How Your Horse Wants You to Ride

Gincy Self Bucklin

Description

Learn to ride correctly, safely, and confidently

In this breakthrough guide, renowned riding expert Gincy Self Bucklin offers adult riders a unique, proven method for developing a good physical, mental, and emotional relationship with a horse. Whether you're a beginner, a more experienced rider looking to enhance your skills, or someone who used to ride but is reluctant to try again, Bucklin's step-by-step exercises-slowly and carefully practiced first on the ground and then on your horse-will have you riding with confidence and without fear. You'll build a safe and caring partnership with your horse as you:
* Understand how your actions affect your horse
* Improve your form, release tensions, and find balance
* Communicate with your horse to gain his trust
* Stay in charge without being controlling
* Observe your horse's responses and learn from them
* Increase your horse's comfort-both physically and psychologically


"If you' ve ever said to yourself, 'Why can' t I . . . ?,' you' ll find the answer here to why you can' t, and exactly how to solve the problem. Whatever your level, you'll gain greater understanding and become a better rider and horseman from reading this book."
-George H. Morris, internationally renowned clinician, USEF Show Jumping vice-president, ARIA master instructor, and member of the U. S. Equestrian Federation Board of Directors

"How Your Horse Wants You To Ride is chock full of innovative and practical tools presented in a thoroughly entertaining style. A delightful read for riders at all levels!"
-Jane Savoie, olympic alternate and author of That Winning Feeling!, Cross Train Your Horse, More Cross Training, and It's Not Just About the Ribbons
Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

How It All Began
30 Years of Revelations.

PART I: Getting Started or Starting Over
Success Is Easier Than You Think.

1. Looking into Your Future
A Confident Rider on a Confident Horse.

2. Building the Foundation
The Seven Steps, Part One.

3. Meeting and Greeting
Good First Impressions Create a Positive Relationship.

4. Grooming, Tack, and Tacking
Talking to Your Horse in Different Ways.

5. Leading
Be in Charge without Being Controlling.

6. Mounting and Dismounting
Riding Confidence Starts Here.

PART II: Riding without Fear
Bareback or without Stirrups.

7. Sitting on the Horse
The Seven Steps, Part Two.

8. Communicating Considerately
The Stick, the Seat, the Center, the Weight, and the Eyes.

9. Free at Last!
Riding without Reins, Sitting the Trot without Stirrups.

10. Handling the Reins
Goofproof Your Moves.

PART III: Riding without Fear
Back in the Saddle and Using the Stirrups.

11. Settling into the Saddle
Adjust to the Difference.

12. Solving the Stirrup Problem
The Seven Seats, Part One: Full Seat.

13. Solving the Balance Problem
The Seven Seats, Part Two: Half Seat.

14. Posting the Trot
Perfection Is Perfectly Possible.

15. Cantering Basics
Just in Case.

PART IV: Helping Your Horse Do What You Want
The Leg and Rein Aids.

16. Using Your Legs
No Strength Required!

17. Understanding the Rein Connection
Use Your Hands Effectively.

18. Overcoming Rein Resistance
Simple Hand and Rein Effects That Work.

19. Putting the Aids to Work
Go, Turn, Stop, and Back.

Conclusion
Build Self-Confidence in Yourself and Your Horse

Be the Perfect Student.

APPENDICES.

Appendix A: Making and Fitting a Neck Strap.

Appendix B: Plateaus
Charting Your Progress.

Appendix C: The Flowchart
Where Can You Go from Here?

Appendix D: Resources.

Index.

Sujets

• Animal Sports
• horses
• Sports
• Starting Over
• Equestrian
• Recreation
• Merci d'avoir été ma femme
• Sport équestre
• Sports équestres
• Sports équestres
• Sports équestres

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 21 avril 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780470326695
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

HOW YOUR HORSE WANTS YOU TO RIDE

Also by Gincy Self Bucklin:
What Your Horse Wants You to Know: What Horses Bad Behavior Means, and How to Correct It
HOW YOUR HORSE WANTS YOU TO RIDE
Starting Out Starting Over
GINCY SELF BUCKLIN
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Copyright 2004 by Gincy Bucklin. All rights reserved.
Howell Book House
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, NJ
Published simultaneously in Canada
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone], or on the web at www.copyright.com . Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, [phone], fax [phone], e-mail: [e-mail].
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and the author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
For general information about our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the United States at [phone], outside the United States at [phone] or fax [phone].
Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. For more information about Wiley products, visit our web site at www.wiley.com .
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available from the publisher upon request.
ISBN: 0-7645-7099-4
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To Harris Howard Bucklin Jr., finest of horsemen and best of husbands, this book is lovingly dedicated.

