Successful Schooling

Acknowledgements vi Introduction 1(2) PART ONE. THE NEURO-MUSCULAR BASIS OF TRAINING 3(62) The Principles of Movement 5(8) The Promotion of Movement: Basic Concepts 5(8) The Mechanics of Motion in Horses Facilitation and Inhibition of Movement: Key Points of Control Lateral Bend -- Fact or Fiction 13(6) The Anatomy and Movement of the Horse's Spine 14(3) The Cervical Vertebrae The Thoracic Vertebrae The Lumbar Vertebrae The Illusion of Lateral Bend 17(2) Muscular Activity -- The Basis of Schooling 19(10) The Horse's Neck -- His Great Balancing Mechanism 19(2) Riding on the Outside Rein 21(2) Why We Need to Ride on the Outside Rein How We Ensure that the Horse is on the Outside Rein Strengthening the Back 23(2) How the Horse Rounds and Strengthens His Back Isotonic and Isometric Muscular Contraction 25(3) The Effect of Gravity on the Horse's Neck and Back Muscles Co-contraction 28(1) The Nervous System and Relaxation 29(22) The Pathway to Relaxation 29(8) The Startle Reflex The Relaxation Muscle Group Cephalo-Caudal Development Achieving Relaxation Riding `Long and Deep' Contact and Communication 37(2) Acceptance of the Bit 39(3) Physical Acceptance of the Bit Acceptance of the Rider's Hands Submission and Relaxation Balance Teaching the Horse to Accept the Bit: Two Methods 42(6) Method One Method Two Riding `On the Bit' 48(3) Developing the Athlete 51(14) Rhythm and Balance 51(1) Suppleness 52(3) Why the Horse has to be Supple Making the Horse Supple Straightness -- the Development of Ambidexterity 55(4) Dominance Why Straightness is Necessary How to Achieve Straightness Energy -- Riding Forward with Impulsion 59(1) How to Produce Energy Engagement of the Hindquarters 60(1) Developing and Improving Engagement Collection 61(4) Why Collection is Necessary Teaching the Horse Collection PART TWO. COMMUNICATING WITH THE HORSE 65(16) How the Horse Learns 67(5) The Theory of Learning 67(5) Learning by Signs Reward and Punishment Memory The Process of Learning an Aid The Role of the Nerve Pathways Communicating Through the Aids 72(9) The Voice 72(1) The Hands 73(1) The Legs 74(1) Roles of the Inside and Outside Legs The Seat and Back 75(2) The Seat The Back Weight Effects `Feel' -- the Proprioceptive and Kinesthetic Sense 77(4) Improving the Rider's `Feel' Improving the Horse's Movement The Other Senses PART THREE. THEORY INTO PRACTICE 81(70) Acquiring the Correct Seat and Posture 83(7) The Hips and Legs 83(1) The Seat and waist 84(1) The Upper Body 85(1) The Arms and Hands 85(1) Equipment to Assist the Rider 86(4) The Saddle The Reins Orthopaedic Braces Running Reins - Caution and Advice The Walk and Its Exercises 90(15) The Gait Variants 90(1) The Aids for Walk 91(1) Teaching the Young Horse The Halt 92(1) The Aids for Halt Teaching the Young Horse Progression The Half-halt 93(2) Purpose and Functions of the Half-halt How to Ride a Half-halt The Rein-back 95(3) The Purpose of Rein-back The Aids for Rein-back Teaching the Horse to Rein-back The Turn on the Forehand 98(2) Reasons for Riding the Turn on the Forehand: The Aids for the Turn on the Forehand Leg-yielding 100(2) The Reasons for Leg-yielding The Aids for Leg-yielding Teaching the Young Horse to Leg-yield The Half Pirouette in Walk 102(3) The Aids for Half Pirouette in Walk Teaching the Young Horse Progression Basic Transitions and Figures 105(3) Transitions 105(1) How to Ride a Smooth Transition Basic Figures 105(3) Circles Turns Serpentines The Trot and its Exercises 108(7) Rider's Position and Seat 108(1) The Gait Variants 108(2) Freeing the Shoulder Action The Aids for Trot 110(5) Lengthening the Trot Lateral Movements 115(9) Shoulder-in 115(4) Reasons for Riding Shoulder-in How to Ride Shoulder-in Exercises in Shoulder-in Travers and Renvers 119(1) Reasons for Riding Travers and Renvers How to Ride Travers How to Ride Renvers Exercises in Travers and Renvers Half-pass 120(4) How to Ride Half-pass Exercises in Half-pass The Counter Change and Zigzag The Canter and Its Exercises 124(21) The Gait Variants 125(1) The Rider's Position and Seat 126(1) The Aids to Canter 127(1) Cantering the Unbalanced Horse 128(1) Towering the Head and Neck Teaching the Young Horse to Canter 128(2) Progression of the Canter Depart Early Work at Canter 130(2) Improving the Canter 132(2) Working Towards Collection Shoulder-in at Canter Walk to Canter and Halt to Canter Canter to Walk Medium and Extended Canter 134(1) The Aids for Medium and Extended Canter Exercises in Medium Canter Counter-Canter 135(2) Reasons for Riding Counter-Canter How to Ride Counter-Canter Exercises Involving Counter-Canter The Flying Change 137(2) Prerequisites for the Flying Change The Aids for a Flying Change Exercises to Teach the Flying Change Sequence Changes; Flying Change at Every Stride 139(2) The Canter Half-pass 141(1) How to Ride Canter Half-pass Canter Zigzags The Canter Pirouette 142(3) How to Ride a Canter Pirouette Rider's Position and the Effect of the Aids Piaffe and Passage 145(6) Piaffe 145(3) The Aids for Piaffe Teaching the Horse to Piaffe Exercises in Piaffe Passage 148(3) The Aids for Passage Teaching the Horse Passage PART FOUR. FLATWORK TRAINING AND COMPETITION 151(12) The Training Programme 153(5) The Training Format 153(1) Progression of Training 154(1) Stage One -- Building the Basics Stage Two -- Toward Straightness Stage Three -- Developing Collection Stage Four -- Advanced Work The Schooling Session 155(3) The Warm-up The Work Period The Cooling-off Period The Art of Competing 158(5) Guidelines for Developing Stagecraft 158(2) Controlling Anxiety Concentrating in Stressful Situations Ambition and the Will to Win Attitudes and Reactions Handy Hints 160(3) Planning and Preparation Warming up Entering the Arena During the Test PART FIVE. JUMPING WITH CONFIDENCE 163(17) Jumping -- Building a Sound Basis 165(15) Position and Seat of the Rider 165(4) The Body The Legs and Feet The Arms and Hands The Eyes Teaching the Horse to Jump 169(6) Phase One -- Jumping Loose Phase Two -- Ground Poles and Cavalletti Phase Three -- Gymnastic Jumping Phase Four -- Individual Fences Phase Five -- Jumping a Basic Course Phase Six -- Introducing Combinations Refining the Jump 175(3) The Approach Landing Changing Lead Over a Fence Teaching the Horse and Rider to see a Stride Distances 178(1) The Jumping Competition 178(2) Preparation The Warm-up Walking the Course Riding the Course Conclusion 180(1) Bibliography 181(2) Index 183