Book Recomendation for Rider Position

[Clare-22]

I am tempted to buy Enlightened Equitation by HM has anyone got this book and recommend it, or any others I could get? Thanks :)

[KateWooten]

I quite like HM's book - and I say that as her biggest fan - I have her saddle and am ordering another ... the book is 'ok'. It's well worth a read. As is Sally Swift's Centered Riding.

BUT, the biggest, most mahooosive change to make my riding more effective, was to stop thinking about the rider. I had to change my mindset totally when I was starting my young horse under saddle. It became all about the horse, and none about the rider. The rider, me, could only ever be judged by how the well horse was understanding. So, bizarrely, the books that have made me a better rider (and they really have - as a side-effect, I see in pictures that my legs are looking more stable, me heels tend to stay down now) .. I would have to recommend all the horse training books ! All the ones that emphasise softness and responsiveness .. the NH type of stuff.

It's not a long-winded or distant goal, either. Honestly, the best exercise I ever found for fixing lower leg stability for example, is to teach your horse to yield his hindquarters from the saddle... and then teach him to yield his shoulders... and then teach him to yield his whole body. Think about it - how precise and stable your leg must be to achieve these different movements with softness and instant response - yet you are achieving it in a natural and positive way. Rather than the negative, Riding Lesson kind of way where you only hear it when you have got it wrong (heels Down! Lower leg Back!) ... rather than that, you are achieving it in the subconscious, happy, positive way that you used to learn as a little kid on ponies - you are learning an effective leg by using it to achieve a fun task :)

[lavondyss]

I would definitively recommend Heathers book. As a riding instructor it has helped me with both my own riding and helped me in my teaching:)

[KarinUS]

Will I get banned if I say that I have Heather's book as well as Mary Wanless' Ride With Your Mind Essentials and RWYM has helped me tons more? :o
In fact I've loved it so much I chose it as the first book to read in the book club. Check here to see what's in it:
Ride With Your Mind (http://77.72.200.82/forum/showthread.php?t=109147&highlight=book+club)

[Daffy Dilly]

I didn't find HM's book helped with my position really. I did pick up a few things from it, but generally I, as with any other book, struggled to put what I'd read into practise. I just can't do it, so I need an instructor.

I agree with KateWooten though, I think rider position is one of those things that mostly (there are one or two exceptions) comes when you aren't thinking about it. The only thing I have to be concious of is which seatbones I'm sat on, and even that is becoming subconcious.

[KateWooten]

It's chicken and egg though isn't it Daffy ... cos all the while you know you want it to be subconscious and natural ... but 'what' exactly should you be doing all the while it's trying to become subconscious !! That's why I like focussing on 'something else' ie the horse and his movement, and how to influence it with subtlety.

Isn't there a book somewhere that gets you to focus on footfalls - where each of the horse's feet is at any time ? I know I've read something about it, and Mark Rashid is real big on it (as are the dressage bods, obviously) ... that's something I could do with getting a lot better at.

I was teaching joseph walk-canter, just before we got laid off, and it was totally cool to have thought it all out the night before, exactly when I was going to prepare, then exactly when I was going to ask - and he did it ! Went into a perfect shap, then I asked as his inside fore touched the ground and his very next step was pushing his outside hind underneath to launch into canter. It was neat to have thought it all out in advance and, visualise it, and put it into practice together - first time for either of us :D Working on little exercises and challenges like that are what get me focussed and improving.

[lavondyss]

I have some Mary Wanless books and have seen her . I just click more with Heather Moffetts approach. Whatever works for you and your horse !
Mark Rashids footfalls DVD is very good too and makes it very easy to understand how to develop your own feel so you know where your horses feet are and when the best time to ask for a particular movement or just a turn is .

[coverblown]

I like Heather's book; and Mary's book. And like Karin I have both. But I wish Heather - particularly - would just explain her theories and techniques and stop talking other instructors down. She has a lot of experience and talks a lot of sense. It is diluted by the unwarranted criticism - which in my view is often unjustified. But horsey people do like to criticise others.........

[KarinUS]

I like Heather's book; and Mary's book. And like Karin I have both. But I wish Heather - particularly - would just explain her theories and techniques and stop talking other instructors down. She has a lot of experience and talks a lot of sense. It is diluted by the unwarranted criticism - which in my view is often unjustified. But horsey people do like to criticise others.........

I agree. The attitude really put me off. I know several others felt the same. Then again I am not one to easily fall into worship-mode so might be particularly sensitive to stuff like that. Plus my free time to read books is quite limited. I need people to write in a way that lets me gain what I am looking for as efficiently as possible without wasting too much of my time on negative stuff about others.

If you want a book that's particularly positive try Walter Zettl's Dressage in Harmony. It's kind of an all-around book so not geared specifically towards rider position but it's so full of love for the horse and respect for other trainers that he names in the book, it's a very uplifting read.

[Bay Mare]

It is diluted by the unwarranted criticism - which in my view is often unjustified. But horsey people do like to criticise others.........


Unwarranted? IMO she usually has a very good point even if she's rather forceful in putting across. She does at least say WHY she disagrees with certain people's methods and how they're, in her eyes, wrong. She may be a little outspoken but what she does say is always for the good of the horse. She actually comes across a lot better in real life than she does online and has a very positive way of teaching. But, as I said, that's just my opinion.

Needless to say I like Heather's book. I do think that a good instructor is probably the best way to improve your position and an Equisimulator session with a good instructor can be worth it's weight in gold. Heather's method is not just about sitting prettily, it's actually based around absorbing the movement so that you eliminate the nodding head, undulating torso etc.

For other books I'm not a fan of MW myself but like the more classically orientated books Podhiasky etc. Anja Beran's book and DVD are excellent (if a little expensive) but certainly worth the money.

