Recommendations for books etc...

[bex1984]

I really need to do something about my terrible riding, and I'd also like to be able to educate my pony a bit, as he has no schooling whatsoever. I have a lesson booked for Thursday, so that's a start...I'm just starting to do a teeny tiny bit of jumping, but I can be a very nervous rider, and that holds me back I think.

I'm wondering if you guys have any recommendations for good books, dvds etc to help me improve? I'm a novice rider so they need to be fairly straight forward.

Thanksies!

 

[browbrow]

Pony Club DVDs - I have some of the old Lloyds TSB Pony CLub Videos and they are ace!!!

BUT - dont forget

AN OUNCE OF PRACTICE IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY xx

 

[bex1984]

I know...I just don't know what I'm supposed to be practicing!

 

[Bounty]

Sylvia Loch's Invisible Riding is a good basic handbook for dealing with your riding and basic movements.
If you want a more in-depth book about schooling your horse than I'd suggest Dressage in Lightness, also by Sylvia Loch. Although it's quite a 'deep' book it's very well explained and not at all technical. It's a sort of 'how to' schooling book, but with the theory behind it as well

 

[browbrow]

Stop getting in such a tis about it !! Wait till your lesson and speak to the instructor! I bet you arent as bad as what you think - and anyway - will you be riding in the olympics on your cob?

It doesnt matter as long as you stay safe and make sure your pony is happy

By the way you mentioned that your pony has fast trot in your last post - so does mine - shall we have a race?

 

[SouthWestWhippet]

I really love Carl Hester's Down to Earth dressage because it is really short (!) and also has lots of pictures and annecdotes about his horses (as well as actual advice LOL)

Anyway, I bet you aren't anywhere near as bad as you think you are. the worst riders are usually the one that think they CAN ride in my experience!

 

[jumpthemoon]

[ QUOTE ]
It doesnt matter as long as you stay safe and make sure your pony is happy

[/ QUOTE ]

Well said! Have some fun Bex and don't get too worked up about it! He enjoys himself just bombing round the school

It's great to learn new things and improve and your lesson will help you do this, but don't panic about it! Besides, you aren't that bad! I don't know where you've got the idea from that you are a terrible rider - cos it's not true!

ps. I'll have a dig around tonight and see if I've got anything that you could borrow (I've only got a hundred or so horse books, so I'll struggle!)

 

[bex1984]

Thanks, I think I'm just a bit frustrated with myself at the moment because I'm not feeling brave enough to hack out much for some reason, and I want to learn some new things so that ponio doesn't get bored in the school.

A trotting race would be fun, I think mine would win....although, if the rider is required to stay elegant and not bounce around squealing we may lose...

 

[bex1984]

I've been looking at too many photos of me riding very badly!

 

[browbrow]

Ah - whatever the chicken drumstick would kick your Fells Ass !! Firey Welsh all the way!!! Dude I can trot her bareback so if its elegant you loose!!

Who gives a toss about photos? That moment is milisecond in time - you cant tell how you ride from still shot my old china!!

Lets start a pole - who would win a trotting race ? FELL Vs WELSH!! xxxx

BRING IT ON!!!

 

[jumpthemoon]

[ QUOTE ]
I've been looking at too many photos of me riding very badly!

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sure they can't be that bad! I'm always pulling my riding apart when I look at photos, so don't think it will get easier - I bet even the top riders look at pics of theselves and think 'ooh I did that wrong' or 'OMG I look soooo rubbish'!

 

[bex1984]

I shall try to calm down a bit and stop worrying then....

...but would still like to read some books to learn more!

 

[Murphy3]

Have been using Claire Lilley's "Schooling with Ground Poles" a lot - its full of good ideas that make schooling a bit more creative and fun using poles in different ways. I went on a bit of a splurge with Amazon a few months ago when my instructor was away for two months - I spent my lesson money on books. I got Susan McBane's "100 Ways" books - there's a whole series of them including 100 Ways to Improve your Horse's Schooling - they are really well presented and easy to get ideas from. I also got a book by Tina Sederholm called "Unlock your Riding Talent" which has good exercises for riders to work on their own creaky bodies. The last one I got was Jaki Bells "30 minutes a day to a Better Horse". Now all I need to do is teach my neddie to read!

Problem now is every time I open my emails Amazon is suggesting even more interesting books and its just so easy to buy (until the credit card statement comes in!)