The Gentle Art of Horseback Riding

Gincy Self Bucklin has been teaching riding for more than 60 years. Her students have included recreational riders of all ages and levels, many of whom have also shown successfully and some of whom have become professionals themselves. While many experienced instructors teach only advanced riders, Gincy has also worked extensively with beginners and intermediates, believing that in order to be successful at the advanced level, riders must know and perfect the fundamentals from the start. She now works with instructors to share the teaching methods presented in her books. Gincy’s mother was well-known equestrian author Margaret Cabell Self. Gincy was also fortunate to grow up in an area that had many world-class instructors and clinicians, including Sally Swift, George Morris, and Nuno Oliveira. Some of her early instructors trained with European trainers during the 1920s and ’30s while the cavalry, where much of the equine knowledge was developed, was still in existence. Gincy is a retired Centered Riding instructor and is an American Riding Instructors Association level IV instructor. Gincy has been writing about horses and riding since 1987. She is the author of What Your Horse Wants You to Know, How Your Horse Wants You to Ride, and More How Your Horse Wants You to Ride. She has been a contributor to national horse magazines, including Equus and Horse Illustrated. Currently she writes a regular column for Riding Instructor, the quarterly publication of the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA), and maintains her own website, http://whatyourhorsewants.com. Gincy lives in East Dummerston, Vermont.

Chapter 1 Starting out Right

Why you Need Professional Instruction

Finding the Right Instructor

Riding Attire

Chapter2 The Real Tools for Success

The Three Basics

The Seven Steps and Grounding

Safety Guidelines

Chapter 3 Getting to Know the Horse

Handling the Introduction in a Closed Space

Getting Acquainted Out in the Open

Grooming

Chapter 4 Overcoming Your Natural Fear of Falling

Mounting in Baby Steps

Dismounting Safely

Preparing for the Emergency Dismount

Getting Comfortable On the Horse

Chapter 5 Taking Your First Real Ride

Using the Bareback Pad to Achieve a Secure Seat

Using the Grounding Strap

Mounting: Getting It Right From the Start

Following the Motion

Lateral Centering

Putting It All Together

Chapter 6 The Indispensable Halter and Staying Centered During Turns and Transitions

Rope Halters

Leather or Nylon Halters

Checking the Fit of the Halter

Staying Laterally Centered

Longitudinal Centering During Transitions

Chapter 7 Negotiating Simple Ground Movements

Achieving Cooperation Through Communication

Moving The Horse’s Hindquarters

Moving The Horse’s Forehand

Moving the Horse Backward

Chapter 8 Gaining Respect and Becoming the Leader

The Leadership Position

Dealing with Resistance

Starting and Stopping

Turning

When the Horse Wants to Take Over

Using The Stick for Gentle Persuasion

Chapter 9 Expanding Your Ground Skills

Leading the Horse Into the Stall

Bringing the Horse Out of the Stall

Cleaning the Horse’s Feet

Tacking Up the Horse With the Bareback Pad

Chapter 10 The Gentle Riding Aids

Understanding and Applying Intent

Using Your Eyes

Moving Your Center

Using Your Seat

Managing Your Weight

Using the Stick While Riding

Eliminating the Need for Aggression

Chapter 11 Handling the Reins and Preparing to Ride Solo

Picking Up the Reins

Lengthening the Reins

Shortening the Reins

Using the Grounding Strap and Stick with the Reins

The Sitting Trot or Jog

A Taste of Freedom

Chapter 12 Introduction to Riding In the Saddle

Preparing for Saddle Work

Mounting the Saddled Horse

Tightening the Girth While Mounted in the English Saddle

Dismounting From the Saddled Horse

Getting Comfortable

Your First Ride in the Saddle

Chapter 13 Saddling Up and Starting With Stirrups

Putting On the Saddle

Starting With the Stirrups

The n Position

The A Position

The Full Seat Forward Position

Sitting the Trot In the Saddle

Chapter 14 Half-Seat Positions and Preparing for Faster Gaits

Staying Grounded in the Half Seat

Working From the Hip Joint

Using the Grounding Strap in the Half Seat

Three-Quarter Seat Position

Half-Seat Open Position

Half-Seat Closed Position

Chapter 15 Bits, Bridling, and Introduction to Using the Reins

Putting On the Bridle

Using Hand Effects and Rein Effects to Communicate

The Active Hand

Introduction to the Leading Rein (English or Western Snaffle)

Introduction to Neck Reining (Western Curb)

Slowing or Stopping Using Direct Reins of Opposition (English or Western Snaffle)

Stopping Using Direct Reins of Opposition (Western)

Chapter 16 Perfect Posting

Finding Posting Rhythm on the Bareback Pad

Posting in the Stirrups

Understanding Diagonals

Chapter 17 Cantering (Loping) and Galloping (Running)

Preparing to Canter

Bareback Cantering to the Left

Bareback Cantering to the Right

Cantering or Loping in the Saddle

Cantering in Half-Seat Position

Galloping or Running

Chapter 18 Leg Aids and Advanced Hand and Rein Effects

The Soft Leg

The Passive Hand

The Holding Hand

The Fixed Hand

Combing the Rein

The Taking Hand

Types and Applications of Leading Reins and Reins of Opposition

Developing Effective Aids.

Chapter 19 Handling Hills With Confidence

Riding Uphill In an English Saddle

Riding Downhill In an English Saddle

Polishing Your Skills

Handling Hills in a Western Or Other Deep-Seated Saddle

Putting Your Skills to Good Use

Chapter 20 Jumping Made Easy

Phases of the Jump

Staying Centered During the Jump

Teaching Your Body to Ride the Jump

Trusting the Horse

Giving the Horse His Head

Jumping Courses

Refusals and Runouts

Jumping for Western Riders