[Whatanejit]

I thought EE was a great book and switched a few lightbulbs on for me but still needed teaching.

Didn't make an iota of a difference with my first RI re my technique due to tools, novice horse and teaching.

Off to a classical instructor who taught like Heather but mixed it a little with the imagery that Mary Wanless uses and things started to improve massively.

Still hindered by standard saddles.

Things have improved tremendously by using the Trekker saddle with the set back stirrup bars to help my position and then la creme de la creme is to have done the Equisimulator course.

The chocolate sprinkles on top of the cream of course will be to get a fheonix saddle - I'm working on it.


Being a member of the EE forum who lurks more than posts I understand where you are coming from Anne re the commenting on other experts.

However I agree with Lynne that when you meet Heather she does not come accross like that at all.

IMO - and without seeming to be true drammatic - she is a true martyr for the life of a ridden horse.

She gets flack for speaking out against the latest trend be it person, gadget or riding style or imagery only because it makes it more difficult for us learners.

Keep it simple, get the correct teaching and use the correct tools and we can all do our ridden horses justice.

It really is that simple.

Once again - IMO - Heather is NO diva.

(steps down gracefully from pulpit and puts microphone away)

[Stella2]

If you want a book that's particularly positive try Walter Zettl's Dressage in Harmony. It's kind of an all-around book so not geared specifically towards rider position but it's so full of love for the horse and respect for other trainers that he names in the book, it's a very uplifting read. Totally, it truly is 'the best thing since sliced bread' Its not a 'how to' manual that you can dip into for specifics, but it is a joy to read and teaches so much along the way.

I also recommend Sylvia Lochs books :)

Neither Heather Moffett or Mary Wanless do it for me to be honest!

[jenb]

Sylvia Loch and Sally Swift get my vote. I'd say if riders spent 75% of the time thinking of themselves and their position, and only 25% on the horse, they should improve greatly. I think the problem comes when people try to think of themselves and improving their position, without knowing HOW to correct what's wrong. That just leads to tension and will have a negative impact on the horse. But if you were to try a Centered Riding book, learn a few of the exercises on correcting rider position and try them out on your horse, you would have a much more positive impact, because your efforts to improve would be much more effective, without tension and resistance, and your horse would respond positively as a result.

[KarinUS]

Sylvia Loch and Sally Swift get my vote. I'd say if riders spent 75% of the time thinking of themselves and their position, and only 25% on the horse, they should improve greatly.
That's very true. Although I have to say that eventhough I thought I'd love Centered riding (got book and video) it just didn't click for me no matter how much I struggled to grow like a Spruce tree, etc. :D
I guess that's why Mary Wanless really appealed to me. She put those things in perspective and showed me things I can do and effected a change for the better.

I guess the conclusion of this is that what works for one person may not work for all. Perhaps you should buy used books so you can get several! ;)

[jenb]

Karin, you are the opposite to me, I cannot make any sense of RWYM at all, it seems totally illogical! But it works for others, and the great thing about CR, EE, RWYM etc is that they are all based on sound classical principles, and the aim of them all is the same - a balanced, effective rider and happy horses.

So it's whatever works best for the individual. I am a CR instructor, but I do say to people at their first lesson that these concepts will work for most people, but not necessarily for everyone. Each person learns in different ways - aren't we lucky to have so much to choose from! :)

[Clare-22]

I guess the conclusion of this is that what works for one person may not work for all. Perhaps you should buy used books so you can get several! ;)

I was just thinking that :D Scuttles off to Amazon!

[OldandNew]

There was a similar thread on here a while back and I have to say, that as a beginner, Heather Moffat's book still goes over my head somewhat. I've found RWYM much easier to relate to and I like the clear illustrations and off-horse exercise suggestions. Also my RI uses Mary Wanless techniques and it just feels right for me. But, as others have said, there isn't a one size fits all approach.

[Hallmarked]

Another person here with both Mary Wanless and Heather Moffetts books.

There was quite a bit of RWYM that did not make sence at all, I didn't think it was explained very well, but with EE it just clicked into place. I will however admit to a couple of Ahhhh moments - so that what MW meant, whilst following HM's book, so I haven't thrown my copy out;) I totally agree that it is probably a different strokes thing.

I've also met both Mary and Heather and I would say that Heather is definately more approachable in person. I agree with everything Bay Mare says about Heather and her equisimulators, she is a very positive and encouraging person in real life. I also understand after speaking to Heather that she is currently working on a new book aimed at complete beginners, mainly because the previous one is directed at remedial and improving riders and she wants to help beginners start correctly.

I very much agree with jenb in that the biggest leg up to improving as a rider was to spend more time thinking about my position and application of the aids than about the horse. If it's not going right ask myself what am I doing wrong rather than blaming the horse. Result happier, more willing horse and I at least look like a good rider;).

Anyway, another couple of very good books, but I'm not sure they are still in print though is 'The Classicial Seat a guide for the everyday rider' by Silvia Lock and 'Balanced Riding a way to find the correct seat' by Pegotty Henriques.

[lavondyss]

Balanced Riding a way to find the correct seat' by Pegotty Henriques...yep i,d recommend that too :)

[coverblown]

(Heather) does at least say WHY she disagrees with certain people's methods and how they're, in her eyes, wrong. .

... and, were I to be cynical, this criticism can take up to about 30-40 per cent of the book. Making it longer and more expensive...... But I am not cynical, and, as I said, I do like the book. I just wish I could afford an Equi simulator lesson as I believe she is an excellent teacher in person. And not at all precious.

I think there is nothing worse than having a lesson with a "great" instructor who does not move you on and merely criticises what you have already learned / been taught. Having read this book - and liked it - nevertheless this would be my fear.