Two Brains, One Aim

Book excerpt: A valuable, thought-provoking look at the best ways riders and horses can learn and improve together. Riding well can be a puzzle. This book puts together the pieces, including: How humans and horses learn. Striving for partnership vs. dictatorship. Early training and developing skills. Demystifying equestrian-speak. Dressage outside the arena. Ground poles for the rest of us. Jumping and cross-country tips. Solving problems, wherever you ride. Competition psychology. Being coached and being a coach. “This book is aimed at riders, coaches, and anyone interested in learning more about how humans and horses interact. I have tried to harness my own experiences when I cover the three main disciplines—dressage, show jumping, and eventing—and how they relate to one another. I look at how those in a coaching position can guide riders to perform better by making their lives less complicated and more fulfilling, and I examine how riders can apply the same principles to training their horses and become self-sufficient.” —Eric Smiley