Equine Biomechanics for Riding: The Key to Balanced Riding (Paca, la macaca series)

Knowledge of equine biomechanics turns horse training and riding into a completely logical process. Through an understanding of this natural science, together with literature left to us by the Classical masters, training horses correctly, without dependence on gadgets, becomes surprisingly straightforward. In fact, by understanding how the horse’s biomechanics work and how to influence this, most of the misunderstanding between horse and rider is avoidable, and the vast majority of schooling problems easily solvable.

With the aid of numerous illustrations and photos, Karin Blignault investigates the horse’s natural methods of performing movements and compares this with the movements he performs in dressage and jumping. Examining each individual gait and movement – including lateral work, piaffe, passage, flying changes – the author highlights the biomechanical difficulties the horse encounters in his effort to please the rider, gives suggestions to riders and trainers on how to overcome these difficulties, and further gives judges pointers on how to recognise these problems.