A Ringside Guide for Horse & Rider

Author:Cherry Hill

This ringside exercise book is a favorite of riding instructors and enthusiasts. Classic exercises and original patterns and drills are presented in a unque "read-and-ride" format. The book can be hung like a calander or draped over the rail of the ring for quick and easy reference. Exercises such as working walk, canter, two squares, half halt, and flying changes progress through skill levels for both English and Western riders.

A valuable addition to your equestrian library.
January 11, 2004
Reviewer: J. Skaife (Lafayette, CA United States)
The number of excellent reviews for this book reflect the application to riders of all levels and disciplines. The most valuable aspect of this book is that it encourages the rider to formulate a plan for their schooling sessions and make a conscious decision not to do the same thing day in day out - something we are all guilty of on occasion. Make your schooling sessions more fun for you and your horse with this informative guide.

In an enlightened age, Cherry is still old school
February 10, 2005
Reviewer: Annette E. Winter (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Cherry Hill has come up with some neat little exercise books to offer you training ideas. But she has some outdated ideas on horse training. Compare the advice you get in her book "The Formative Years" with some of the more enlightened trainers published in the last 20 years.

good for both disciplines
August 17, 2001
Reviewer: A reader
We love this book! Cherry Hill is such a good author, she explains things in such a way that they are understandable and useful, not just a concept that you might not be able to use. This book will give you and your horse a chance to practice different exercises and break out of the old walk-trot-canter-one-way-around the ring rut. I think this has helped myself and our two horses greatly in our training process.

A wonderful series of exercises for horse and rider...
March 2, 2001
Reviewer: Laura Haggarty (Berry, KY USA)
I really like this book, and so does my trainer (in fact, I'm giving it to her for her birthday!) Strictly speaking, it's almost more of a manual than a book. As the title indicates, it contains 101 exercises for you to use in an arena with your horse. All the exercises shown are maneuvers to be done while mounted, none are in-hand work. Most work with either English or Western styles of riding, although some are slanted more one way than another. Dressage enthusiasts will recognize much of the work here, as will some of the Western specialists.

There are five main sections in the book: Gaits; Transitions; Circles; Lateral Work; and Mini-Patterns. Each exercise covers two pages, with an overhead diagram showing the pattern created in the arena, as well as a drawing showing the desired effect in the horse. Each page has a step-by-step description of how to ride the exercise, a list of benefits, cautions to consider while doing it, and occasionally, extra notes. All the illustrations are pen and ink drawings; there are no photographs.

Some of the exercises are a little the same, I will agree with a previous reviewer on that point. But all are worth working on and getting right. The format of the book encourages you to take it to the arena with you, with a spiral binding that allows the pages to lay flat. The only thing I'd like to see is to have the pages all laminated, but that surely would have increased the cost, so I'll live with it the way it is. All in all this book is well worth owning, whether you're an Dressage rider, barrel racer, or simply a riding enthusiast who wants to increase the skill set of themselves and their horse. Don't hesitate to buy it, it's well worth the price.

Western meets English
June 1, 2000
Reviewer: Julian P Killingley (Wakefield, United Kingdom)
This is a really first class book that any reader should be able to put to good use. There are many books that claim to teach you how to ride better or make your horse go better but few that deliver on their promises. This is a book that delivers.

The real strength of this book lies in its blend of Western and dressage exercises. My horse and I are most familiar with dressage movements, so the Western based exercises had some novelty value for me - and provided a change for my horse. Cherry Hill explains a number of complicated movements in very simple terms and offers excellent advice as to how to get results. Her recipes for teaching the collected walk and achieving flying changes are the best I have read anywhere. Her instructions are simple, direct and work.

Useful
May 20, 2000
Reviewer: erika jones (Kentucky, USA)
I read this book with the hopes of finding some new things to do with my QH mare. the exercises are entertaining, but some of them seem so similar that they shouldn't be considered separate exercises. I wish someone would design an exercise book that could be implemented somewhere besides an arena.

a great book for any level or riding type
December 30, 1999
Reviewer: A reader
This book is easy to understand. I ride many types of riding and i felt that it helped me understand my horse better in all areas of riding. This is a book I will use with all my horses I have.

Wonderful and Benifitional!
November 2, 1999
Reviewer: A reader
I got this book and with in 10 exercises and about a week Te was more supple and moving better. He is even listening better. Get this book! It is well worth it!

I really want this book to make me a better rider.
August 2, 1999
Reviewer: A reader
I really want this book. it looks and sounds real interesting to me. I give it 5 stars.

A good book to condition your horse with.
July 3, 1999
Reviewer: A reader
was a little leary about reading this book because I've only been riding for about a year seriesly that is and all that time I had and instuctor by my side to help me. Therefore during that time it became diffacult for me to understand what books where trying to tell me. Yet when I read this one book it seemed as if it where an instuctor right by my side. It is very well written for anyone training a horse whom is doing it for the first time.