The Sport Horse Problem Solver: What Works, What Doesn't, and How to Make It All Better

Eric Smiley, a former international event rider, has written The Sport Horse Problem Solver to help riders whose horses may not have had "the right start." He addresses common problems in dressage, eventing, and show jumping, including head and neck position, connection issues, failure to follow the rules of forward, straight, and regular, difficulty with collection, and lack of consistency. Smiley teaches readers how to identify what isn't working by looking at how things should work and provides an easy-to-follow system for determining what's potentially wrong with a horse and choosing sensible exercises for fixing it. His troubleshooting five-point system helps readers find the "start point" and map out a sensible plan for future training. The book is useful, cross-disciplinary, and optimistic, helping readers achieve success in partnership with their horses wherever they are in their journey together.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 14 January 2023
Publisher: Trafalgar Square

For decades, former international event rider Eric Smiley has brought along his own top-level horses. Now, he leverages his immense knowledge to assist riders whose horses may not have had the ideal start. Every horse carries its own "baggage," encompassing behavior or training issues, whether minor or significant, that can be challenging to identify or resolve. In these pages, Smiley addresses the most common problems he has observed across dressage, eventing, and show jumping, including:- Issues with head and neck position.- Connection problems.- Failure to adhere to the rules of forward, straight, and regular movement.- Difficulty with collection.- Lack of consistency.

Smiley teaches readers how to identify what is not functioning by observing how things should work. He then guides us through dismantling and reassembling the issues, offering an easy-to-follow system for determining what could be wrong with a horse and selecting appropriate exercises for fixing it. He introduces a troubleshooting five-point system:- Ask yourself, "What is the problem?"- Ask, "How, when, and why did it arise?"- Ask, "Why does it need solving?"- Formulate a plan.- Analyze the results in the context of "now" and what they may signify for the future.

Layers and shifts of understanding in horses, combined with the physical and psychological challenges of riding, can often render problem-solving intricate. Smiley's system assists readers in finding that "start point" and creating a sensible plan for future training. He demonstrates how to identify when something may have become an issue for your horse or your performance, strategies to prevent it from occurring in the first place, and, of course, provides highly practical solutions to employ when you encounter a problem.

Dimension: 184 x 222 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781646011193