Fitness, Performance, and the Female Equestrian (Howell Equestrian Library) [Hardcover]

Mary D. Midkiff (Author)

Book Description

Series: Howell Equestrian Library | Publication Date: October 14, 1996

In praise of Fitness, Performance and the Female Equestrian
"This book is an important guide for women who want to feel well, ride well and extend their active years." Chrystine Jones Tauber former member United States Equestrian Team Grand Prix Jumping Squad

"Mary Midkiff is a new voice in our evolving cultural freedom, where insights unique to women in this case, in relation to horses and riding are welcome and needed." Richard M. Timms, M.D. chairman and CEO, Troxel Companies

"This is an exciting approach to an ancient relationship. Mary Midkiff has done horsewomen an important and useful service in bringing it all together." Mary Vernon practicing physician and professor of medicine Lawrence, Kansas

The Howell Equestrian Library is a distinguished collection of books on all aspects of horsemanship and horsemastership. The nearly fifty books in print offer readers in all disciplines and at all levels of competition sound instruction and guidance by some of the most celebrated riders, trainers, judges, and veterinarians in the horse world today. Whether your interest is dressage, show jumping, or western riding, or whether it is breeding, groomi ng, or health care, Howell has a book to answer your needs. Get to know the books in the Howell Equestrian Library; many are modern-day classics and have achieved the status of authoritative references in the estimation of those who ride, train, and care for horses.
The Howell Equestrian Library

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Fitness, Performance and the Female Equestrian Fitness, Performance and the Female Equestrian is an all-discipline, all-breed approach to improving the "team performance" of the female rider and her horse. It's all about AWAREness (A Woman's Approach to Riding Effectively), a series of tips signaling key points on health, fitness, nutrition, safety, and comfort. Designed for experienced riders as well as newcomers, this indispensable resource guide provides information on:

• Biomechanic and anatomical considerations for women
• Stretching and strengthening exercises to enhance riding performance
• Techniques to gain more performance with less effort
• Saddle balancing and fitting tips
• Safety tools
• Riding and its relationship to aging, pregnancy, and lifestyles
• Nutrition and dietary factors in daily riding and competitions

In Fitness, Performance and the Female Equestrian, Mary D. Midkiff, a rider and horse business professional, offers a new perspective on the way horses are understood, equipped and ridden by women. She joins with other experts to take us though the changing dynamics of women on horseback, arriving at a new approach to riding effectiveness. Women now represent over 80 percent of today's horse enthusiasts and riders. The techniques, equipment and teaching methods used with horses, however, have not moved in step with the growing involvement and influence of adult and young women. Until now.

From the Back Cover

In praise of Fitness, Performance and the Female Equestrian
"This book is an important guide for women who want to feel well, ride well and extend their active years." ?Chrystine Jones Tauber former member United States Equestrian Team Grand Prix Jumping Squad

"Mary Midkiff is a new voice in our evolving cultural freedom, where insights unique to women?in this case, in relation to horses and riding?are welcome and needed." ?Richard M. Timms, M.D. chairman and CEO, Troxel Companies

"This is an exciting approach to an ancient relationship. Mary Midkiff has done horsewomen an important and useful service in bringing it all together." ?Mary Vernon practicing physician and professor of medicine Lawrence, Kansas

The Howell Equestrian Library is a distinguished collection of books on all aspects of horsemanship and horsemastership. The nearly fifty books in print offer readers in all disciplines and at all levels of competition sound instruction and guidance by some of the most celebrated riders, trainers, judges, and veterinarians in the horse world today. Whether your interest is dressage, show jumping, or western riding, or whether it is breeding, groomi ng, or health care, Howell has a book to answer your needs. Get to know the books in the Howell Equestrian Library; many are modern-day classics and have achieved the status of authoritative references in the estimation of those who ride, train, and care for horses.
The Howell Equestrian Library

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (October 14, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876059450
• ISBN-13: 978-0876059456
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #779,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 102 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for female riders!, September 8, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Fitness, Performance, and the Female Equestrian (Howell Equestrian Library) (Hardcover)

A series of tips signaling key points on health, fitness, nutrition, safety, and comfort. Discusses: * Biomechanic and anatomical considerations for women. ( I would have bought the book just because of these words!) * Stretching and Strengthening exercises to enhance riding performance. * Techniques to gain more performance with less effort. * Saddle balancing and fitting tips. * Safety tools. * Riding and its relationship to aging, pregnancy, and lifestyles... ( would have bought the book just for that 1st "A" word in this phrase....) * Nutrition and dietary factors in daily riding and competitions. "The author takes us through the changing dynamics of women on horseback, arriving at a new approach to riding effectiveness. Women now represent over 80% of today's horse enthusiasts and riders. The techniques, equipment and teaching methods used with horses, however, have not moved in step with the growing involvement and influence of adult and young women... until now." That's just the stuff on the cover! Here's another reason why I bought the book... calorie expenditures: 120 lb female grooming a horse for 30 minutes =207 calories! galloping for 20 minutes =148 " trotting for 30 minutes =177 " walking for 10 minutes = 22 " Hey! this mythical creature expends 554 calories/hour!!! amazing! In comparison to to other high activity sports like real swimming, cross-country running, galloping is next. Then tennis, then HORSE-GROOMING. then trotting is down 2 more categories including medium to low impact aerobics and snow skiing! Walking is pretty low down on the list... just a bit lower, though than sweeping the floor! Shock! We are in a high calorie burning, high energy activity! Ok, that's all the sneak preview you get! There are many more surprises and new thoughts in here for you to stumble into and exclaim.. AHA! or Wow in a reverent tone!

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book on improving riding skills and physical condition, March 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Fitness, Performance, and the Female Equestrian (Howell Equestrian Library) (Hardcover)

This book is somewhat esoteric but does have some very good exercises for the equestrian. The author discusses how the rider's physical condition can improve riding ability and position. Also how other factors, such as poor balance and bad saddle fit can cause pain for both the rider and the horse. She explains how common training myths and rider interpretation contribute to physical discomfort and what the correct response should be in order to maximize rider/horse communication. She also covers common injuries and their causes, proper saddle fit, diet, pregnancy, and aging.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Boring waffle dressed up in high-falutin' language, October 14, 2005

By 

Missus Doc (where the dingoes howl) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fitness, Performance, and the Female Equestrian (Howell Equestrian Library) (Hardcover)

I agree with the Canadian reviewer. Jibber jabber. This book contains a lot of statements that are perfectly obvious to anyone with a crumb of commonsense. Dressed up in lots of fancy verbiage and selling it as a book.

I give it one star more than the Canadian reviewer for the simple reason that some of the information might be useful to ladies who learn to ride later in life, if they are not very aware of their body.

I was VERY disappointed in this book. Its review led me to believe I would learn philosophical truths, tricks and tips to enable me to adapt my aging body to continuing riding, and other important and useful information. Instead I read that badly-fitting saddles cause discomfort and that as I age I can expect to become less supple. Should I pay money to read that? I don't think so!