1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Horses

100 Ways to Improve Your Riding-Book Review

About.com Rating 5

From 100 Ways to Improve Your Riding, About.com Guest

100 Ways to Improve Your Riding--Cover Photo

100 Ways to Improve Your Riding--Cover Photo

2005 K. Blocksdorf

The Bottom Line

Although the title of the book is 100 Ways to Improve Your Riding, you’ll find well over 100 tips useful to beginner and intermediate level riders. An excellent resource.

Pros

  • Very readable.
  • Offers safe, practical suggestions for improving your riding,
  • Information is easy to find, well indexed.
  • Lots of clear photos.

Cons

  • No specific references to Western riding styles.
  • Would like to see a few more resources for riders who lack confidence.

Description

  • Hard cover
  • Color photos
  • 152 pages
  • Published by David & Charles Books
  • ISBN: 0 7153 1680 X
  • Author: Susan McBane
  • Published: 2004

Guide Review - 100 Ways to Improve Your Riding-Book Review

McBane is a classically trained riding instructor, author of over 40 equestrian focused books and has studied with some of the classical riding greats. The refreshing thing about this book is its readability. Written in plain English, it seems easier to digest than many of the books written by classical masters.

There is a huge amount of information here, and provides far more than the title suggests. If you want to improve any aspect of your riding, you will likely find good advice—from improving your seat, achieving smoother turns, creating impulsion, to dealing with fear. What really appealed to me was her advice to riders who are experiencing problems such as horses who are rushing, rearing, bucking, head tossing, and spooking. She wisely recommends dealing with problems only after checking for dental, back, soundness or tack fitting problems.

I like the bar at the bottom of each page that cross references similar issues. The photos are excellent and clearly reinforce the text. There is a detailed index at the back making it easy to find the solution you are looking for. McBane also addresses issues of rider confidence, fitness, and attitude. Although I happened on this book at the library, this is a book I plan to own a copy of soon.

User Reviews Write Review

Explore Horses

About.com Special Features

Holiday Central

What to eat, where to go, fun things to do and how to save money on the perfect gifts. More >

Make Your Own Scented Pine Cones

Bring a little of the fall season in your home with this easy-to-make craft. More >

  1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Horses
  4. Learn to Ride
  5. Horse Book Review - Review Book 100 Ways to Improve Your Riding>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.