Horse Training In-Hand: A Modern Guide to Working from the Ground: Long Lines, Long and Short Reins, Work on the Longe Hardcover – April 1, 2009

I recently purchased this book on Amazon's suggestion based on my other purchases of dressage-related horse books. A better suggestion could not have been made and I want to give my whole-hearted recommendation for this book to anyone who loves their horse and is interested in developing it gymnastically to reach it's full potential in any discipline.I am not a competitor, just a pleasure rider touching on a variety of disciplines with my horses. I was first introduced to work in hand for it's gymnastic value while living and riding in an active horse community in northern California, although at the time I don't think that I really understood what was really happening and what the benefit was for the horses. I had done loads of horsemanship clinics, with lots of groundwork to establish respect and good manners between horse and rider on the ground and it seemed that work in hand, from the classical school of dressage, was building a new dimension into this relationship. My move to a rural area of New Mexico put me in a place where good trainers were not readily available and I had to learn to rely on myself to keep the program with my horses moving forward.Well, this book is the best tool for work in hand that that i have found. The presentation is excellent: methodical, clear, well explained, well illustrated, all making good, clear sense to someone working alone in the arena with their horse. I am considering buying a second copy to have in the arena for day to day work so that I can keep a clean one next to my bed and a working copy always on hand outside.This book is not just about "dressage" in the sense that many people think of dressage. It really needs to be seen as a program to be applied to any discipline, as a way to enhance your horse's comfort and balance in movement. If you want your horse to stay sounder longer, be more subtle and powerful, this is where you should start.One thing that motivated me towards learning more about work from the ground is that I have a lovely, young horse who is severely compromised in both hocks due to an injury at an early age. This program is allowing me to strengthen him, working in a beneficial frame, to get him to a stage where he can be asked to be a light riding horse. He is beautiful, talented and smart and it seems only fair to offer him a chance to reach his potential in spite of the injury. So this book has really expanded my program with him and offers him a better life in his body and mind.The other horse that I am working with with this program is a nice, young quarter horse who is heavily muscled and tends to develop brace when things start to move quickly. The work from the ground allows us go slowly together, where i can really see his body parts as we work through the exercises and movements. I am then able to identify where the brace starts to appear and work towards softness. All of this work will make him quicker and stronger in his cow work, helping him to be lighter on his front end and more balanced in any of his movements.So whether you are working cows, riding an event horse, or a dressage competitor at any level, this book should be in your library and be a primary source of reference in your daily training routine. And beyond the training part of the program..... it's just plain fun as you get to see your horse in his lovely movement right before your eyes!!!

To start with, I bought this book with the intention of learning double-longing or long-reining or long-lining as some people call it. I wanted an easy step-by-step way to encourage my horse to use his back without rushing him and getting him to think about what he was doing. I haven't had a chance to read through the WHOLE book, as I've read only so far as up to the long-lining section, but I have flicked through the rest and feel I can offer people a review that will make up their minds whether this book is for them.So, for starters this book is wonderful because I feel it is very classical and modern at the same time, and gets the horse working with you as opposed to just popping him in side-reins and getting him going. It starts from the very first stages of introducing your horse to lunging and all the gear that goes with it, it offers training ideas and beautiful big color pictures that demonstrate the text. It is quite text-heavy - in saying that, they only say what is necessary, not any waffle that you wouldn't need to read, and they carefully explain how to go about each step thoughtfully and offer any suggestions if your horse has any aversions to certain steps.This is a book for those wishing to go on a journey with your horse, taking it slow and easy, for people who understand that it just doesn't happen overnight, or even within a couple of weeks. For people wanting a quick fix or something to immediately make a difference, this book isn't for you. I enjoy seeing the 'before' and 'after' pictures of showing a horse working 'wrong' and then the horse working correctly, and how it offers suggestions to fix the problems. For those who are serious, it is worth reading every word of this book, I suggest sitting in bed with it the night before and taking it with you the next day to see your horse so that you can remind yourself to not get frustrated and take it one step at a time.I have found it invaluable in teaching my horse to double-longe, he has now calmly and happily accepted the lines going behind his hind quarters and has started engaging his back muscles. We still have a way to go, but in the same air as this book - calm, dedicated, consistent and gentle - I am sure that our partnership will grow to be a better one.On one last note, it is my opinion that ground work is absolutely essential to creating a lasting bond and relationship with your horse that starts at ground level and carries on in the saddle. You'll have a happier, more trusting and content horse if you do the hard yards on the ground first :o) I hope this book helps others the same way it has helped me.

Good reference, great pictures. Fairly basic

I ordered this book LAST year, and waited and waited for it to be published, hoping the wait would not be for naught. It was worth the wait!! The book is laid out systematically and its steps are easy to follow. The training techniques of the author are classical and oriented around what is best for the horse. She emphasizes the use of position and body language as primary aids, and her means of correction are not aggressive but kind and tactful. Rather than punishing the horse for a mistake, she offers the horse a way to redirect its energy, and advises going back a few steps to make the troublesome maneuver easier for the horse to understand. Many of her comments on carrying out movements classically sound just like the natural horsemanship trainers I know, which makes sense because both schools of horse handling have the same basis: the horse's well being.I have been buying books on in-hand work with horses for several years, and this is the best of all of them! The author explains in-hand training so well, and makes it sound so "do-able" that I want to start doing at least one day a week of in-hand training for my horses. The lessons described in the book will be invaluable for my Lusitano filly, who is being started now. Having her learn the lateral moves shown in the book--in text and in wonderful photos--will be the perfect way to teach her without any weight on her back. None of the other books made me want to add in-hand work to my regular schooling schedules. If you like in-hand work, and know of its importance, this is a book to have in your equine library. The years of schooling the author has done with the European masters of in-hand work, like Bent Branderup, shine in her book. I can't say enough about it!

The book starts with the basics of groundwork, such as lunging from 0 and finishes with Piaffe. It's a useful guide for beginner to medium/advanced level horse owners for training your horse to gain suppleness and self carriage though the excercises proposed, with tips and clear instructions, and caring for the horse phisical/mental wellness too, which was an important point to me.

Good book with lots of useful information.

Another excellent book. This book is very in-depth in a subtle way. It is one of the best I have studied on lungeing. The authoress demonstrates a very subtle, gentle kindness especially when having to be firm. Lots to be learned here. I am very grateful to have this book as part of my library.

This book is amazing. I am so thankful I came across it. I began a program with my OTTB following this book and I am sure that because of it we are off to the best start possible.

Great book