Product Description

When Olympic Gold Medalist William Steinkraus wanted his sons to learn to ride, he took them to Judy Richter. It was Judy Richter who matched Norman Dello Joio with the right horse and sent them on to the highest levels of Grand Prix. Equestrians describe Richter as a ?quiet giant? who they say is ?at the core of what?s happening in the horse world.? Riding for Kids is a complete learn-to-ride program in a book, focusing on English riding. More than 150 full-color photographs guide the young rider from tacking up for the first time to riding on the flat to taking the first jump. Using a variety of young riders as models, Richter demonstrates correct position, balance, and aids. Throughout, a logical lesson plan, clear explanations, and safe practices maximize the youngster?s success. Readers will learn about daily care, preparing for lessons, going to horse shows, and how to pursue further activities. Richter believes every horse is unique, and she shares her insights to help the young rider communicate most effectively with the animal.. Best of all, Richter writes directly to the child (although she includes an initial Note to Parents). Her audience is older elementary-age children, preteens, and early teenagers ? the age group that is most passionate about horses and most eager to learn to ride well. Whether the child dreams of competing in the show ring or wants simply to ride for pleasure, Riding for Kids will help her or him become an able, aware, knowledgeable horse person.For young horse lovers who can?t get enough pictures of horses and ponies, we?ve created The Horse Breeds Poster Book, a gorgeous gallery of 30 pull-out horse posters ? enough posters to wallpaper a kid?s room.Young riders love pictures of adorable foals, big draft horses, sleek race horses, and tiny ponies ? and that?s what this book delivers. For this special collection, international horse photographer Bob Langrish has chosen his most kid-appealing images. On the back of each poster is a panel that describes the particular breed shown: where it comes from, what it?s good at, how it likes to be handled, and a lot more. Fun facts will turn readers into experts. They?ll learn, for instance, that little Shetland ponies are, pound for pound, the strongest horses of all. And that Belgian draft horses once carried knights into battle. And that Quarter Horses can outrace Thoroughbreds over short distances.We?re confident this book will be a hit with kids. Why? Because we called in young horse lovers to serve as consultants on this project. While the official target age for this book is 8?12, the subject and the beauty of the photographs will draw in younger and older horse lovers as well.A glossary defines horsey terms in language kids can understand, making The Horse Breeds Poster Book informative as well as beautiful

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #89007 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-16
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .39" h x 7.46" w x 9.84" l, 1.03 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8--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. The author's strong focus on good horsemanship is appropriately central to the text while the conversational, upbeat writing avoids any hint of condescension to young readers. The full-color photographs and black-and-white illustrations extend readers' understanding of the concepts being discussed. The cast of young riders, however, excludes minority representation. Contact information for several relevant organizations is included. This approachable, inviting volume successfully covers a number of topics that other authors often break into numerous volumes. If your budget allows for only one book, this is it.--Lisa Falk, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 3-5. Beginning equestrians will appreciate this comprehensive guide. The first of five chapters introduces gear, vocabulary, and basics such as grooming, mounting, and dismounting. Richter then goes on to cover cantering, turning, and so on and provide step-by-step jumping instructions, information on how to prepare for a competition, and other organized activities for young riders. Numerous color photographs (almost always of young females) will get readers excited about the sport and also help illustrate the topics. Occasional black-and-white drawings and diagrams are also useful, as are boxed insets--for example, the "Horse Talk" vocabulary feature that heads each section. Granted, there's no shortage of information on this topic, but libraries needing more will find this both well written and handsomely illustrated. A glossary and a bibliography are appended. Lauren Peterson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
Age seven is a good age for children to begin learning to ride a horse or pony. Lessons from a competent instructor combined with this informative manual for riding will give a child the basics for a lifetime of pleasure. The note to parents at the beginning of the book addresses topics, such as, picking an instructor. Children learn how to groom and care for a horse before and after riding, how to put on and adjust the tack before riding, and how to dress for riding. Children learn the proper way to mount, dismount and sit on the horse. Positioning of the hands, feet, and legs are explained depending on whether the horse is walking, trotting or cantering. The horse depends on the rider for instruction on its moves; so, the rider must learn the proper way to give signals that control the horse's movements as it travels around the ring on the flat or over jumps. Photographs showing correct and incorrect positions accompany the instructions are very helpful. Detailed information prepares a child for showing a horse in various show classes. Although the book is geared for English riding, a child that rides western may, also, benefit from the instruction. 2003, Storey Kids/Storey Publishing, Ages 7 to 12. (Children's Literature -Sally Niezgoda )