Posture And Performance - Gillian Higgins

From the author of the hugely successful titles How Your Horse Moves and Horse Anatomy for Performance comes a completely different training manual, also based on the Horses Inside Out philosophy: ‘Understanding Anatomy Improves Performance and Reduces the Risk of Injury’. Divided into three main parts: Principles of Anatomical Riding and Training; Exercises for Horse and Rider; Troubleshooting, the book contains a wealth of practical tips and exercises broken down into easy to follow, well-illustrated steps showing how riders can improve their riding skills and potential. The author suggests ways to improve horses’ physique, posture, flexibility, stability, core strength, performance and movement and how to reduce muscular and movement problems, and reduce the risk of injury.

This beautifully illustrated book looks at how to deliver a safe, varied, fun, effective and achievable training programme. It provides all the ingredients for riders to make informed decisions to maximise their own and their horse’s potential, gain more enjoyment, satisfaction and improve their skills. Based on the principles of anatomy and biomechanics with welfare in mind learn all about:

• Skeletal maturity
• How to achieve good back posture
• How stresses and strains in one part of the body affects another
• Why some muscles become long and weak and others short and tight
• How to reduce strain on ligaments and tendons
• Movements to strengthen and condition muscles
• Exercises for suppleness and core stability
• Why pole work and gymnastic jumping benefits horses for all disciplines

In line with the other books from Horses Inside Out, Posture and Performance looks at training and management from a completely different perspective and is certainly too good to miss!

• A practical and comprehensive riding and training guide through the understanding of how anatomy can affect performance
• Includes practical tips and exercises broken down into easy to follow steps
• Illustrated throughout with step-by-step diagrams and colour photographs
• Aimed at riders, horse owners, professional therapists, trainers and instructors
• Published to coincide with the Horses Inside Out tour

THE AUTHORS

Gillian Higgins is a sports and remedial therapist, equine therapist, rider and BHS senior coach and anatomist. She regularly writes articles for equestrian magazines and is also requested to give quotes as ‘ask the expert’. She founded Horses Inside Out, an organisation which gives a fascinating insight into equine locomotion, training and management from an anatomical perspective. Her previous titles include Horse Anatomy for Performance and How Your Horse Moves.

Stephanie Martin is a literacy teacher, author and editor and has worked with Gillian on her previous books.

Reviews: 
'For me this book is like the light at the end of the tunnel. I literally couldn’t put this book down and when I went onto the yard the next day it was almost like I was seeing our horses with a fresh pair of eyes! Christmas is coming and receiving this book is guaranteed to delight any rider…that is if they can wait that long and don’t go out and buy it themselves beforehand!' 

'Having been unable to put this book down, I really feel that in an ideal world no horse owner or rider should be allowed to back, train, saddle or ride their horse without having read it first. There is so much to learn from this book, and it is delivered to you in a factual yet user-friendly manner, it makes sense of the jargon and holds your hand right the way through.' 

'The unique angle comes from the beautiful illustrations, which show muscles and skeletons painted onto the demonstration horses so you can really see what's happening.' 

'Through her latest book, Performance and Posture, Gillian enables you to understand the anatomy of a horse and how it affects ridden work. The book is packed with photos and fascinating illustrations and includes many tips and techniques that will help you improve your riding and schooling for the better.' 

'This illustrated book looks at how to deliver a safe, varied, fun, effective and achievable training programme, based on the principals of anatomy and biomechanics with welfare in mind.' 

'This book is great for those wanting to improve their knowledge of the anatomy and biomechanics of the horse.' 

'The book is beautifully illustrated throughout with clear, easy to understand photographs. Reading the book Gillian’s incredible depth of knowledge of anatomy and the biomechanics of the horse and its relationship to riding and training shines through.  Horse lovers will be utterly thrilled when they gain this understanding and can then begin to develop a systematic training regime which will actually work.'