Books on Rider Fitness

Pilates for the Dressage Rider by Janice Dulak

Pilates and riding both share many essential characteristics: supple, effective posture, precise body control, flowing movements, and centered, even bodies. Many riders have found regular Pilates practice the “silver bullet” to achieving an elegant, independent seat. In this popular book, Janice Dulak explains how to begin an effective Pilates practice at home, complete with descriptions and photos of classical Pilates exercises. There is even a final section on putting all your newly learned Pilates skills into action in the saddle to solve common problems such as bouncing in the trot or falling forward in the saddle, or relying too much on the reins in downward transitions. This book is great both for the rider trying to get in shape for a new riding season and for the serious rider trying to get that extra edge.

Book Code: 4634 Price: 25.95 Click Here to Order.

DVD Code: 5107 Price: $39.95 Click Here to Order.

Pilates for Equestrians by Liza Randall - Hardcover (2010)

Liza Randall integrates Pilates exercises well with riding. In the first quarter of the book, the author highlights common rider problems (crookedness, tension, excessive arm or leg movement, etc), and establishes four basic positions from which she initiates all the exercises. She explains the goals of each, and which musculoskeletal areas are involved. The remainder of the book is devoted to the exercises, listing the goals, the method of execution and how each applies to equestrians. The book layout and exercise program both are easy to follow, and the detailed descriptions highlight any safety precautions to consider. Some exercises can also be performed mounted, and the book illustrates those, along with photographs showing each exercise.

For yoga practitioners, many of these positions will seem familiar, understanding that they are active, rather than static poses. The relatedness of the two programs should help many equestrians make good use of this book.

Code: 5447 Price: $39.95 Click Here to Order.

Pilates for Riders: align your spine & control your core for a perfect position by Lindsay Wilcox-Reid - Paperback (2010)

In this book thoughtfully presented program, the author asks you to review the entire program so that you will understand the principles of the Pilates program and how to apply it to your riding. The first half of the book explains the principles of Pilates, as well as the functional anatomy of a rider, tying posture anomalies to impediments that show up as you work with your horse. When you get to the Pilates exercise portion of the book, you have a much better idea of not just how to do the exercises but why, and how they should help you move forward with your riding and training.

Code: 5380 Price: $32.95 Click Here to Order.

Rider Fitness: Body & Brain - 180 Anytime, anywhere Exercises by Eckart Meyners - Paperback (2011)

Riding isn't like other sports: it's about timing, not speed; it's about balance, not strength. Working on the horse's training and fitness can't progress far unless you also develop the rider's training and fitness.

Eckart Meyners has focused on the relationship between kinetics and riding for more than 30 years. He now offers this fitness program to help riders achieve the athletic ability needed to carry their side of the horse-rider partnership. The program covers both unmounted and mounted exercises, from warm-up to cool-down, and includes aerobic work, stretching, strengthening, stress-reducing, balancing and rider specific exercises. more...

Code: 5509 Price: $29.95 Click Here to Order.

It's Never Too Late by Holly Mason- Paperback (2008)

Holly Mason shares her journey towards harmony with horses. She addresses the physical difficulties women encounter when riding dressage, a sport traditionally dominated by men, by comparing the bodies of men and women and gives the rider unmounted exercises and tips to improve her position on the horse as well as classical exercises in the maneige to strengthen and supple the horse. This book thouroughly discusses the technical and biomechanical theory behind a correct riding seat, and offers many good ideas for making your seat stronger, more supple, and more independent (e.g., for the crooked rider, she recommends paying attention to which side the rider sleeps on at night.)

Code: 5116 Price: $32.95 Click Here to Order.

Longeing the Rider for a Perfect Seat by Linda Benedik- Paperback (2007)

Longeing is not just for beginners! An independent seat helps riders cure all of their riding problems more quickly and with less effort. Frequent longe lessons are essential as you continue your riding to forestall any developing stiffness or one-sidedness. This book describes the basics of good longe lessons and gives specific exercises for the rider to deepen the seat and correct common position flaws.

Code: 4940 Price: $29.95 Click here to order.

New Ride with Your Mind Clinic: Rider Biomechanics - Basics to Brilliance by Mary Wanless - Hardcover (2008)

Using the clinic format of Mary Wanless's earlier books, here she focuses on the biomechanics of the riders she works with in each successive chapter. Each of the first four chapters showcases a separate rider- one who tips forward, one who tips back, a chronic sloucher, and one with a hollow back, and shows how each rider improves with a series of changes in their riding. The final few chapters cover the aids, symmetry and alignment, and lateral and advanced work.

Code: 4962 Price: $31.95 Click here to order.

Gymnastic Riding System Using Mind, Body, and Spirit by Betsy Steiner - Hardcover (2003)

Noted dressage rider and trainer Betsy Steiner has built a comprehensive training system, based on the classical training pyramid used by the German National Equestrian Foundation, USDF and many noted trainers. Filled with well-captioned photos and drawings, diagrams, occasional tips, including a pilates exercise program for riders, this book could become a well-used training tool for any rider honestly trying to improve his or her performance with an equine partner.

Code: 3897 Price: $29.95 Click here to order.

Ride From Within by James Shaw - Paperback (2005)

James Shaw explains how to use the ancient, graceful Chinese art of Tai Chi to “calm your mind, control your breath, and center your body” in order to establish a higher level of understanding and communication between the horse and rider. Few forms of exercise are better suited to equestrians than Tai Chi, which unifies the body, mind and spirit in a series of flowing movements to align the posture, breath and inner/outermost being. With step-by-step color photgraphs to guide readers through introductory exercises and a basic discussion of Eastern philosophy, this book provides a great foundation for a new way of riding, equally useful for all disciplines.

Code: 4410 Price: $29.95 Click here to order.

Riding from the Inside Out by Lisa Champion - Hardcover (2005)

After sitting in an office chair all day, it is difficult to sit on a horse and immediately affect perfect posture. Lisa Champion acknowledges this, and in a straightforward and well-illustrated book, she explains various posture faults and the effect they can have on a rider; she also includes several exercises targeted towards fixing each postural problem. This extremely accessible book comes with an audio CD of the key exercises to play when you practice.

Code: 4429 Price: $24.95 Click here to order.

Major Anders Lindgren's Teaching Exercises by Major Anders Lindgren - Hardcover (1998)

This is a clear, concise, and well-organized collection of suppling and strengthening exercises ranging from Training Level to Fifth Level (now approximately equal to Prix St. Georges). The Major’s patterns emphasize control and accuracy, and he does a particularly admirable job of describing how to use the exercises of dressage to balance, straighten, and collect the horse, rather than seeing the exercises as a means to an end. With his delightful use of imagery and constant deep concern for the horse, this slim volume (140 pages) is a must for any tack box.

Code: 2471 Price: $25.95 Click here to order.

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