Complete Horse Riding Manual

I'm a horsetrainer and have promoted this book to all my students ever since I got my first copy close to 15 years ago...it is timeless and if you want to know more about Eventing, Dressage and Showjumping...a must read! It explains more than that...learn training alone, with a trainer or refresh your horse knowledge...this is the book! Easy to understand yet complex enough to help you excell.

I have a substantial library of equestrian-related books, and this one certainly deserves pride of place. It is the best and most complete general guide to horse riding I've yet come across. The photographs are gorgeous and the production values superb. William Micklem writes very well and his explanations are very clear and thorough without being dry or pedantic. This really is about how to get the most out of riding, pure and simple. It isn't one of those ordinary, "how-to-groom-your-horse-compendium-of-breeds" picture books, and it delves into dressage, show jumping and cross-country in three separate but interlinked sections. I actually learned quite a few things reading this book. Experienced and beginner riders alike will enjoy it. Read it cover-to-cover, and savour the beatiful layout and illustrations. Completely awesome and highly recommended!

Not only is this a useful work, it's a work of art. This substantial book is packed with extraordinary pictures. Readers of all ages will either benefit from the clear, concise writing, or enjoy the full color photographs. The "complete" phrase is somewhat misleading, as it should be more of the "Complete ENGLISH Horse Riding Manual." Keep in mind that this book does orignate from the UK, where many disciplines that are common in the United States do not share the same rate of popularity. Regardless, it is a lovely book with something to offer riders of all levels, especially the beginner or novice. It is well worth it, accurate writing combined with a coffee table book appeal.

Doring Kindersley has pulled another coup. This is a fabulous book In the way of the D-K books, the photographs are very clean and function to exponentially increase the information transfer.While it says "complete horse riding manual", the book covers dressage, show jumping, and eventing. It would also be very useful for hunter riders.Cutting horse, reining, trail, and other Western judged events are not covered, nor is endurance riding.With that caveat, the book is more than worth the price. If I were running an English equestrian program, I'd provide this book for all my students so that we were all on the same page.

Bought this book for my equestrian daughter; simply wonderfully written, clear, concise. Photos and diagrams superb! Amazingly good book. I am in fact buying a second copy for my daughter's friend. If you love horses, riding, and books - this is a MUST!