Riding well can be a puzzle. This book puts together the pieces, including:- How humans and horses learn.- Striving for partnership vs. dictatorship.- Early training and developing skills.- Demystifying equestrian-speak.- Dressage outside the arena.- Ground poles for the rest of us.- Jumping and cross-country tips.- Solving problems, wherever you ride.- Competition psychology.- Being coached and being a coach.“This book is aimed at riders, coaches, and anyone interested in learning more about how humans and horses interact. I have tried to harness my own experiences when I cover the three main disciplines—dressage, show jumping, and eventing—and how they relate to one another. I look at how those in a coaching position can guide riders to perform better by making their lives less complicated and more fulfilling, and I examine how riders can apply the same principles to training their horses and become self-sufficient.”—Eric Smiley