Books We Recommend

(We do not sell these books, but we own personal copies and we recommend them. We have provided information to help you locate and order them.)

Effective Horsemanship, by Noel Jackson

This book was originally published in 1967 and is now out of print. It is regarded by many serious horsemen as a classic. The presentation is for English riding, but the principles are timeless and cross all disciplines. I have found the illustrations for lateral work to be very helpful. Click on the cover photo at the left, and an inside page example will display.

We do not sell this book. Now out of print, copies often can be found using the web search at Amazon.com. (link opens in a new window).

The New Toughness Training For Sports, by James Loehr

This book deals with the mental part of competition. A young competitor told me once, "I don't know what it is about it, but when I ride through the gate, something sucks out all my brains!" If you have a problem remaining focused under pressure, if you can't remember what happened after your run, then I recommend this book for you. It will help you face the pressures of competition with confidence. It has helped me, and I do recommend it. Click on the cover photo at the left, and an inside page example will display.

We do not sell this book. New and used copies can be found using the web search at Amazon.com. (link opens in a new window).

Understanding Equitation, by Jean Saint-Fort Paillard

This book was first published in the US in 1975 and is now out of print. It is regarded by many serious horsemen as a classic. The author was a French cavalry officer and instructor, and participated in three Olympic Games - in Three-Day Eventing and Dressage. The presentation is for English riding, but the principles are timeless and cross all disciplines. I have found the author's impressive understanding of how horses learn and proper use of the aids to be very helpful. Click on the cover photo at the left, and an inside page example will display.

We do not sell this book. Now out of print, copies often can be found using the web search at Amazon.com. (link opens in a new window).

Centered Riding, by Sally Swift

I really like the drawings in this book. The author uses illustrations such as looking with eyes in your shoulders, melting like ice cream on a hot day, legs stretching until they reach the ground, holding baby birds in your hands with the reins, and many more. The writing is a little Zen-like at times, but I have found the images to be truly helpful, and I do recommend it. Click on the cover photo at the left, and an inside page example will display.

We do not sell this book. New and used copies can be found using the web search at Amazon.com. (link opens in a new window).

Nineteen Second Pole Bending, by Wayne Sandberg

This is the book that got me ( Ken Smith ) started in the serious pursuit of pole bending competition. When I began my quest for pole bending information, I discovered there was not a lot out there. I ordered this book and found it was filled with detailed information on horse and rider technique, rein and leg aids, training exercises for the horse, and advice to help the rider be successful. The author was the first to write a book on this specialty, and he has studied the subject thoroughly. Click on the cover photo at the left, and an inside page example will display.

There are portions that the reader might find to be challenging, and because of this, I have written some notes to accompany the book. They provide further explanations with larger, more detailed photos. If you own this book, we encourage you to download a free copy of these notes.
Get the free Pole Book Notes here: Pole Book Notes (pdf file opens in a new window).

We do not sell this book. It has been available from The Tack Stop (link opens in a new window).

If you found this information via a search and you have not yet seen our Pole Bending and Horsemanship section, we would like to encourage you to take a look.