A practical guide to using reward-based training techniques to create a true partnership with your horse. This leads to lifelong connection, effective problem-solving and joyful performance.

Horse trainer Jonathan Field has made a name for himself with his unique ability to give people simple, understandable, doable steps that lead to working with a horse “at liberty” in a safe and progressive manner. True engagement with a horse at liberty isn’t just about removing tack and stepping outside the arena—it’s about connection, trust, and communication through movement. Enrich your relationship with your horse, improve your “feel,” and teach your horse to respond to the subtlest of cues; no matter your discipline, whether you compete or ride for pleasure, liberty training can change the way you interact with horses forever.

From the author of the #1 bestseller The Man Who Listens to Horses, a book for all of us seeking to strengthen our human relationships "Monty Roberts will make you marvel."—The New York Times Book Review In The Man Who Listens to Horses, Monty Roberts revealed the depth of communication possible between human and horse. Touching the hearts of more than four million readers worldwide, that memoir—which spent more than a year at the top of The New York Times bestseller list—described his discovery of the "language" of horses and the dramatic effectiveness of removing violence from their training. Now, the world's most famous horse gentler demonstrates how his revolutionary Join-Up technique can be used not just for horses, but as a model for how to strengthen human relationships. With vivid, often deeply moving anecdotes, Roberts shows how the lessons learned from the thousands of horses he has known can provide effective guidelines for improving the quality of our communication with one another—from learning to "read" each other effectively, to creative fear-free environments, and, most importantly, teaching belief in the power of gentleness and trust.

A must-read book for anyone looking for an ethical, yet effective way to train horses.

If you broke your horse to saddle and rode it for the first time yesterday, this book (chapter 1) is where you'd start tomorrow. If you have an older horse and you've taught him everything you know and he still don't know nothin', this book is where you'd start, (chapter 2). It's a roadmap to building the foundation every horse needs, regardless of age, breed or background, regardless of what you've got ultimately planned for that horse. Afterwards, when your horse knows this book back to front, go train for barrels, roping, eventing, jumping or dressage. But today, basics are basics. Section I is the stuff your horse needs to know. Section II is the stuff (the theory) you need to know. Practice the first handful of chapters in order, as written. Beyond that, you should feel free to mix and match depending on your needs or abilities. Some chapters are dependent upon others - but in those cases, I've spelled out necessary prerequisites. Question: "I just bought a horse. What do I do now?" Answer: "Buy my book, 'What I'd Teach Your Horse.'" Contents: SECTION I, BASICALLY TRAINING YOUR HORSE - Legs Mean Move (Step 1 if This Is "Day 2" for Your Young Horse) - Hip Control, Part I - Hip Control, Part II - Classic Serpentine - Train Your Horse to Travel Straight - Clockwork: How to Teach Anything to Your Horse - Shoulder Control - The Reverse Arc Circle - How to Fix Leaning Shoulders - Serpentine: Indirect to Direct - Speed Control - Slow Down, Part I: Move the Hip - Slow Down, Part II: Wherein We Train the Brain - Balky Horses: Comatose One Minute, Hot to Trot the Next - Crossing Creeks and Scary Stuff - Teach Your Horse to Lower Its Head While Standing - Better Back Ups - Simple Steps to Power Steering - Diagonal Movement ("Leg Yields Without the Legs") - Softening - Getting Leads - A Fix for Cross-Firing (aka "Cross-Cantering") - Hips, Get Behind the Shoulders (And Stay Put) - Hips-in (aka "Haunches-in" or "Travers") - Neck Reining How-To SECTION II, TEACHING YOU, THE THEORY BEHIND THE PRACTICE - The First Thing I Do - Each Time You Mount Up, Do This - How to Pick Up Your Reins Like a Pro - Training Magic: Release on the Thought - What You're Feeling For - Reins Tell Direction, Legs Tell Speed - Talking Horse - See Yourself Leading When Riding - Perfect the First Time - Six Easy Ways to Improve Your Training - Rider Checklists - Diagnosing Problems Books by This Author Meet the Author: Keith Hosman "If I had a dollar for every email I get asking "what to do" to make a riding horse out of the mare Uncle Emo just traded for the old RV—or how to retrain a horse that's grown rusty—or some version on either theme, I'd be the world's first gazillionaire. With the publication of this book then, I'm hoping to grab that distinction."

A new edition of a highly respected textbook and reference in the rapidly emerging field of equitation science. Equitation Science, 2nd Edition incorporates learning theory into ethical equine training frameworks suitable for riders of any level and for all types of equestrian activity. Written by international experts at the forefront of the development of the field, the welfare of the horse and rider safety are primary considerations throughout. This edition features a new chapter on research methods, and a companion website provides the images from the book in PowerPoint.