Horse Rider's Mechanic Workbook 2: Your Balance

by Jane Myers

Overview

Without good balance, you cannot ride to the best of your ability. After improving your position (the subject of the first book in this series), improving your balance will lead to you becoming a more secure and therefore confident rider. Improving your balance is the key to further improving your riding. Most riders need help with this area of their riding life, yet it is not a commonly taught subject.

This book contains several lessons for each of the three paces, walk, trot and canter. It builds on Horse Rider's Mechanic Workbook 1: Your Position, teaching you how to implement your now improved position and become a safer and more secure rider. The lessons allow you to improve at your own pace, in your own time. They will compliment any instruction you are currently receiving because they concentrate on issues that are generally not covered by most instructors.

This book also provides instructors, riding coaches and trainers with lots of valuable tips for teaching clients how to improve their balance. You cannot afford to miss out on this great opportunity to learn!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780994156112
Publisher:	Equiculture Publishing
Publication date:	09/11/2014
Series:	Horse Rider's Mechanic , #2
Edition description:	Further Improve Your Riding Skill ed.
Pages:	126
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.27(d)

Table of Contents

By reading this book you will... 1
A rider's responsibilities 2
How to get the most from this book 4
The gaits 7
Walk 8
Trot 10
Canter 12
Riding the walk 15
What should happen... 16
What should not happen... 16
Walk lesson 1: Moving your seat with your horse in walk 17
Learning to move your seat with your horse in walk: 18
Walk lesson 2: The balance position in halt and walk 21
Learning the balance position in halt and walk: 24
Riding the trot 31
Rising trot 35
What should happen... 35
What should not happen... 37
Rising trot lesson 1: Rising to the trot with accuracy and strength 38
Learning to rise to the trot with accuracy and strength: 39
Rising trot lesson 2: Landing softly in rising trot 42
Learning to land softly in rising trot: 42
Rising trot lesson 3: Lowering your centre of gravity in rising trot 44
Learning to lower your centre of gravity in rising trot: 45
Rising trot lesson 4: Two ways to change the diagonal 47
Learning another way to change the diagonal in rising trot: 49
Standing trot 51
What should happen... 52
What should not happen... 53
Standing trot lesson 1: Standing and staying balanced in trot 54
Learning to stand and stay balanced in trot: 54
Standing trot lesson 2: Maintaining this position through changes of speed and direction 58
Learning to maintain this position through changes of speed and direction: 58
Standing trot lesson 3: Feeling for the movement of your horse's back 59
Learning to feel for the movement of your horse's back: 59
Sitting trot 63
What should happen... 64
What should not happen... 67
Sitting trot lesson 1: Weighting your seat bones and legs correctly 68
Learning to weight your seat bones and legs correctly: 70
Sitting trot lesson 2: Feeling the correct movement through your pelvis 73
Learning to feel the correct movement through your pelvis: 75
Sitting trot lesson 3: Sitting taller 78
Learning to sit taller: 79
Two final lesson for the trot 84
Final trot lesson 1: Rising straight off on the correct diagonal by feel alone 84
Learning to rise on the correct diagonal by feel alone: 85
Final trot lesson 2: Alternating the three styles of trot through changes of speed, direction and gradient 88
Learning to alternate the three styles of trot through changes of changes of speed, direction and gradient: 88
Riding the canter 91
What should happen... 93
What should not happen... 95
Canter lesson 1: Weighting your seat bones and legs correctly on a circle 96
Learning to weight your seat bones and legs correctly on a circle: 97
Canter lesson 2: Standing in canter 100
Learning to stand in canter: 100
Canter lesson 3: Following the movement of your horse's back 103
Learning to follow the movement of your horse's back: 103
Canter lesson 4: Sitting tall and testing your balance 106
Learning to sit tall and test your balance: 106
Recommended websites and books 116

Editorial Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to understand
By L. M. L. Wilson on June 5, 2015, Amazon
Sized to put into your tote bag to take with you to the barn for your lessons. Easy to understand, with instructions on what to do, why you should do it, and graphic silhouette drawings to further explain the correct way to hold your body and the effect it has on your ability to maintain your balance in the saddle while maintaining the classic, deep seat of good horsemanship. I have both volumes....Workbook 1 and Workbook 2. I keep referring to both to remind myself and have been improving my chances to eventually achieve the balanced independent seat that takes a lifetime to achieve. Practice, practice, practice with time in the saddle. These workbooks will help you avoid making mistakes that become bad habits and give you clear explanations of why.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative book written by Jane Myers who is the ...
By Sharann on June 8, 2015, Amazon
Very informative book written by Jane Myers who is the expert in her field, she really is the horse riders mechanic. She explains things in the simplest of terms and the pictures and diagrams explain everything, you really can't go wrong! If you are looking to improve your riding this is the book you need. Don't hesitate and buy this book!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Best practical horse riding book I have ever read!
By Chris Betson on May 19, 2015, Amazon
Simple, logical and progressive steps introduce the theory and practice of perfecting your balance. Well written and illustrated, this book tells you everything you wish your riding instructor had taught you years ago!

4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative and the way things are explained are refreshingly ...
By Amazon Customer on February 28, 2015
Very informative and the way things are explained are refreshingly unique.

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
By Amazon Customer on November 13, 2015
Everyone learning to ride and everyone teaching people to ride need to read this book.

From the Publisher