Reccommended Reading

Below is a list of books and resources that might be of interest to your riders. Oftentimes, if a rider is learning both from a book AND in the saddle, they are able to grasp and master skills much quicker.

U.S. Pony Club Manual: Basics for Beginners
This book is written and illustrated for young riders who want to learn to ride, especially those who are members of the U.S. Pony Clubs, Inc. and want to meet the USPC's Standards of Proficiency.

U.S. Pony Club Manual: Intermediate
Whether you are a Pony Clubber who has passed the D Level tests or simply a rider who has mastered the same basics, this manual will enable you to increase your skills and teach you what you must know in order to ride independently and correctly with good position, balance, and use of the aids on the flat, over fences, and in the open.

Horse Care for Kids by Cherry Hill
The comprehensive guide helps children and their parents choose the right horse and gives guidelines for safe handling and proper care. Full-color illustrations and photographs appear throughout the book.

Riding for Kids by Cherry Hill
This refreshingly uncluttered book offers a thorough introduction to horsemanship. Richter's enthusiastic tone conveys a love for horses that is nonetheless tempered with strict adherence to and promotion of important safety practices. In five chapters, she covers stable care, equipment, tack, clothing, longeing, lessons, jumping, and showing.

Horse Showing for Kids by Cherry Hill
For kids who have ever wondered if there is a certain color that complements their horse more than another, what last-minute checks they need to do before entering a show ring, how to dress for success, and much more, this handbook is invaluable. Presenting a wealth of information in a well-organized and enthusiastic manner, the author also addresses the more serious issues such as safety and good sportsmanship.

Girls and Their Horses (American Girl Library) by Camela Decaire
Girls love dreaming about horses, but may be curious about what it s really like to own one. In this book real girls give an inside look at the hard work and the great rewards involved in caring for a horse. Readers will discover how to rough-ride at a rodeo, do a handstand on horseback, and raise unusual horse breeds. Includes a 24 full-color trading cards, and three mini-posters.

…and a great one for parents!

A Parent's Guide to Riding Lessons by Elise Gaston Chand
Is your child crazy about horses—and you know next to nothing about them? If so, Elise Gaston Chand has answers to all your most pressing questions: How do I find a qualified riding instructor? How expensive is this going to be? And, most important, will my child be safe? A former horse-crazy child born to horse-clueless parents, Chand gives a thorough overview of horseback riding and lesson progression, translates the strange language of horse enthusiasts into everyday English, explains horse show etiquette, addresses safety concerns in depth, and much more. A Parent’s Guide to Riding Lessons has all the information you need to counter your confusion, dispel your anxiety, and nurture your child’s passion for horses.

If you would like to borrow or browse through any of the above titles, please let Erica know as she has them all on her book-shelf at home!