Making, Not Breaking: The First Year Under Saddle

I would really like to meet the author and shake her by the hand and congratulate her on this excellent work. For many years there has been a great gap in equestrian literature for this type of work. Most books deal with the early backing of a young horse and once the rider is in the saddle and moving - that's where they finish. During my lengthy horse career I have started many youngsters, both for myself and other people - also I have found this the easy part. The next part - early education is another story. When I purchased this book I was curious to see how others schooled their youngsters once they were happy with the rider. I have always felt that the most difficult part of educating a youngster comes after they have accepted the rider, e.g. the first canter lessons (can be quite hair raising in some instances)and some horses are best not cantered for some time. Riding out - in traffic - in our point in time is another experience where one knows one is alive (and wishes to remain so; taking your young horse to shows, etc. Ms Hill certainly states that all youngsters are different (which they are) and that her programme is designed to "add or subtract" to or from according to the youngster's spirit. All in all this is an excellent training book and a valuable addition to any horseman's library and is suitable for either English or Western riders as this early training can be built on, towards whichever discipline you follow. EXCELLENT! Purchase and keep.

The title says it all, Making Not Breaking. I had been looking through countless books and magazine articals, and watching a fare share of movies untill I read this book. It's informative, and it's methods really work with sound results. For the horse people out there it's a must have! Cherry Hill's methods are kind yet full of leadership and best of all logical. Not only are you informed on how to start a horse under saddle but what to do after your horse has gotton used to the saddle. Hill explains that you need to develop a plan and stick to it. I recomend this book to every horse person weather you own a horse or not!