Horse book reviews: 101 Arena Exercises by Cherry Hill

very high recommendation
Reviewer: Jessie, a rider

For in between all those lessons I found this book "101 Arena Exercises for Horse and Rider" written by Cherry Hill. It gives you lots of little schooling exercises, tells you how to do them (in plain old English) and what you should achieve by doing them.

Each one, start to finish, will probably only take 2 or 3 minutes so my horse doesn't get bored as they aren't long enough (and I don't forget them). The book is written for both English and western riders but as the principles are the same for both she has combined it very well. It takes you right from balancing the walk to canter pirouettes and covers every thing in between, without knowing that you're doing it, you are performing little parts of the advanced maneuvers then the simple little exercises link together and hey presto!

I would give it a very high recommendation.

A valuable addition to your equestrian library, January 12, 2004
Reviewer: J. Skaife (Lafayette, CA United States)

The number of excellent reviews for this book reflect the application to riders of all levels and disciplines. The most valuable aspect of this book is that it encourages the rider to formulate a plan for their schooling sessions and make a conscious decision not to do the same thing day in day out - something we are all guilty of on occasion. Make your schooling sessions more fun for you and your horse with this informative guide.

good for both disciplines, August 18, 2001
Reviewer: A reader

We love this book! Cherry Hill is such a good author, she explains things in such a way that they are understandable and useful, not just a concept that you might not be able to use. This book will give you and your horse a chance to practice different exercises and break out of the old walk-trot-canter-one-way-around the ring rut. I think this has helped myself and our two horses greatly in our training process.

A wonderful series of exercises for horse and rider... March 3, 2001
Reviewer: Laura Haggarty (Duluth, MN USA)

I really like this book, and so does my trainer (in fact, I'm giving it to her for her birthday!) Strictly speaking, it's almost more of a manual than a book. As the title indicates, it contains 101 exercises for you to use in an arena with your horse. All the exercises shown are maneuvers to be done while mounted, none are in-hand work. Most work with either English or Western styles of riding, although some are slanted more one way than another. Dressage enthusiasts will recognize much of the work here, as will some of the Western specialists.

There are five main sections in the book: Gaits; Transitions; Circles; Lateral Work; and Mini-Patterns. Each exercise covers two pages, with an overhead diagram showing the pattern created in the arena, as well as a drawing showing the desired effect in the horse. Each page has a step-by-step description of how to ride the exercise, a list of benefits, cautions to consider while doing it, and occasionally, extra notes. All the illustrations are pen and ink drawings; there are no photographs.

Some of the exercises are a little the same, I will agree with a previous reviewer on that point. But all are worth working on and getting right. The format of the book encourages you to take it to the arena with you, with a spiral binding that allows the pages to lay flat. The only thing I'd like to see is to have the pages all laminated, but that surely would have increased the cost, so I'll live with it the way it is. All in all this book is well worth owning, whether you're an Dressage rider, barrel racer, or simply a riding enthusiast who wants to increase the skill set of themselves and their horse. Don't hesitate to buy it, it's well worth the price.

Western meets English, June 1, 2000
Reviewer: Julian P Killingley (Wakefield, England )

This is a really first class book that any reader should be able to put to good use. There are many books that claim to teach you how to ride better or make your horse go better but few that deliver on their promises. This is a book that delivers.

The real strength of this book lies in its blend of Western and dressage exercises. My horse and I are most familiar with dressage movements, so the Western based exercises had some novelty value for me - and provided a change for my horse. Cherry Hill explains a number of complicated movements in very simple terms and offers excellent advice as to how to get results. Her recipes for teaching the collected walk and achieving flying changes are the best I have read anywhere. Her instructions are simple, direct and work.

Wonderful and Beneficial!, November 3, 1999
Reviewer: A reader

I got this book and with in 10 exercises and about a week Te was more supple and moving better. He is even listening better. Get this book! It is well worth it!

A good book to condition your horse with., July 4, 1999
Reviewer: A reader

I was a little leery about reading this book because I've only been riding for about a year seriously that is and all that time I had and instructor by my side to help me. Therefore during that time it became difficult for me to understand what books where trying to tell me. Yet when I read this one book it seemed as if it where an instructor right by my side. It is very well written for anyone training a horse whom is doing it for the first time.

Very informative book!, March 9, 1999
Reviewer: A reader

I have been showing horse for a number of years and I wish I had this book earlier. It's a very thorough book that provides you with exercises for either western or English riding. It gives you very detailed patterns and step-by-step instructions. A must have!