[.ca] Overcoming the Fear of Riding: Featuring Interviews with ... (ISBN 0914327542)

Wish I hadn't wasted money on it.:
Wow! I really wish I had listened to the one reviewer that gave this book one star. It is definitely not as the title suggests. The entire book is about 200 pages that could be summed up in about 5. The author repeats herself so many times I was about to scream. Even the quotations by famous riders (which makes up about 80% of the book) were repeated many times. The book doesn't give you any good rational reason not to fear riding. And I agree with the other reviewer when they said that the book made them more afraid. It makes horses out to be super dangerous horrible beasts that we may have to use in order to achieve our goals. I got no sense of love for horses in this book. The main idea was that if our goal is to become a famous dressage rider then we have to use a horse to get there. And if one horse isn't good enough, "dump it" (exact term from the book), and get a new one. I can tell you right here the whole summary of the book without costing you a penny. Defeating negative thinking, imagining the best case scenario, and determining your goals. That's it. Don't waste your money on this book now because I just told you all there is to it in one sentence!

Ideal for a rider who has lost faith in their abilities.:
This book is great for those who tend to be overly hard on themselves or have developed unrealistic expectations which cause them to doubt if riding is something they can do any more. Some great names in riding, people with a world of experience, share these experiences and the wisdom they've gleaned from them, reassuring the reader that it's okay to have doubts, that difficult horses do exist (which is not always the rider's fault), and that the main point of riding is to enjoy the ride! A great aid for those who have high expectations but face difficult horses, or long layoffs from the saddle, or for those who are just starting out and are frustrated with the fact that they aren't perfect yet.

I'm not alone with my fears!:
This was a great book. If you ride buy it now because you either have had a fall or may eventually have one and you will need to know how to get back on your horse and continue to enjoy the experience of riding. This books discusses the fear that I've experienced while the horse I was riding was enjoying itself by just being a horse. It gives very useful techniques on how to deal with the natural fears and concerns of being on top of an animal that at times has its own mind. The interviews with professional riders were very helpful and inspiring. The lessons learned can be applied to life in general. This book is not for those who pretend they don't get nervous at a full gallop but is definitely for those whose adreline surges during the excitement.

Finally, a book for a much-ignored riding population!:
Topics include: understanding and using nervous energy, risk management, defeating irrational thinking, the importance of goal-setting, cultivating trust and minimizing fear, riding safety tips, ending with 18 personal case studies of different level riders with different types of fears as well as mental exercises to defeat those fears. The author's goal seems to be for anxious riders to trade their fear in for excitement and meet their riding goals with confidence. This book also features interviews with 12 top riders and how they positively use nervous energy as well as tips you can use. Whether you fear injury, embarrassment, and/or failure while riding, this book will give you the tools you need to conquer your fears and make your riding dreams come true!

A Book For Riders of All Levels:
I orignially saw this book & planned to buy it for a friend who has the fear of physical injury when she rides. As I glanced through the book I began to recognize that I had performance fears & that my fears were normal for competitive riders. The authors discuss the "mental" issues that all riders face & encourage riders to embrace their nervousness, focus it & use it to enhance performance. I plan to read this book at least 2 more times!!!