Helpful Study Books

Recommended As ARICP Study Guides

101 Arena Exercises

By Cherry Hill

A ringside book for riders who want to improve their own and their horse's skills. The book can be hung like a calendar for quick and easy reference.

101 Dressage Exercises for Horse & Rider

By Jec Aristotle Ballou

Schooling your horse in standard dressage techniques creates a firm foundation for all preformance riding. Each of this book's 101 exercises features an arena diagram or drawing illustrating the elements of the routine.

101 Horsemanship & Equitation Patterns

By Cherry Hill

Cherry Hill has been a national horse show judge for several breed organizations since 1975. She designed this book to be useful for Western and English riders practicing at home and convenient for horse show judges. Each pattern has a detailed arena diagram which can be posted at a horse show. On the facing page, step-by-step instructions guide the rider through the elements of the pattern with Tips and Pattern Help throughout.

101 Jumping Exercises for Horse and Rider

By Linda L. Allen and Dianna Robin Dennis, Susan E. Harris (Illustrator), Joe Fargis

This must-have workbook provides a logical and consistent series of exercises with clear maps and straightforward instructions. For each exercise, Linda Allen covers set-up; how to ride the exercise; steps to make the exercise more difficult; what every successful rider should keep in mind while working; when to move on to the next step; and the benefits of the exercise.

101 Longeing & Long Lining Exercises

By Cherry Hill

Complete ground training lesson plans from square 1 to square 101.

A Blue Ribbon For Sugar

By Elaine Clayton

For ages 4 to 8. A Blue Ribbon For Sugar captures the joy and excitement of riding a horse for the first time.

All-Around Horse & Rider, The

By Donna Snyder-Smith

Riding techniques that get results. In the past twenty-five years, a number of major innovations in horse handling have gained acceptance in the global community. Now Howell presents a one-stop resource for amateur adult riders to help them understand the new approaches and implement them to achieve fast results.

Anne Kursinski's Riding & Jumping Clinic

(Helpful preparation for ARICP's Show Jumping Tests.)
By Anne Kursinski

This breakthrough book lays out in words and pictures the key elements of her riding techniques so that they can be studied and applied by any determined rider.

Arena Pocket Guide
Advanced English Exercises

By Cherry Hill

Each easy-to-use "read and ride" workbook includes complete, illustrated directions, an arena map, a list of exercise benefits, necessary precautions, and a "Test Your Skills" section.

Arena Pocket Guide
Advanced Western Exercises

By Cherry Hill

Strengthen your Western riding skills with this read-and-ride guide. Perfect for quick reference in the ring! Advanced Western Exercises features arena maps with patterns of exercises and gaits to help you.

Arena Pocket Guide
Beginning English Exercises

Arena Pocket Guide
Beginning Western Exercises

By Cherry Hill

Strengthen your Western riding skills with this read-and-ride guide. Perfect for quick reference in the ring!

Arena Pocket Guide
Intermediate English Exercises

By Cherry Hill

Strengthen your English riding skills with this read-and-ride guide. Perfect for quick reference in the ring!

Arena Pocket Guide
Intermediate Western Exercises

By Cherry Hill

Each easy-to-use - workbook includes complete, illustrated directions, an arena map, a list of exercise benefits, necessary precautions, and a "Test Your Skills" section.

Balance in Movement - Revised Edition

by Susanne von Dietze

In Balance in Movement, Susanne von Dietze breaks new ground in helping riders to understand the anatomical requirements that are crucial for establishing the perfect seat.

Basics of Western Riding, The

By Charlene Strickland

Master all the steps to becoming an effective Western rider, from evaluating a potential mount to dressing for style and safety.

BHS Instructor's Manual
Teaching Riding, The

By The British Horse Society

Qualities of a riding instructor; becoming an instructor; communication; understanding horses and riders; planing safe lessons; teaching lunge and lead-rein lessons; teaching children; teaching adults; teaching jumping; school horses; dealing with problems; teaching games, pony club and riding clubs. PB, Illustrated, 144 pages.

BHS Manual of Equitation
The Training of Horse & Rider, The

By The British Horse Society

Essential for students taking British Horse Society exams, and invaluable for all riders - the official handbook on riding and training the horse. Fully revised by Consultant Editor Islay Auty FBHS, re-illustrated with diagrams by Dianne Breeze, and presented in the same large paperback format and style as the enormously popular BHS Complete Manual of Stable Management.

Bit and the Reins, The

By Gerhard Kapitzke

Regardless of riding discipline, a physical and psychological harmony between horse and rider can only be fully realized if a means of communication between partners is established, a need which has led to the development, over time, of bridles, bits, and reins. In this book, renowned horseman Gerhard Kapitzke clarifies the important role of these frequently misused items of tack, illustrating how establishing an independent seat and allowing the evolution of a common balance, rather than forcing a particular head carriage, will produce a comfortable, happy horse and unhindered lines of communication.

Bombproof Your Horse

Rick Pelicano

Teach Your Horse to be Confident, Obedient, and Safe, No Matter What You Encounter. A clearly illustrated manual that shows equestrians how to prepare their horses for the unexpected, turning them into safer, more pleasurable mounts.

Build Complete Confidence with Horses

By Kelly Marks

"Beat Fear and Excuses & Attain Your Riding Goals"

However ambitious or basic your equestrian goal, Kelly Marks' confidence-building techniques will help you get the best from your horse, and the best from yourself. This book helps you:

Identify sources of insecurities
Overcome fear and doubt
Develop a "thicker skin"
Set yourself up for success
Fulfill competitive ambitions
Be brave for those who need you
Avoid self-limitation
Build a support system
Find appropriate role models
Recover from traumatic accidents

Buying & Reschooling Ex-Racehorses

By Christopher & Victoria Coldrey

A sensible reschooling plan for Thoroughbreds off the racetrack heading toward a new career as a sport or show horse. The book begins with a recommendation for six weeks rest off the track and then proceeds with step-by-step instructions for liberty work, beginning anew under saddle, jumping, hacking out, and much more.

