Riding Right : 40 Fundamentals of English Riding

40 Fundamentals of English Riding
Sample Page

Includes award-winning DVD

40 Fundamentals of English Riding: What's in the Book?

Autographed copies available from Battenkill Books in Cambridge, NY

The book shows you forty techniques and ideas in mastering the fundamentals of English riding, ranging from getting the correct riding position to lateral work and intuitive riding.

Each chapter is heavily illustrated with outstanding, informative photographs of correct riding, as well as examples of common errors and the most effective ways to fix those errors.

Sample chapters (PDF):

What's on the DVD?

The DVD tracks the book, topic-for-topic and chapter-for chapter. This makes it easy for the rider to jump back and forth between the two: if you're reading the book and want more information on leg aids, jump to the same chapter and topic in the DVD. And vice versa.

Hardcover with jacket and DVD
Pages: 192
Size: 8 1/2 x 10 7/8
Color: Full-color; Photographs and illustrations throughout
ISBN: 978-1-60342-789-0
Order Number: 62789

About the Book and DVD

Ch. 12 - The Trot

Ch. 24 - Straightness

Ch. 29 - The Half Halt

40 Fundamentals Blog

Presentations at Equine Affaire

Big Crowds

The folks who organize and promote the annual Equine Affaire in Springfield, MA, really know how to do it right. The four day extravaganza of everything equine packed in people by the thousands.

I had my four different presentations to do and I was just one of many that were presenting all at the same time. Obviously, big names like John Lyons really packed in the stands but the variety gave every attendee something to enjoy and learn from.

Education isn’t the only drawing card for a huge event like this. Shop till you drop could be the motto for many. I had two things on my personal list. Fortunately, (or unfortunately for my wallet), I found both and was able to do some hands-on comparison shopping. That’s something you just can’t get from shopping on-line or from a catalog.

So, we walk away from the Equine Affaire, poorer from all the shopping and richer in our knowledge and understanding of the fabulous world of the horse.

-Hollie McNeil, Owner/Trainer:Riding Right Farm, Author:40 Fundamentals of English Riding

By hollie on November 14, 2011

Hollie’s Seminars at Equine Affaire – Nov. 11 & 12 in Springfield, MA

Hollie gave four presentaions at Equine Affire in Springfield, MA, two on Friday and two on Saturday. Over the course of the four sessions, she covered new ways of seeing equestrian (and rider) movement, with lots of unique slow-motion and other specialty video; systematic ways of learning to ride, using the training scale as a framework to understand everyday riding in any discipline; body position, using everything from a bowling ball to a stick figure to explain; and a discussion of the roots of riding, going back the ancient times, and how it affects riding today.

We have a few pictures on the photo page.

By michael on November 13, 2011

Equine Affaire Madness

Supporting Visuals

I’m afraid my blogging time has been cut down to next to nothing this week. I’m aware that people (lots of people) read daily and I do enjoy bringing a slice of farm life and all things horse related to the blogging world. My apologies. The Equine Affaire in Springfield Mass., that starts today, has taken me hostage. http://www.equineaffaire.com/massachusetts/

Months ago the organizers asked me to list four different topics I would be comfortable talking about and presenting at the annual event. I figured they’d pick one, maybe two of the topics. To my surprise, it was all four. Sounded great at the time. Now the reality of four, one hour long, presentations is hitting me straight on.

I’ve had to produce two, hour long, powerpoints with embedded video. It’s really great stuff, but boy is there a lot of time that goes into 120 minutes of exciting, spellbinding, keep you at the edge of your seat, powerpoints!

The other two, hour long presentations are not with modern media. These are the old fashioned kind of presentations. Easels, paper, markers, stick-on words, etc. I even have a bowling ball, a weighted back pack and a life-size wooden dummy as part of these demos. My dining room table has become Production Room Central. A bowling ball, you ask? No. I’m not giving that one away. You’ll just have to come to the Equine Affaire to see what that has to do with good riding.

Yes, four hours of presentations, all on different topics. Madness, indeed. Blogging next week might return to normal.

-Hollie McNeil, Author:40 Fundamentals of English Riding, Owner/Trainer:Riding Right Farm

By hollie on November 10, 2011

Hollie Speaking at Equine Affaire – Nov. 11 & 12 in Springfield, MA

Hollie has been invited to speak at Equine Affaire in West Springifeld, MA. She’ll be giving four separate presentations, two on Friday and two on Saturday.

Riding Fundamentals: Understanding New Images of the Horse & Rider Partnership – Friday, Nov. 11 at 10am.
The Path Through the Jungle: A Systematic Approach to Riding Basics – Friday, Nov. 11 at 1pm.
Basics for All Riders: How the Fundamentals Matter at Any Level – Saturday, Nov. 12 at 2pm.
Dressage Concepts & Riding Basics: Eliminating the Boundaries between Disciplines & Concentrating on Classical Horsemanship – Saturday, Nov. 12 at 6pm.

By michael on November 1, 2011

Book Blogging Giveaway

Well, here’s a first for me: blogging about another blog. It takes a bit to follow the trail of bread crumbs but at the end (if you’re patient enough with the process) you might just get a free book!

The story is this: an adult student of mine is a “homesteader” and big time blogger (as well as published author and so many other things that I could just go on and on and on…). Jenna, on occasion, blogs about her time in the saddle. Following Tuesday’s lesson she blogged about horses and then set up a 40 Fundamentals of English Riding book giveaway contest.

The following is the section of her blog located at http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/

“But last night, hoo. Last night I was at my weekly English riding lesson and I felt like I was trotting on air. After months of tense shoulders, fear of falling, and general stiffness I am starting to ride proper. Last night was my first lesson totally off the lunge line in a long time. Hollie had faith in my abilities, and for the first time, so did I. I felt so comfortable asking for that trot from my mount, taking her around the who arena. Working on my corners, my 20-meter circles, my seat, my hands and elbows. For a woman who spends so much of her time being coarse this is pure grace. The day before I was sweating bullets in the garden and a night later I was gliding like a seraphim. There’s a reason little girls beg their parents for ponies. They want to fly.

Hollie’s first riding book just came out. I’m so happy for her, and lucky to be learning to ride as an adult with such a patient and easy-going instructor. The book comes with a DVD too (It’s the first English riding book to come with a video section for each chapter, explaining exactly how the words look from the saddle). The whole thing was filmed and written in the stables I am learning in, Riding Right Farm in South Cambridge, NY. I have a copy to give away here on the blog, which I will in this post. I just want to hear your thoughts on this:

How do you think horses will fit into our future? Do you think they will become more prominent as oil prices soar and peak and return again as our main source of travel and farm labor? Or do you think they will remain a hobby and sport? Do you live in an area where horses are in nearly every backyard as I do (1/2 acre trailer home lots have pony sheds around here) or do they seem to be the play things of the super rich in your neighborhood? Comment with your thoughts on horses in our homegrown future and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Hollie McNeils’s 40 Fundamentals of English Riding! Winner will be picked Thursday afternoon, check back to see if it’s you!

posted by Jenna at 1:45 PM 30 comments”

So, head on over to Coldantlerfarm and make a comment- you might just be selected by Jenna for a free book.

-Hollie

www.ridingfarm.com

By hollie on June 2, 2011