The Riding Horse Repair Manual: Not the Horse You Want? Create Him from What You Have

The Riding Horse Repair Manual by Doug Payne is well worth owning, especially by amateur riders but also by professionals. Why? First, it is well written -- grammatically correct, careful in word choice, clear in sentence construction, and, quite often, funny! Second, as the title suggests, there are many, many training/riding issues addressed with analysis of possible causes and clear discussion of corrective strategies, riding aids, and exercises. These issues range widely from horse disposition questions to horse -- and rider -- bad habits to common ways that horses/riders perform less well than they could and should. Third, the book has a good index and many photographs of Doug's riding -- illustrating how to ride (as well as not ride!) in developmentally successful ways. All of these recommended strategies/exercises are described and explained clearly. Fourth, Doug asks us to look honestly at ourselves, as riders, as potential causes of some horse problems; there is even an Index entry, "Riders," that helps you look at yourself in the mirror!Finally, Doug's book will be helpful to you even if very few of the many problems he addresses enter your riding life. This is because Doug's narrative is so clear about the essentials of how horses should go -- and therefore how riders should be thinking, making choices, and riding -- that reading any of it will sharpen and improve your thinking and your riding. Most highly recommended.

half the pages were bent in half on top of themselves when it arrived. Super annoying

I found this book very helpful in giving me different approaches to dealing with a specific problem. Of course, before correcting the problem you must first identify why it is happening. The corrections for a bucking horse are going to be different depending on if they are bucking to get out of work, because they are painful, or they are insecure. Keep this in mind when choosing correction methods. This book can be dangerous if you aren't reading you horse's behavior right.

This book has all the elements of a stellar reference: great writing and excellent photo illustration. The layout is eye-catching without being too busy and the photos are absolutely perfect for the topic (Doug smiles throughout all of them, even with horses that are spooking and bolting, and this is one of the things I take away from this book: through it all, keep smiling). But I must talk about the writing: it's very VERY good. Doug illustrates with words that are every bit as good as his photos. Topics are concise yet very readable and, best of all, understandable. The photo captions are the same, going into specifics for each photo and mentioning rider position as well as horse body language. What I take away from this book is a sense of empowerment when it comes to dealing with horses.

I was excited to start reading, but I was disappointed to the interrupted in the middle of a section when pages 33-48 were reprinted in place of pages 97-112. I am returning for a replacement, so hopefully the next one will be correct. Some pages also had stains and stuff stuck to them that seemed like it was used...Otherwise, a good book that came in quickly.

This book is great for all levels of rider. The photos are very helpful in supporting the written explanations of problem solving with horses. I bought it for my daughter, who events, but I really wanted to keep it for myself, once I opened the Amazon wrapper. There was one problem I looked up in the book before I rode my OTTB. Doug Payne gives a clear description of exactly the same problem and a simple solution (with his reasoning behind it). I tried it out during my ride, when the problem showed up, and Doug's solution worked great. I'm an adult ammy so I am pretty excited when tips like that work for me right away!

Wonderful descriptions! Great manual, very helpful!

Doug Payne explains common English riding techniques for correcting behavior and some common correct insights into horse behavior like applying the flight response to understand various behaviors. Sadly,his repairs often anthropomorphize and seriously misunderstand horse behavior. He even warns against anthropomorphism and then proceeds to anthropomorphize horse behavior with such terms and phrases as "lazy","malicious bucker", "inflict a blow to the rider's confidence", "stubborn", "very little self-confidence", "They will spin and leave because they don't have a strong leader", lazier type, "Just like a bully in school a horse will use fear tactics to intimidate you in order to get his way.". Funny, he just doesn't get it!The back cover of the book claims in large font and all caps, "FOOLPROOF WAYS TO SOLVE BAD BEHAVIOR UNDER SADDLE". The inside copyright page has this Disclaimer of Liability in small font, "The author and publisher have neither responsibility to any person or any entity with respect to any loss, damage caused or alleged caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book. While the book is as accurate as the author can make it, there may be errors, omissions and inaccuracies." So the foolproof ways in the book may cause loss or damages and the author and publish disclaim it? How is it foolproof, Doug? Is horse training ever foolproof?My experience as a trainer of horses for many years is that many of the techniques in this book lack proper understanding of horse behavior and are therefore foolish and dangerous for anyone to apply. For example in repairing rearing the author advises riding the horse while using rein techniques to correct the rear. That is so foolish and dangerous and requires an expert and lucky rider to pull it off. The rearing horse should be retrained on the ground and have forward cues well established and tested before ever riding it again. On page 95, the author does relate how he was injured riding a rearing horse. He is lucky he was not killed by his foolishness.His advice on repairing bucking by "decisively use your whip" is also foolish, dangerous and counterproductive. The bucking horse should be retrained on the ground to respond correctly to forward cues before being ridden and never ever whipped for bucking. Whipping the horse confirms its fears and makes the horse fearful of the rider and the activity. Bucking is conflict and escape behavior due to fear and confusion on the horses part on the meaning of the forward or transition cues.I do not recommend reading this book for safe and effective training purposes. The book to read to learn safe and effective training practices is Equitation Science.  Equitation Science

amazing book

A good read very informative

excellent