Merry Christmas !!

BOOK TIP

 

"Rider & Horse Back to Back" Establishing a mobile, stable core in the saddle by Susanne von Dietze and Isabelle von Neumann-Cosel

 

 To anyone whishing to stay healthy while riding, and determined that any weakness of their part does not impigne on their horse, this book is a revelation. Achnowledging that all riders are built differently sets the scene, followed by the importance of perception, awareness and motion. If you already suffer from back pain, there is a chapter to pinpoint the particular type - but prevention is better than cure. This book is designed to help readers to avoid riding-induced back pain altogether.

 Back-friendly ways to ride and carry out horse-related tasks are reminders we can all use. Riding with back health in mind leads to a correct position. Photographs illustrate the unintentional punishment we can give our backs, while suggesting ways to minimise damage. This book will help you not only with your riding, but in erverything you do. I also tried some exercises and it works - for you and your horse.

Seven ways to get the most out of morning lessons

1. Booking lessons at crazy o'clock is the only option for many of us. Good instructors will put in the effort if you do, but don't be late or they won't come back.

2. If you have to get up at 5:45am, you might as well get up at 5:30am - your horse should have warmed-up in the walk before your trainer arrives.

3. No-one looks great first thing in the morning, but nobody needs to know - a baseball cap covers many sins.

4. Don't find yourself without a tissue - your nose an eyes will stream if it is chilly, and you don't want your instructor to think they have reduced you to tears.

5. Wear thin layers. You may be freezing at 6am, but 100 transitions later you'll be sweating more than your horse.

6. Establish the night before if the school could be frozen in the morning, and rearrange if necessary.

7. Leave a note at the yrad saying your horse is not to be fed. If a keen bean arrives earlier than you and feeds, you'll be gutted to have to miss your lesson while neddy digests.