The Handbook of Riding Essentials

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Resource for all Riders
Review: "The Handbook of Riding Essentials" is a wonderful resource for all riders of all disciplines. Written and diagramed in a clear and concise format, the author covers the correct use of the hands, seat and legs and then progresses to each individual movement. The diagrams are very clear and depict the use of the natural aids for each movement. All aspects of each movement are clearly covered and very helpful. For example, in the chapter entitled: "The Natural Aids for the Haunches-In" he expertly covers; Goals of the Exercise; Rider's Aids; Why Does the Rider Use the Natural Aids; How Does the Rider Initiate Haunches-In; How Does the Rider Teach Haunches-In; Mistakes to Avoid and Helpful suggestions. As a rider this book has helped me to better understand, teach my horse and execute each movement. This is a reference book for all levels of all riders and should be in every riders' library.

Rating:
Summary: Great basic book
Review: I liked this book so well, I read it twice. The illustrations are extremely helpful for the novice rider. The book takes you step by step through the basics all the way through advanced manuvers. It was easy reading with understandable explanations. Take the book to the arena with you for a quick guide for excersises and reminders. I can't say enough good things about this book.

Rating:
Summary: Book doesn't meet my needs
Review: I'm having a hard time finding a book to supplement riding lessons, and this just wasn't it for me. I found the diagrams somewhat difficult to understand; if anything, they seem to make the actions they're trying to explain more complicated than they are.

Example: "Right hand: Active, rotates at the wrist, fingernails facing up; acts slightly to the left in front of the withers. Left hand: Passive, goes forward and down to yield, to allow, and then to regulate the action of the right hand" - it goes on like this to describe what the rider's right leg is supposed to do, and the left, and the seat, then gives the horse response broken down by nose, head, neck, shoulders, and haunches.

All this is to describe the "Indirect Rein of Opposition in Front of the Withers". There are no photos, just stick diagrams w/lots of arrows and dotted lines. I'd recommend looking at this book in a bookstore or library before purchasing it.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect for ALL Levels!
Review: OK: Out of everything that you may have looked at, buy this book! You will definitely not regret it. This book breaks riding down into beginning, intermediate, and advanced; all in different bulleted sections on the same page. That way you can read any level description and actually see where it's going. I especially like the hand-drawn pictures on every page which are clear and concise. Not only does he tell you what to do, but the pictures show you how to do it: exact positions of hands and legs are drawn on every page! The entire book is presented in a logical manner and is very easy to follow. The author knows exactly what he's talking about and is sure to help you too!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Resource for all Riders
Review: This book is written so the beginner can understand it. Has beautiful illustrations on seat,leg, and hand positions. It also tells you what your horse should be doing after you apply the aids. Very helpful book.