From Warming Up to Cooling Down An introduction to training and management techniques by Susan McBane

Highly practical, scientifically sound, and written in a clear and accessible style, this book provides all the information you need to keep your well and sound. The topics covered will give readers, riders and students alike, the confidence and independence to be able to make their own accurate decisions on the best way to proceed during the schooling, work and management processes, no matter what work their horses do.

Most horses today are kept for athletic purposes; they are equine athletes. That term has come to imply high-performance horses but, in practice, it applies to any horse who is working at or near his individual capacity and is, therefore, putting a good deal of effort into his work. Depending on the horse, an active hack, a pleasure ride, a picnic ride or a trip to the beach can be just as demanding and tiring as high-level competition or day with hounds and the horse will need correct preparation and care if his well-being, health and soundness are not to be put at risk.

In this comprehensive and informative book, Susan McBane gives advice on the best way to:

• prepare a horse for a schooling or work session
• loosen and warm him up
• work him in
• introduce and practice new movements
• ride in a competitive or work situation without over-stressing the horse
• cool down under saddle or in hand
• care for a horse immediately after work
• settle down the horse after work both physically and mentally

In addition to these topics, several others are dealt with, such as applying bodywork techniques to a horse and the effects of travelling and how to overcome them. Different routines are suggested for various circumstances, ranging from a full routine for hard work to a shorter version for normal work.

Hardback