Centered Riding

The horseback riding is whole body experience. This book describes how you should FEEL when you ride which is very enlightening. Knowing technique is very important but not necessarily helpful if you do not anticipate how your body must feel while doing various riding exercises. It is simply unclear. You are unable to judge what's wrong despite of your being "technically" correct (or so it seems to you). This book fills this gap beautifully. It also teaches not only how to receive energy from the horse and enjoy it but also how the horse can benefit (mentally and physically) from a good rider.Only one example. I read a lot of descriptions of what is a good half-halt and how to do it. Only after reading this book I finally FELT it. I felt how my horse re-balanced himself under me in response to my re-balancing myself. My horse is very very bouncy. By end of today's lesson I could do sitting trot on him because he collected himself considerably. It was still a little choppy but now I can see that it is at least POSSIBLE. Our circles were super (comparing :-)).I highly recommend this book. As one reader mentioned, it is mine opinion (I can be wrong) that it is not for first-time riders or vacation riders but for people who had ~10 lessons and are planning to continue riding.

Huge fan of this authors work! I first read this book in the 90’s and it helped me a great deal. I’m a riding coach and I’ve recently bought several copies to hand out to my students to read. There are very helpful illustrations and Sally Swift does a great job explaining how to get centered! Highly recommend!

My favorite book to give to riders! Centered Riding applies across all disciplines of horsemanship.

Anyone that wants to ride well and really desires to stay out of their horses way will enjoy and benfit from the principles Sally teaches. Her methods also have a positive crossover effect on one's posture in everyday life. This DVD and/or book will benefit Western and English riders as a "Balanced Seat" is the universal prerequisite to good riding. I had borrowed the book years ago and recently bought the DVD for my library. Because I work alone and do not have access to many qualified trainers and clinics; books and DVDs are my teachers. The DVD is good for quick "see how". The sound and picture quality of the DVD was good. I do think however, the book provides much more insight and detail. If you are a "high achiever" into detail I would get the book first. As your balance improves your horse will thank you and as we all know "if your horse ain't happy...no one's happy!"

Had to buy a copy to replace one from years ago. I recently came out of retirement to help my neighbor improve her skills and understanding of basic horsemanship. She had ridden for quite some time in her youth at a rental barn. This book is a classic and a necessity for anyone just starting to ride or wants to help their own balance and effectiveness no matter what discipline you ride. Sally Swift offers many ways to visualize her concepts all of which help the rider become more relaxed and balanced. I would lend a copy to all of my students (obviously not returned by my last student years ago.)

I'm not quite finished with this book, but I have applied some of the techniques and visualizations to my training and it has helped alot. This book has many pictures not only of horse and rider but of structures, objects and movements that relate to riding. One example would be, in a turn, imagining that the forward energy of the horse is water rushing through a curved funnel. The horse presses against the outside aids, just as water presses against the outer wall of the funnell.There are many pictures and drawings relating to balance, transitions, hands, circles and turns, etc. It was a good purchase for me.

I read this book ages ago and just bought it for a friend. This book is amazing for every equestrian and gives you visuals (sometimes a little ridiculous but they work!) to help you imagine and adjust your position. I have recommended this book so many times over the years and have always received thanks from people who said the book really helped. Easy to understand and simple.

I’m a new student to English riding. My riding instructor highly recommended this book and I got it the next day - used condition but when I got it I thought it was practically new! Book contents great lots of descriptions and pictures to help visualize posture etc. Highly recommend