As Christmas draws near, several people have asked me what books I would recommend on hunter seat riding.  There are three books recommended as part of the “Hunter Seat Equitation Manual” at the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) website,  so I will pass these recommendations on to you.  In case you’re interested, the manual is located at the following website address: http://www.usef.org/documents/licensedofficials/HunterSeatJudgesManual.pdf

Here are the books:

Learning to Ride, Hunt, and Show – Gordon Wright, Skyhorse Publishing, 2009.  130 pages with 70 black and white illustrations. Gordon Wright, the “founding father” of hunter-seat horsemanship is revered by generations of riders at all levels. This book, first published in 1966, covers the fundamentals of riding on the flat and over fences, both at home and in competition. There are also chapters on horse anatomy, stable management, and tack and other equipment, as well as foxhunting and polo (two sports in which the well-round horseman and horsewoman took part). Note: Gordon Wright taught George Morris, Bill Steinkraus, and Frank Chapot, all of whom became successful Olympians.  He was considered the top riding instructor in America during his time.  This book introduces extremely useful concepts of riding in a very straightforward way. At one point, when I had no instructor as a child, my mother taught me by looking at pictures in Gordon Wright’s book and telling me whether or not I looked like the drawings.  She then told me where to move my body for correction and was so successful with this technique that I eventually caught the attention of George Morris, who asked me to train under him when I was 11 years old.  From this personal experience, I can highly recommend the book. (20 new and 13 used copies available on Amazon today)

Hunter Seat Equitation – George Morris, Doubleday, 1990.  195 pages with 105 black & white photos. First published in 1971, “Hunter Seat Equitation” has stood the test of time. The riding principles are as pertinent today as they were forty years ago when penned by a young George Morris, who was transitioning from a stellar riding career to an equally notable teaching career.  Note: A former Olympian, George Morris is currently the Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. Show Jumping Team and is arguably the most successful riding instructor in the history of the sport.  His book is clear and concise and has helped thousands of people improve their riding skills. (13 new and 41 used copies available on Amazon right now)

The Complete Guide to Hunter Seat Training, Showing and Judging – Anna Jane White-Mullin, Trafalger Square, Publ., 2008. 352 pages with 288 color photos and diagrams. Yes, I’m on the list, too, and grateful for being included. About half of “The Complete Guide…” involves training and showing, while the other half is about how horses and riders are judged. The most updated version of, “Judging Hunters and Hunter Seat Equitation,” which was first published in 1984 and is now in its fourth edition, is part of this new book. (19 new and 15 used copies available on Amazon today)

I will also pass on to you two books suggested to me many years ago by Bertalan de Nemethy, former coach of the U.S. Show Jumping Team, when he was trying to broaden my education.  These are historically significant books in the sport of riding:

Give Your Horse a Chance–Lt. Col. A.L. d’Endrody, publ. 1971.  544 pages with 26 tables, 169 drawings, and 103 black and white photos. This book was first published in 1959.  As of this moment, there are 8 new and 8 used copies available on Amazon.

Riding Logic–W. Museler, publ. 1971.  185 pages with 47 diagrams and 38 black and white photos. This book was first published in 1937.  There are 4 new and 27 used copies available on Amazon right now.

This list ought to keep you busy for a while.  Have a merry Christmas, and I wish you the best of luck in the coming year!