From the best way to break in a pair of stiff new boots to mastering a difficult jumping routine, Jessica Jahiel addresses hundreds of common problems facing amateur horse-riders. Offering helpful tips and plenty of encouragement, this comprehensive guide covers a wide range of riding concerns that include both physical (painful joints) and psychological (fear of accidents) issues. Jahiel's informal yet informative approach will not only help you overcome nagging riding obstacles, but inspire you to enjoy your riding experience to its fullest. Jessica Jahiel is an internationally renowned lecturer, clinician, and award-winning author who answers equine-related questions in her online newsletter, Horse-Sense. She also responds to questions about horse behavior, riding matters, and anything else readers want to discuss in Horse & Rider, Equus, and Dressage Today, as well as in her best-selling books The Horse Behavior Problem Solver and The Rider's Problem Solver. Jahiel lives in Illinois. "How can I improve when I only have time to ride once or twice a week?" Every rider longs for more time in the saddle -- more time to improve various riding skills, work through common fears and obstacles, and really enjoy that special horse/rider companionship. Enhance your riding experience with easygoing encouragement from clinician and author Jessica Jahiel. Drawing on real-life riders' questions, she addresses a full range of common concerns, from mounting up to competing with confidence. Not only will you find questions and answers that match your immediate concerns, but you're sure to identify with many more situations you haven't even thought of yet! Dedication Acknowledgments Foreword by Sally Swift Preface Part I: Mount Up and Ride 1 Getting On and Off I'm Uncomfortable Mounting from the Ground * My Horse Won't Stand Still for Mounting * Holding the Reins and Saddle while Mounting * Dismounting: Should I Jump Off or Slide Off? * Emergency Dismounts 2 Staying On: What's Your Position? Rider Leg Position * What Is Correct Knee Position? * Rider's Tight Upper Body * I Lean Sideways, and My Horse Does Too 3 At the Walk How Should I Move My Arms at the Walk? * Soft Hands at the Walk * Young Horse Won't Walk, He Jogs * Lengthening a Short Walk Stride * My Horse Anticipates Walk-Trot Transitions 4 At the Trot Help! Can't Master Posting Trot! * How Do I Learn Diagonals? * I Can't Sit the Trot * Please Provide Sitting Trot Image * First Lengthenings at Trot and Canter * What Is Correct Trot Lengthening? * Trot Lengthening or Medium Trot? 5 At the Canter Canter Phobia * My Horse Won't Canter * Problems with Right Lead * Smooth Canter Depart * Rider's Leg Swinging at Canter * Better Canter for Rider and Horse 6 About Jumping Explain Crest Releases, Please * I Can't "See My Distance" * Losing Stirrups over Jumps * Learning to "Fold" over Jumps * Hunt Seat Compared to Cross-Country Position * Strong Legs for Cross-Country Jumping? 7 On the Trail Trail Riding in Balance * Galloping on Trail Ride * Riding Down Hills * Essential Equine Trail Skills Part II: Physical and Emotional Issues 8 Figuring Out Horse and Rider Size Is This Horse Too Small for Me? * "Outgrowing" a Horse * Finding the Right Size Horse * Horse-to-Rider Size * Can My Horse Carry My Weight? * How Heavy Is Too Heavy to Ride? 9 When Your Body Doesn't Cooperate Painful Ankles * Sore Knees * Collapsing Chest * Swinging Legs and Stirrups * Strengthening Rider's Legs * Why Don't My Toes Point Forward? * Bracing in the Saddle * Too Much Ballet Turnout on Horseback * Rider with Painful Stitch * Riding with a Bad Back 10 Facing Fear Afraid to Ride * Afraid of Horses * Help, I am a "Fraidy Cat"! * Rider Confidence Loss -- Whose Fault? * Dealing with Loss of Confidence * Restoring Rider C

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