Introduction to Equestrian Sports (Landlinks Press)

this Is Not Another How To Ride Book, Its Purpose Is To Help Parents And Riders Who Are New To The World Of Equestrian Sports Or Those Changing From One Type Of Competition To Another. the Major Disciplines Are Covered In Four Separate Chapters: Hacking/showing, Dressage, showjumping And Eventing. Each Chapter Begins With A Brief Introduction To The Discipline Showing How It Originated And Its Current Status. A Detailed Description Of The Discipline Follows Including Types And Classes Of Horses, Types And Levels Of Competition, Who Runs The Competitions, Which Rules Apply And How The Competition Is Judged. at The End Of Each Chapter Is A Section On The Ground Rules Which Is Really A Distillation Of The Author's Own Experience Which Takes The Mystery And Worry Out Of The Whole Experience. It Covers Topics Such As How To Find Out What Competitions Are Taking Place And How To Enter, Which Dressage Tests Apply, What To Wear, What To Do When You Arrive, Where Best To Park, Where You Can And Cannot Warm Up, Checking Your Gear And Reporting To The Judge. the Appendices At The End Of The Book Contain Illustrations Of Arenas And The Different Types Of Bits And Saddles, Website Links And Examples Of Competition Programs. Introduction to Equestrian Sports offers parents and riders who are new to the scene detailed descriptions of what is involved in each of the four main disciplines: hacking/showing, dressage, showjumping and eventing. It is equally beneficial for those wanting to change from one type of competition to another. Each discipline description includes how it originated, its current status, types of classes, levels of competition, what rules apply, who runs the competitions and how they are judged. 'Ground rules' are explained, based on the author's considerable experience, to help take the mystery out of competitions, such as how to find out what competitions are taking place and how to enter, which classes are being judged, what to wear, what to do when you arrive, where best to park, where you can and cannot warm up, checking your gear and reporting to the judge. Other topics include how to prepare for a competition, from one month before to the night before the event, and the equipment required to compete, from choosing a horse to what rugs will be needed. Finally, illustrations of arenas, website links and examples of competition programs are provided to help beginner riders further understand their chosen sport. Introduction to Equestrian Sports is not another 'how to ride' book, but a practical, hands-on guide to make equestrian competitions enjoyable for all riders. "This is not another how to ride book. Its purpose is to help parents and riders who are new to the world of equestrian sports or those changing from one type of competition to another. The major disciplines are covered in four separate chapters: hacking/showing, dressage, show-jumping and eventing. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction to the discipline showing how it originated and its current status. A detailed description of the discipline follows including types and classes of horses, types and levels of competition, who runs the competitions, which rules apply and how the competition is judged. At the end of each chapter is a section on the 'ground rules', which is really a distillation of the author's own experience, which takes the mystery and worry out of the whole experience. It covers topics such as how to find out what competitions are taking place and how to enter, which dressage tests apply, what to wear, what to do when you arrive, where best to park, where you can and cannot warm up, checking your gear and reporting to the judge. The appendices at the end of the book contain illustrations of arenas and the different types of bits and saddles, website links and examples of competition programs."--Provided by publisher