Advanced Western Riding Book

Acknowledgments     6
Introduction     9
Moving Beyond the Basics: Taking Mental Inventory     13
Keep Riding; Stay in the Moment
Take Out the Emotions; Assume the Best
Be Consistent
Feel Free to Make Mistakes
Be Confident and Decisive
Practice Being the Person You Want to Be
Have Fun
Refine Your Riding     31
Developing Better Balance and Scat
Refining Effective Aids and Cues
Timing Cues for Greatest Effectiveness
Moving Beyond Cues and Aids: The Inner Aspects of Riding
Advanced Schooling for You and Your Horse     69
Striving for Self-Carriage
Building on the Self-Carriage Foundation
Smooth Transitions
Lateral and Other Work
Keep Things Interesting
Equipment     101
Basic Saddle Fit Guidelines for Performance
Event-Specific Saddles
Western Bridles and Bits
Transition from Snaffle to Curb
Ready to Compete: Basic Rules and Attire for Horse and Rider     131
General Conditioning Tips
Show Classes
Gaming, Gymkhana, and Speed Events
Cow Events
Other Ways to Have Fun
Conclusion     159
Resources     161
Glossary     169
Index     177