Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
Who Should Read the Pages That Follow 2
Welcome to My World 3
How It Works 4
Chapter 2 How You Learn 5
Methods of Learning 6
Simple Instructions 10
Words and Why They Matter 11
The Problem with Technology 14
Life Lessons 17
Chapter 3 Coaching Now and Then 19
Learn from Doing 20
Definitions 21
Coaching Across Boundaries 24
The Need for Success 25
Chapter 4 How Horses Learn 26
Create a Learning Pathway 27
Warm Up the Body, Switch On the Brain 27
Chapter 5 The Young Horse 30
Partnership vs Dictatorship 32
The Right Foundations 35
Young Horse Vocabulary 44
Chapter 6 The Inappropriate Partner 46
Breaking a Vicious Circle 49
Chapter 7 Early Training 51
The Aids 51
Playing Games 56
Games to Try 58
To See if I Can 64
Relating Subjects 66
How Much Should We Ask? 67
Chapter 8 Developing Skills 69
The Start Point 69
Layering to Elevate Performance 70
Self-Assessment 72
My Scales of Training 75
The Training Orbit 78
The Training Spiral 79
Demystifying Common Expressions 80
Chapter 9 The Gaits 85
Is the Gait Correct? 86
What to Look For 87
The Rebalance 93
Chapter 10 Dressage Outside the Arena 97
No Arena? No Problem 97
Solving Flatwork Problems 100
Chapter 11 Pole Work 106
Exercises in Walk 106
Exercises in Trot 109
Chapter 12 Jumping in the Arena 114
The Five Phases of Jumping 115
Geometry and Jumping 120
Look…Jump 126
Mental Gymnastics 128
Developing Carefulness 132
Solving Jumping Problems 134
Chapter 13 Riding in Open Space 138
Roles and Responsibilities 140
Natural Instincts 141
Why Temperament Matters 143
Rider Position 144
A Bit of an Issue 149
Solving Cross-Country Problems 156
Chapter 14 At the Competition 163
Course-Walking 163
Competition Psychology 168
Prepare to Succeed 170
Rider Preparation 173
Coach and Team 173
Final Thoughts 175
Acknowledgments 179
Index 180
