Books and DVDs

The Canterwood Crest Books explore the lives of elite and competitive schoolgirls attending Canterwood Crest Academy.

Laminated books formatted for callers as well as riders. A compact 3 1/2" x 5 1/4" booklet with arena diagrams.

Pam Kaster's "Molly The Pony: A True Story" is a great horse story for children and adults alike. A pony named Molly was left alone during hurricane Katrina and was badly injured due to a dog bite. This is the tale of her rescue and recovery--a true story about courage and friendship.

Designed specifically for coaches. Laminated and in caller format with arena diagrams.

Elizabeth Letts' "The Eighty-Dollar Champion" reveals the dramatic and inspiring rise to stardom of Snowman, a horse destined for slaughter, and Dutch immigrant Harry de Leyer who saved him from this sad fate. Against odds and some of the most expensive Thoroughbreds alive, Snowman and Harry reached the top of the sport of show jumping.

WHY HORSES DO THAT

This book from Storey Publishing follows the popular 101 Jumping Exercises for Horse & Rider. The book opens vertically like a calendar, and each two-page spread has a diagram of the exercise on the top page, with walk-through instructions and tips on the bottom page. It's designed so it can be hung up in the arena as you work, with a sturdy coil binding and a hole for hanging. The exercises range from simple warm-up exercises to more complicated ones designed to develop suspension, flying lead changes, lightness and lengthening.

As with any book of exercises, riders should realize they can only get out of them what they are able to put into them. Regular feedback from a qualified coach or friend, listening carefully to what your horse tells you, and respecting the difficulty of seemingly 'simple' exercises will help riders move forward.

This book is a good resource for anyone coaching or riding over fences. Section 1 consists of 25 ground pole exercises, from the basic figure-eight over a pole to not-so-basic figure-eights over poles, to an entire course of poles with pace changes. Later exercises incorporate the ground-pole exercises into grids and work at the canter with lead changes. Far from being the required "boring stuff" that is presented before you get to the actual jumping, the pole work is fresh and challenging and will be a welcome addition to anyone's training schedule.

As the book progresses, exercises get increasingly challenging. There is something for all levels of riders, from 'D' Level Pony Clubbers to those preparing for 4' jumpers. Just as valuable as the exercises are the in-depth explanations and directions. Problem-solving, double-check, and tip boxes are provided for each exercise. Benefits are also clearly explained.