Realize Your Horse's True Potential

Over the Years, certain practices have become acknowledged as the acceptable training methods for horses. To ensure that each horse is given every opportunity for achievement, however, the thinking horse person must learn how to shape and utilize these methods for the individual and understand that they cannot be applied in the same way for each horse. This book will enable every rider and trainer to understand how this may be achieved and how they can realize their horse's true potential. This fascinating book presents the physical structure of the horse in the same thought-provoking way that horse psychology is debated in Lesley Skipper's Inside Your Horse's Mind. Together, the two books are an invaluable source of reference. The Aim of Realize Your Horse's True Potential is to enable the average owner, rider, and trainer to improve the general ability and performance of any horse no matter what his age, whether the ultimate purpose is general recreational riding, local show activities, eventing, showjumping, dressage, or endurance. The author looks at the strengths and weaknesses inherent in different types of conformation, and suggests ways in which riders can minimize the effects of any weaknesses while recognizing the limitations they impose. To overcome these limitations, it may sometimes be necessary for riders to reevaluate their aims in order to achieve success. Do they want to take part in top level competition, or do they simply want to compete at the local level? Do they, indeed, want to compete at all, or is their main satisfaction gained from just owning and riding their horse and trying to get the best out of him? Whatever their goals, they need to understand how the way a horse is put together affects his athletic ability and what his limitations and abilities are likely to be. They must also recognize the enormous extent to which they, as riders and trainers, can affect a horse's capabilities and either enhance or decrease his potential. The emphasis throughout the book is on what can be achieved; no horse has absolutely perfect conformation but almost every horse can be helped, through correct care, training and riding, to overcome such limitations as nature has imposed on him, and to become fitter, healthier, happier and more versatile as a result, thus enhancing the rider's enjoyment. Every horse owner, rider and trainer will benefit from the study of this immensely practical, fascinating and groundbreaking book. Book jacket.

Lesley Skipper is the author of The Arabian Show Horse and Inside Your Horse’s Mind.