Covers training basics, hunter seat equitation, selecting, riding, and showing hunters and jumpers.

The director of the riding program at Sweet Briar College for more than 30 years, Cronin is a well-known and highly respected trainer and riding instructor. Here he presents a clear and practical guide to getting the most out of a horse in a humane and sensitive way.

Originally published in hardcover in 1995 by Doubleday.

This marvelous book, borne of a unique collaboration between Dr. Allen Schoen—a world-renowned veterinarian and author—and trainer and competitor of many years Susan Gordon, introduces the 25 Principles of Compassionate Equitation. These Principles, conceived by Dr. Schoen and Gordon, are a set of developmental guidelines, encouraging a level of personal awareness that may be enacted not only through the reader's engagement with horses, but can be extended to all humans and sentient beings he or she encounters. The 25 Principles share stories and outline current, peer-reviewed studies that identify and support methods of training, handling, and caring for horses that constitute a safe, healthy, non-stressful, and pain-free environment. Through their Compassionate Equestrian program, the authors encourage all involved in the horse industry to approach training and handling with compassion and a willingness to alleviate suffering. By developing deeper compassion for their own horses, and subsequently, all equines, equestrians transcend their differences in breed preferences, riding disciplines, and training methodologies. This leads to the ability to empathize and connect more closely with the “global collective” of horses and horse people. In doing so, a worldwide community of compassionate equine practitioners and horse owners will emerge, which will not only benefit the horses: People involved with horses are found in many influential segments of society and have the potential to affect wide circles of friends, acquaintances, and co-workers from every walk of life. These are simple changes any horse person can make that can have a vast impact on the horse industry and society as a whole.

With special focus on conscientious pacing when building the horse's physical capability over time, diversification of schooling practices, detail-oriented management and care, and putting the horse's needs above competitive ambition, readers are given a solid grasp of what it takes to truly reach the pinnacle of equestrian sport--and remain there--on a consistent basis.

A modern classic by the U.S. Cavalry's greatest horseman - everything the rider needs to know about selecting, training, and riding the hunter-type horse, from evaluating it's conformation to basic dressage and jumping. The genius of Brigadier General Harry Dwight Chamberlin's contributions to horsemanship links a modified concept of Italian forward riding with French dressage and the American cavalry's vast experience in riding long distances. The totality of Chamberlin's writing provides a complete protocol to train both horse and rider for Eventing, Show Jumping, Endurance Riding, Hunting, and just plain hacking for fun. In Training Hunters, Jumpers and Hacks he focuses on the training of the horse for various disciplines."It is, in its field, the greatest book of the century not only in the United States but in the world. I know nothing comparable produced abroad." - Vladimir Littauer"So often, I think I have come up with an idea of my own, only to find it in one of Chamberlin's books." - William Steinkraus"Chamberlin is to horsemanship as Mozart is to music." - James WoffordGeorge Morris ranks Chamberlin as "the 20th Century's greatest combined horseman, theorist, teacher, and writer."In a life cut short, Chamberlin provides several lifetimes of insight. He writes: "Nothing, aside from the dearest human relationships, can give the pleasure found in working and playing with a horse." Expert Chamberlin biographer Warren Matha introduces this new edition offered proudly by Xenophon Press.This volume is considered to be the "Standard modern American book on riding, training and schooling hunters, jumpers and hacks."Illustrated with drawings by Paul Brown and with many photographs, complete index and a new introduction by Chamberlin historian, Warren Matha. Chamberlin describes criteria for selection, conformation and gaits of a horse, the objectives of training, stages of training of a young horse, advanced work, and jumping. Each section is well-organized with a general overview including objectives followed by easy to follow detailed explanations.