Horseback Riding For Dummies [Paperback]

Audrey Pavia (Author), Shannon Sand (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2007

You’ve always dreamed of riding horses. So what are you waiting for? It’s time you realized your equestrian dreams and learned to ride like a pro on the back of a noble steed. And Horseback Riding for Dummies shows you how.

Don’t know a horse’s head from its tail, a trot from a canter, withers from a fetlock? No problem. Coauthored by a medal-winning equestrian and nationally respected equestrian trainer, it tells you what you need to know about that elegant animal, body and soul, to become an accomplished rider. And it trains you in all the technical basics of riding for fun or competition, including how to:

• Find a good stable and instructor
• Select riding gear
• Warm up and keep riding muscles fit
• Establish a rapport with a horse
• Cue a horse to walk, jog, trot, lope, and cantor
• Ride in the ring and on trails
• Improve your balance and timing
• Compete in horse shows
• Buy and care for your own horse

Stop dreaming about it and learn to ride like the wind with Horseback Riding for Dummies—the ultimate beginner’s guide to all things equestrian.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Tips on warming up, improving control, and staying safe

Get to know your horse and communicate with him

Hooked on horses? Ready to ride? This easy-to-follow guide is all you need to settle in the saddle and start riding for fun or competition. You'll see how to mount and dismount; ride in Western or English style; cue your horse to walk, jog or trot, and lope or canter; make the leap to jumping; and even enjoy fun and games with your horse.

• Find the best stable and instructor

• Select riding gear

• Ride in the ring and on trails

• Improve your balance and timing

• Compete in horse shows

• Buy and take care of a horse

About the Author

Audrey Pavia is an award-winning writer of numerous books and articles on equine subjects.

Shannon Sand is a medal-winning equestrian who worked as an assistant trainer to the U.S. Olympic equestrian team.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (April 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470097191
• ISBN-13: 978-0470097199
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,594 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Horses > Riding
  • #72 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Horses

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Horseback Riding for Dummies, November 5, 2007

By 

Bernard M. Potlock "Barry P" (Norcross, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Horseback Riding For Dummies (Paperback)

Had not been on a horse for over 30 years. I bought this book to get acquainted once again with techniques before taking lessons or coaching.
This book is recommended for the beginner or intermediate rider. It is easy to read. Easy to use for research on particular points of riding. Good easy style of writing.....welcoming you to go out quickly and confidently......you don't need to be a dummy!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Horseback Riding for dummies, September 3, 2009

By 

K. Russell "Horse lover!!!" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Horseback Riding For Dummies (Paperback)

This is a GREAT book!!!!! I have been riding for years and years and love to step back and resolidify the basics!!! This book is awesome for that and I am sure the new horseback rider would feel so confident and knowledgeable after reading this book!!!! Awesome 5 star!!!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bad judgement, October 16, 2011

By 

Zen Lightening (Laguna Beach, Ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horseback Riding For Dummies (Paperback)

First, let me say that this book is packed with essential information for the beginning rider. My riding instructor recommended it and it helped me to read it before getting on a horse for the first time. I had much more confidence than I would have had otherwise, and was grateful for that. I will keep this around as a reference, it is a good one. I have two issues with the book - first, it does not proceed in a linear fashion, every paragraph refers you to another section of the book. Really irritating. This is partly the Dummies format, but I have read many of that series, and this one is the worst on that score. The second is the reference to Christopher Reeve as the poster boy for why you should wear a helmet when riding. To conjure up his image to scare new riders into wearing a helmet is in terrible taste, to say the least. And, the fact is, Mr. Reeve, who was a wonderful human being, WAS wearing a helmet at the time of his unfortunate fall. He was also involved in an event, jumping on a thoroughbred horse, not a beginner on a trail ride. The case for wearing a helmet, a valid one (more injuries happen to horse riders than motorcyclists) could have been made without this tasteless raising of Christopher Reeve as a specter to frighten novice horse riders.