Customer Reviews

101 Eventing Tips: Essentials for Combined Training and Horse Trials (101 Tips)

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It is a well known fact that James Wofford is one of the best instructors of our time and a superior rider. That being said, don't expect an advanced treatise on Eventing from "101 Eventing Tips". The majority of the tips are basic at best, often downright obvious (eg: "Follow the Rules"). That is not to say this book doesn't have its place or wouldn't be valuable to many riders, but with most tips only a couple paragraphs in length, there is little depth to the material.

I have never read anything from the "101 Tips" series, and was hoping to find some technical advise on difficult Eventing "questions" (especially in Cross Country, the discipline unique to Eventing), or suggestions for improving my show-day performance which can only be learned after years of experience. While there were some very helpful tips, I would say by and large most of the information is fairly obvious to anyone who has Evented before, or perhaps even just shown before.

I do believe that this book would be valuable to the right rider: a beginner to horses who is thinking about taking up Eventing might find these tips invaluable. However, for the experienced (even mildly so) rider, I would recommend you take your money elsewhere (for example, Mr. Wofford also has an EXCELLENT book on gymnastic exercises).

I was also surprised to discover this book is undersized (I had envisioned a large book from the picture, but it is actually only about 4 or 5 inches long at the spine), and has no color pictures. I was able to read it in less than 2 hours (it may have been even quicker than that, as I was reading it while doing other things). To summarize, this book would be helpful for the beginner interested in Eventing, but don't expect anything truly life-altering. If you have been Eventing before, this book will probably not give you "that edge" that you're looking for. For the intermediate to advanced rider, you will get only paltry value from this book and may be better served looking elsewhere.

This a good book for anyone who is trying to start up in the eventing. However, it offers only basic advice (101 tips) and it is definitely not for a professional rider, or for one who is familiar with the world of 3-day eventing showing. There is not much practical advice of solving actual problems that a competitor may encounter, nor are schooling exercises presented...

This little book is a very helpful tome for a rider who would like to begin 3 Day Eventing (such as myself!). Jim Wofford's prose is clear and easy to understand - chock full of good ideas. It is a quick read and a handy guide to go back over to review tips before a show or event.

I absolutely loved this book. Exactly as titled it is the essential tips of dressage, showjumping and cross country from one of the most highly respected eventers of all time. A quick read that you can go back to over and over for a brush up prior to your competitions or whenever you have a problem and need to get back on track, it is written with Jim's trademark sense of humor. Riding is all about great basic skills and this book covers the bases perfectly.