Horse Gaits, Balance and Movement

By Susan E. Harris and Francois L. De Ruffieu

Book Overview

See how your horse moves and become a better rider Horses are born to move--a foal can walk, trot and gallop within hours of birth. But not all horses move equally well, and the way a horse moves can have a real impact on how you ride. In this unique book, Susan Harris presents more than 300 eye-opening drawings that show you exactly how horses move. She illustrates movements common to all horses, pinpoints movement problems, reveals how a human in the saddle affects a horse's movement and helps you become a better, more accomplished rider. * Get a close-up look at horse gaits and transitions * Observe the differences between good and poor movement * Find out how balance and conformation affect movement * View flexion, bending and lateral movements * See the impact of shoeing and riding on movement * Discover practical tips to improve your horse's movement

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764587889
• ISBN13: 9780764587887
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Howell (TP)
• Length: 178 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Buy it! Read it! Soon!

I absolutely hate to use the cliche statement "This is THE book you should read"... but this book IS that book. If you want to advance your knowledge and UNDERSTANDING of movement of, and with, horses... I mean to a clearly superior level - "Horse Gaits, Balance and Movement" by Susan Harris is the book you want. You cannot just read this book. You will find yourself studying it, poring over it, saying "Aha, so that's why....", and "OMG, why didn't I realize that when I was riding yesterday". Whether you are an ultra-serious and scholarly student of things Equine or a more casual reader looking just for a better sense of how to enhance your riding performance (and make it easier for both you and your horse), and improve your care of your horse , you will find Harris' book a clear, tremendously informative, enjoyable read. But be prepared - you will be going back to it so often you'll wish she had made the book so it would fit in your pocket. And DON'T lend it to another rider without taking their saddle as collateral!

Horse Gaits, Balance and Movement

This book is very complete with information and diagrams for all parts of the horse and how they move. Well written and a great resource to refer back to. Lots of detail on muscle groups and what they do. If you are interested in bio-mechanics, this works! I do lots of ground work with dressage horses and rehab for injured and arthritic horses. This resource is particularly helpful for me.

Informative and easy read

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to fully understand the basic gaits, movement and conformation of the horse. There is information on the natural gaits of the horse and how a rider can enhance or hinder the horse's movement and balance. The format will assist both novices and advanced equestrians. It is written in easy-to-understand language. The information is also very accessible simply by browsing through the illustrations. This book would be a great addition to any horse enthusiast's library.

A must for every horse lover!

Yes, Ms. Harris did the sketches. Her sketches really capture the movement of the horse and enables you to breakdown the gaits and jumping actions to see what is really happening. Utterly fascinating!

A must buy for the serious horseman

An excellent presentation of the elements of balance in the horse's movement at various gaits. The illustrations (Did Ms Harris do them?) are grand and support the text very well. It is an excellent resource.