The Cobs Can! Workbook: Progressive Training Exercises for Rideability, Suppleness and Collection

I've been riding all my life, but have very little natural athletic talent. Now that I'm in my 50s I've spent the last decade trying to read seriously about dressage training in the Iberian tradition. The more I read the more confused I've become, especially about in-hand work. This book has been wonderful for clarifying the purpose of the basics and how these basics integrate to become the advanced movements. I'd recommend this book to anyone from beginners to more advanced riders who teach – – this book has been able to get across concepts to me that I haven't been able to thoroughly understand. Of course, putting my understanding into practice in the arena is a whole different story, but I no longer feel so confused about where to start. I feel this book has given me a program. I feel empowered to go start really working with my horses (an Arab and a Lusitano-Andalusian) rather than feeling inhibited by how ignorant I am. I would like to learn about the school halt and the levade as these would seem to follow on directly from this work. How about an appendix to this book? I'd be happy to spend $20 on it!I would also like to have a follow-up book on proper lunging and long-reining, as well as the use of cavaletti in gymnastisizing the horse properly.And because this author has such a beautiful, clear way of communicating, I would really love it if he would write a book on equine biomechanics that clarifies recent research.Bravo! A very heartening book.

This book details in simple terms some classical training methods, starting horses and rider interactions while on the ground. Teaching basic responses to rein and "leg" aids prior to being mounted allows the horse to learn in a less distracted manner and makes mounted work move along much more quickly and with less stress for both horse and rider. While not a new concept, it is well illustrated and explained.