm, balance, suppleness and the round flexor frame in their horses - and quickly. Most riding books, including those by classical masters, focus on 'what to do' rather than 'how to do'. This book is different. For example, Karin explains how you can apply your body in riding, rather than focusing primarily on your body position, and thus your riding position automatically becomes correct. She believes that riders should learn to control the whole horse as soon as possible and uses four exercises to teach riders control of the horse's head, his shoulders, his ribcage and his hindquarters. The results are immediate. These exercises are the building blocks of the shoulder-in and the half halt, which are the cornerstones of balanced riding. They are used to improve every movement in dressage and jumping.Author Biography:Four Steps to Riding Success is the last of Karin Blignault's trilogy on training horses and riders. Successful Schooling teaches the rider how to train the horse, Equine Biomechanics for Riders explains how the horse's body works, which knowledge enables us to school him logically and Four Steps to Riding Success teaches feel and the body use needed for clear communication with the horse. She lives in Cape Town and is in great as a trainer at home and abroad.

This latest edition of Lungeing and Long-Reining is a step-by-step guide to training, exercising and suppling horses from the ground, written by Britain's leading exponent of the art. Published in association with the British Horse Society this book begins with advice on handling untrained youngsters and works through a logical training progression, culminating in advanced dressage movements. Straightforward guidance is given on: training foals and young horses, lungeing equipment and technique, introducing long-reins and early lateral work, backing and riding young horses, lungeing over poles and fences, piaffe and passage and more. Illustrated with specially commissioned sequence photographs, this book will prove particularly valuable in the early training of young horses, as well as in improving or retraining older horses, and refining dressage movements in advance horses.

I am often asked: ‘How do you improve the horse’s understanding of what the rider wants?’ In this book I want to concentrate more on this and how by being focused in your training and more structured in your planning you can overcome many of the typical jumping problems that are experienced both at home and at competitions. No matter how slowly the training may go, do not be too greedy and ask for too much in one go. Some horses might pick up things within a few minutes whilst others might take weeks to get to the same stage. Paperback, 50pages. Fully Illustrated. 24.5x18.5cm.

Top Showing competitor, trainer and judge Katie is one of the best known, most successful and sought-after names in the business - and in this book, she shares her winning skills and techniques. Covering everything from finding the right horse or pony to schooling and management methods, it's a mine of information for every rider, at any level. Katie's approach ensures a happy, healthy and confident horse and an equally happy and confident rider, and her wide-ranging equestrian background gives her a unique perspective and depth of understanding. Whether you are: starting from scratch with a young horse, want to make the breakthrough to the big time or even need to solve a problem, Katie has the answers.