There is only one kind of mistake, that is, the fundamental mistake. Regardless of how advanced the exercise, if the performance is defective, one can directly trace that fault to a lack in the fundamental training of either the horse or the rider.
-Erik Herbermann
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Introduction
How It All Began
30 Years of Revelations
PART I Getting Started or Starting Over
Success Is Easier Than You Think
1 Looking into Your Future
A Confident Rider on a Confident Horse
2 Building the Foundation
The Seven Steps, Part One
3 Meeting and Greeting
Good First Impressions Create a Positive Relationship
4 Grooming, Tack, and Tacking
Talking to Your Horse in Different Ways
5 Leading
Be in Charge without Being Controlling
6 Mounting and Dismounting
Riding Confidence Starts Here
PART II Riding without Fear
Bareback or without Stirrups
7 Sitting on the Horse
The Seven Steps, Part Two
8 Communicating Considerately
The Stick, the Seat, the Center, the Weight, and the Eyes
9 Free at Last!
Riding without Reins, Sitting the Trot without Stirrups
10 Handling the Reins
Goofproof Your Moves
PART III Riding without Fear
Back in the Saddle and Using the Stirrups
11 Settling into the Saddle
Adjust to the Difference
12 Solving the Stirrup Problem
The Seven Seats, Part One: Full Seat
13 Solving the Balance Problem
The Seven Seats, Part Two: Half Seat
14 Posting the Trot
Perfection Is Perfectly Possible
15 Cantering Basics
Just in Case
PART IV Helping Your Horse Do What You Want
The Leg and Rein Aids
16 Using Your Legs
No Strength Required!
17 Understanding the Rein Connection
Use Your Hands Effectively
18 Overcoming Rein Resistance
Simple Hand and Rein Effects That Work
19 Putting the Aids to Work
Go, Turn, Stop, and Back
Conclusion Build Self-Confidence in Yourself and Your Horse
Be the Perfect Student
APPENDICES
Appendix A Making and Fitting a Neck Strap
Appendix B Plateaus
Charting Your Progress
Appendix C The Flowchart
Where Can You Go from Here?
Appendix D Resources
Index
Acknowledgments
This book represents a lifetime of help from my teachers, my students and my horses, but it owes its existence as a manuscript to Brigit van Loggem, who encouraged me to write it and helped me through the early years of its creation. It owes its existence as an actual published book to my agent, Pat Snell, who made me write and rewrite the proposal more times than either of us wants to remember, and to my daughter, Karen Hayes, who encouraged and nagged as needed to keep me going. My editor, Beth Adelman, has been invaluable in supporting me when I get discouraged, helping me work to deadline and answering all my questions about the publishing business. My thanks also especially to George Morris and Jane Savoie for taking the time during their busy Florida season to write the kind remarks on the back of this book. And finally, I want to thank again the members and contributors to my Riding With Confidence e-group, who constantly challenge me on the one hand, and on the other, bring new thoughts and concepts to me every day.
And thank you to publisher J. A. Allen Co., Ltd., and Mr. Herbermann himself, for allowing me to include the quote on page vi from Erik Herbermann s 1999 book Dressage Formula, Third Edition.

Photo acknowledgments: For their generous contributions of time and their patience, I am most grateful to the following:
Photographers: Terri Miller for the cover; Ron Whittemore, to whom special thanks are due for the many hours he spent in ice-cold indoor arenas in New England in February; also Josh Sprague, Karen Hayes, Douglas Murray and Paul Coupland.
Models, Humans: Kelly Shine and Liz Anderson (cover), Peg Megan, Douglas Murray, Katy Murray, Heather Holloway, Jackey Davies. Equine (and their owners): Fox Robin and Honey (cover), Sammy and Edie Johnson, Prince William (Wills) and Maggie Clarke, Colette Star and Judy Truesdale, Miss Kitty Coker and Kathy Bowser.
Locations: Clouds Hill Farm, Cherry Croft Farm, Glen Farm, Castlefield Farm.
Introduction
How It All Began
30 Years of Revelations
When my husband and I retired from actively running a large stable and riding program, I naturally had time on my hands. I started exploring the Internet and stumbled across the horsey newsgroups. Eventually I found my way to the Horseman Off-Topic group, and discovered the joys of talking to like-minded fellow horse people all over the world. With my extensive experience as a professional, I could often help others with problem solving. When Brigit, one of my correspondents from the Netherlands and an editor by trade, suggested I should write a book, I agreed to try. As a result of her invaluable assistance and constant nagging-over a period of several years, this book was written.
Why did I accept her challenge? Why does any one write a book? Because they have something to say that they think is important, and they want the message to reach a large group of people. Also, it must be a message that is too complex to be transmitted in a few words, or even pictures. My message is twofold: I believe anyone who really wants to can ride well, I think people who love horses should have the pleasure of enjoying riding them, and, most important of all, I think the horses should enjoy it too. This book starts you on the way to accomplishing those goals.
The next question might be, what qualifies me to make that statement? As the daughter of Margaret Cabell Self, a well-known instructor and author of horse books, I grew up with a solid background in teaching, which, as of this writing, I have been doing for nearly 60 years. Growing up in an area with many top show stables and Olympic riders also exposed me to the best there was in riding. For many years I followed the traditional methods of how to teach riding.
Then, about 30 years ago, I was teaching in Connecticut at a moderate-sized stable, one that I also comanaged. We had the usual mix of students and schedules, but it happened that I had two classes, back to back, of teenagers in the 14- to 16-year range. The first class, a group of advanced beginners riding less than a year, were walking, trotting and learning basic control. The second, my most advanced group, had been riding six years or more and were showing over fences and training their own horses.
For weeks I taught the two lessons, one right after the other. Then one day I suddenly realized that I was repeating myself! Even though each group was training at a completely different level, I was giving the advanced riders the same corrections as the beginners. That is, there were basic skills they had started working on when they were beginners that they still hadn t mastered! I would find myself saying, Look up, Get your weight back, or Heels down, just as often to the advanced class as I did to the beginners.
I pondered this for some time, then came to the conclusion that I hadn t spent enough time making sure the beginners had mastered each skill before I moved them on to the next. This meant that when they tried to learn a new skill, they would lose some of the old one, since they couldn t think about both at the s