Learning to Ride, Hunt, and Show by Gordon Wright.
Cover art courtesy of Skyhorse Publishing
I was recently sent a review copy of the re-release of Learn to Ride, Hunt, and Show by Gordon Wright. Skyhorse Publishing gave this fifty-year-old guide a facelift (as well as an introduction by George H. Morris) and it is now available in your local bookstore. More to the point, it’s a treasure trove for riding instructors.
You can read my full review of Learn to Ride, Hunt, and Show over at Suite101, but I wanted to address the value for riding instructors specifically. I read this entire book in one sitting, then went back through and marked about 60 pages with Post-It notes. The material is astounding.
Even if you teach reining or eventing or some other discipline besides hunters, you’ll get a lot of value from this book. Wright not only illustrates the how-to aspects of riding, hunting and showing, but he also describes the philosophy behind his recommendations and even makes observations aimed specifically at riding instructors.
You’ll find sections dedicated to choosing the right horse, mounting up, executing specific movements and a host of other topics. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to become a riding instructor, and especially those who have already been doing it for years.
Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for the review copy.
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- Where Do Riding Instructors Stand?
About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Chief Equestrian Officer of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. She believes that any horse business can succeed provided its owner practices smart strategy.