Classic Western Rider, The

By Donna Snyder-Smith

Whether you're more at home on the range, exploring the trails, or competing in the show arena, this book will help you hone your skills; from America's cowboy heritage to day's training methods & competitive events.

Classical Schooling With The Horse In Mind: Gentle Gymnastic Training Techniques

By Anja Beran

In this gorgeously illustrated book Anja Beran shares her lifetime of experience studying classical equestrian ideals and ethical principles, and riding & training horses according to them.

Complete Idiot's Guide to Horseback Riding

By Dr. Jesssica Jahiel

Simple strategies for mastering basic riding skills. Essential information on caring for your horse. Expert opinions on what to look for in an instructor. Easy-to-follow instructions on how to trot, canter, and jump.

Dressage with Kyra

By Kyra Kyrklund & Lemkow

(Helpful preparation for ARICP's Dressage Tests.)

In this long-awaited book, Olympian Kyra Kyrklund clearly explains the logical, systematic training methods that have brought her success, showing how they can be applied to all horses--young or old, green or experienced.

Dressage:
Guidebook for the Road to Success

By Alfred Knopfhart

(Helpful preparation for ARICP's Dressage Tests.)

This book gives a very well organized presentation of how to progressively train a dressage horse. If you have ever wondered how a shoulder-in is different from a haunches-in and why we teach the shoulder-in first, this is your book.

Driving a Harness Horse

A Step by Step Guide
By Sallie Walrond

Produced as a stable-mate to the author's hugely successful Breaking a Horse to Harness, this invaluable book uses the same step-by-step format to help the novice whip learn the art of driving. From selecting a suitable vehicle harness, to harnessing up and the finer points of driving technique, all aspects of driving a single horse or pony or in a pair or tandem are covered.

Effective Teaching & Riding - Exploring Balance and Motion

By Eckart Meyners

Every rider has the dream of sitting on a horse's back, moving forward with grace and ease as one unit; the ultimate team flowing in perfect harmony, mentally and physically connected. Effective Teaching & Riding is the key to making this dream a reality.

Equestrian Education
Professional Development for Instructors

By Jill K. Hassler-Scoop and Kathy Kelly, Ph.D

Equestrian Education is a logical and progressive guide for the process of teaching riding. Valuable for beginning instructors, as well as for those who teach beginners through advanced students. While the book's authors are primarily dressage and jumping instructors, the teaching techniques are good for all disciplines. Charts, sidebars, illustrations and examples make the text come alive, and give the reader the 'feeling' of being part of the process. One of the few books written exclusively for instructors.

Essential Guide to Carriage Driving, The

By Robyn Cuffey and Jaye-Allison Winkel

Generously illustrated with over 350 photographs and diagrams, this book covers topics ranging from the selection and fitting of harness and vehicle to preparing for competition and driving multiples.

Games on Horseback:
Having Fun, Learning Safety,
Improving Horsemanship

By Betty Bennett-Talbot and Steven Bennett

Lots of fun suggestions that will work for your next speed show or just for having fun with friends. The book indicates what level the rider needs to be at for each game, as well as advises what safety precautions should be taken. There are games for all seasons of the year and for all riding levels. The book includes drawings of arena or field setup where necessary and has photos of riders participating in the games. The instruction on each of the games also includes information about what skills the rider and horse are developing while playing these games.

George H. Morris Teaches Beginners to Ride - A Clinic for Instructors, Parents & Students

By George H. Morris

This book is an entry-level introduction to hunter-seat riding, from the novice's first lesson up to fundamentals of jumping.

George H. Morris: Because Every Round Counts

By George H. Morris

A collection of the 50 best articles from The Chronicle of the Horse's "Between Rounds" columns from 1989-2006.

Go the Distance

The Complete Resource for Endurance Horses
By Nancy Loving, DVM

Written by a veterinarian, this book could be so techincal in nature that only another scientist or veterinarian would be able to comprehend everything. But it's not. This book is written in such a way as to make the information perfect accessible to anyone. Dr. Loving goes into appropriate detail about every aspect of endurance riding. Most importantly, she writes in such a clear and concise manner as to make even the more difficult subjects to comprehend, such as the finer points of conformation and the metabolic health of your horse.

Grooming To Win

By Susan E. Harris

How to groom, trim, braid and prepare your horse for show.

Handbook of Riding Essentials

By Francois Lemaire de Ruffieu

A master horseman in everything from dressage to the steeplechase, Francois Lemaire de Ruffieu has written a superb riding guide.

Horse Anatomy

By John Green

Thirty pages of detailed drawings of a horse's skeleton, muscles, nervous system, and major organs. All illustrations are clearly labeled and explained.

Horse Behavior Problem Solver, The

By Jessica Jahiel

Your questions answered about how horses think, learn and react. This equine behavior expert offers practical, proven solutions to 101 common horse behavior problems in an easy-to-read, question-and-answer format.

Horse Gaits, Balance and Movement

By Susan E. Harris

Offers advice to horsemen who are concerned with helping the horse achieve the best movement it is capable of.

Horse Training Problem Solver, The

By Jessica Jahiel

Every horse owner wants a properly trained companion that understands what's expected and responds accordingly, but the training process can be frustrating and baffling - for humans and horses!. Equine behavior expert Jessica Jahiel answers