Getting the Most from Riding Lessons

This book is excellent. I am a new rider and the material provided in this book is outstanding. My instructors teach me the same but not as much in-depth. Personally, I prefer preparing and knowing what to expect vs starting and having no clue- simply because I’d like to keep all my limbs (and head) where they belong-. The author went above and beyond in preparing the new rider for all kinds of possible scenarios and I am grateful. He even provides checklists of what one should master at a certain stage. Smith continues to stress the fact that horses are living creatures with a mind of their own and he does a great job explaining their motivations (why they do certain things and what to do about it). The previous reviewers were absolutely right: this book is outstanding. I added the table of contents so you have an idea what is covered and whether the book is for you. I‘m very glad I bought it.

I have recently started taking riding lessons (English) and I find this book to be really helpful. I don't have a lot of experience with horses beyond trail riding (Western), so I have a lot to learn about riding. I am lucky to have a fabulous instructor, and I was looking for a book to supplement my lessons and give me a little more background.The book is very specific and focuses on what you can expect to learn during your lessons. Each chapter focuses on skills that will probably take you multiple lessons to master. The book starts from the beginning, leading your horse out of the stall, and ends with an introduction to cross country jumping. I think the organization is great and will help me to understand how I am progressing.Each lesson begins with an introduction to a school horse which I find fascinating and helps me to appreciate the school horses that I ride at the barn. There are lots of relevant boxes with additional information about horses such as what to wear, tips, and horse trivia. Again for someone that hasn't spent a lot of time at a barn, I found these to be very informative. Finally, each chapter ends with a short checklist of skills that you should have at the end of the lesson.This book is over 15 years old but I can't imagine a better, more thorough book, to complement my riding lessons.

I have learned more truly useful information from just the first five pages than I did from all my riding lessons as a child!This book has given me the confidence I was seeking to begin lessons again as an adult. I really do feel better prepared to advance quickly due to the wealth of info presented.The book is well-written and easy-to-understand, but at the same time it provides interesting, in-depth, helpful information - things many teachers and students might not consider, but which are vitally important to a sound rider-horse relationship.A *great* complement to lessons - and probably enough information to learn on your own if you so desired. It will help you to ask good questions of your instructor, and to think for yourself about what methods are right for you and your horse. A great reminder for those comments your instructor makes which you don't think about until after you're back home again (because you're too tired in the saddle to focus!)The horse profiles are great. :-) The author's sense of humor is refreshing. His writing style makes you want to keep turning the pages, but you'll want to take things slowly to absorb all the great theory a little at a time. Good illustrations and pictures.Well worth the cost! Should be in every riding student's library, whether that rider is a child or an adult, novice or experienced equestrian. There's something to learn from this, no matter what level you're at. Can't say enough good things about it.

I am an adult getting back into riding after 20+ years. I bought this as an adjunct to my lessons since I've forgotten a lot and wanted to get the most out of the lessons. There are a few things I really like about this book, but the best is that he gives a full description of the aids for each gait/movement, then gives you a "troubleshooting" guide, then finishes with a bullet-point summary. It is this feature that makes it a good book for true beginners as well as more advanced riders who have "just forgotten" stuff. Another all around good point is his exercises for riders--little Asides in the text, then an appendix with details. Finally, an interesting and helpful (particularly in managing expectations)for beginners are his "case studies" of schooling horses. I swear I've gotten most of them over the years! But for someone just starting out, I think it is helpful to get an idea of some horsenalities you may be meeting. I think this book would be helpful to any beginner just staring lessons (regardless of style) and anyone who needs to refresh their memories. I also liked his neutral tone.

As an adult beginner and an engineer, who is trying to "engineer" my way to being a better rider, I have accumulated a LARGE number of books on riding in a short amount of time. I found this one to be one of the more helpful ones, and NOT contradictory to anything my teacher is showing me in my lessons.I got a used copy in GREAT condition for a ridiculously low price, which helped in my decision to purchase this. While I was wishing there was a kindle version, I'm also learning that with riding books, that may contain illustrations, etc. the hardcopy is better (for me, anyway.)

This book is great for a novice rider; it gives a guideline on what to expect in your riding lessons and why you are being taught particular types of exercise. But not only that, it outlines in a direct, easy to understand format, what you should expect your trainer to be teaching you. I found it very useful.

Good for people who have ridden, don't own a horse and want to get back into riding. It is a great refresher book for aids and seat. Basic, but sensitively written with horse and rider in mind.

Very useful and clear intro. Particularly loved the "your horse today" - great way to start to make a new rider think of the horse as a character not a machine!

I would certainly recommend this book to anyone new to riding.It,s easy to read, very uncomplicated ,covers even the most basic needs. I have found it extemely helpful. In fact I love it. I enjoy my lessons even more now.

This book is very practical with lots of photographs and diagrams, exercises to strengthen the muscles you never knew you had and a useful summary of the 'aids' used to communicate with horses when riding