Horseback Riding For Dummies

Audrey Pavia is the former editor of Horse Illustrated magazine and an award-winning writer of numerous articles on equine subjects. The author of 10 books about horses, she has also contributed to Horse & Rider, American Farriers Journal, and many other animal magazines.

Introduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 2 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Horseback Riding Basics 5 Chapter 1: Giddy Up! Welcome to Horseback Riding 7 Discovering the Horses Mind and Body 8 Taking Riding Lessons 8 Getting into Riding Shape 9 Keeping Yourself Safe around Horses 10 Selecting the Right Riding Style and Gear 10 Riding High from the Start 11 Preparing on the ground 12 Mounting and dismounting 12 Getting a grip on gaits 12 Jumping 13 Adjusting to Advanced Riding 13 Stepping up your current riding routine 14 Buying your own horse 14 Looking after your horse 14 Enjoying Fun and Games on Horseback 15 Chapter 2: Head to Hoof: The Mind and Mechanics of a Horse 17 Understanding How Horses Think 18 Getting a grip on equine society 18 Interpreting equine expressions 18 Getting along with horses 20 Examining the Equine Body 22 The parts of a horse 22 The height of a horse 23 The buildup: Horse conformation 24 Stepping out: The gaits of a horse 24 Colors and markings 27 Sifting through Breed Differences 30 Realizing that breed may matter 30 Picking through popular breeds 30 Chapter 3: Schools in Session: Taking Riding Lessons 35 Finding the Best Stable for Your Needs 36 The initial search: Identifying stables in your area 36 Your major: Finding a school that offers your discipline 36 Campus visit: Evaluating stables with a sharp eye 37 Choosing an Instructor or Trainer 38 Deciding between a riding instructor and a horse trainer 39 Understanding what to look for in an instructor or trainer 39 When you strike out with stables: Seeking out a different teacher 40 Getting the Most from Your Lessons 41 Deciding between individual and group lessons 41 Setting up your lesson schedule 42 Working with your instructor or trainer 43 Chapter 4: Mind and Body: Conditioning Yourself for Riding 47 Understanding Why You Need to Condition Yourself 47 Getting into Riding Shape 48 Lightening the load: Shedding those extra pounds 48 Developing endurance with aerobic exercise 50 Building strength 50 Cross-training: Practicing yoga and Pilates for flexibility and strength 53 Stretching yourself: Increasing flexibility just before you mount 53 Preparing Your Mind 57 Knowing your role as the horses leader 57 Banishing your fear 58 Chapter 5: Safety First: Protecting Yourself around Horses 61 Dressing the Part with Safe Clothing 62 Covering your head 62 Slipping into the right shirt 64 Protecting your legs 64 These boots are made for riding: Donning the right footwear 65 Removing your jewelry 66 Keeping a Close Eye on Horses When Youre on the Ground 66 Being in close confines with a horse 66 Moving around a tied horse 67 Identifying dangerous horse moves 68 Staying Secure on a Horse 69 Checking your tack before you saddle up 69 Riding with others 70 Hitting the trail by yourself 71 Part 2: Getting Set with the Right Riding Style and Gear 73 Chapter 6: Off into the Sunset: Western Riding 75 Looking at the Nitty-Gritty of Western Riding 75 Uses 76 Tack and apparel 76 The horses 77 The ride 77 Checking Out Western Riding Activities 78 Hitting the trail 78 Horsing around at shows 78 Working with cattle 81 Chapter 7: Not Just for the Brits: English Riding 83 Examining the Basics of English Riding 83 Uses 84 Tack and apparel 84 The horses 85 Brushing Up on the Basic English Styles 86 Jumping in hunt seat and riding on the flat 86 Making moves in dressage 87 Chapter 8: Dressing Up Horses with Saddles 89 Going Over the Basic Makeup of a Saddle 90 The Heavy Hitters: Western Saddles 91 The pleasure saddle 92 The barrel racing saddle 93 The roping saddle 94 The trail saddle 95 On the Smaller Side: English Saddles 96 The all-purpose saddle 97 The close-contact saddle 97 The dressage sadd