Two Brains, One Aim: A Riding Coach's Key Concepts for Bringing Horse and Rider Together (and Ending in Success!)

by Eric Smiley

Overview

Riding well can be a puzzle. This book puts together the pieces, including: - How humans and horses learn. - Striving for partnership vs. dictatorship. - Early training and developing skills. - Demystifying equestrian-speak. - Dressage outside the arena. - Ground poles for the rest of us. - Jumping and cross-country tips. - Solving problems, wherever you ride. - Competition psychology. - Being coached and being a coach. “ This book is aimed at riders, coaches, and anyone interested in learning more about how humans and horses interact. I have tried to harness my own experiences when I cover the three main disciplines—dressage, show jumping, and eventing—and how they relate to one another. I look at how those in a coaching position can guide riders to perform better by making their lives less complicated and more fulfilling, and I examine how riders can apply the same principles to training their horses and become self-sufficient. ” —Eric Smiley

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781570768927
Publisher:	Trafalgar Square
Publication date:	01/15/2019
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	7.25(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Eric Smiley is a former international event rider who represented Ireland at European, World, and Olympic level, winning team bronze medals on two occasions. Smiley began his equestrian career in the Pony Club, and continued it in the army and at the world-renowned Talland Equestrian Center in the United Kingdom, during which time he gained his British Horse Society Instructor's certificate. In 1995 Smiley passed his British Horse Society Fellowship exam, the highest teaching qualification in the industry. Smiley was Team Coach of the Belgian Eventing team for the 2011 European Eventing Championships and 2012 London Olympics and was an FEI judge who regularly acted as a Ground Jury member. Smiley is the author of the cross-country bible Look...No Hands!, The Sport Horse Problem Solver, and Two Brains, One Aim. He travels the globe helping professional and amateur riders achieve their goals (ericsmiley.co.uk).

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Who Should Read the Pages That Follow 2

Welcome to My World 3

How It Works 4

Chapter 2 How You Learn 5

Methods of Learning 6

Simple Instructions 10

Words and Why They Matter 11

The Problem with Technology 14

Life Lessons 17

Chapter 3 Coaching Now and Then 19

Learn from Doing 20

Definitions 21

Coaching Across Boundaries 24

The Need for Success 25

Chapter 4 How Horses Learn 26

Create a Learning Pathway 27

Warm Up the Body, Switch On the Brain 27

Chapter 5 The Young Horse 30

Partnership vs Dictatorship 32

The Right Foundations 35

Young Horse Vocabulary 44

Chapter 6 The Inappropriate Partner 46

Breaking a Vicious Circle 49

Chapter 7 Early Training 51

The Aids 51

Playing Games 56

Games to Try 58

To See if I Can 64

Relating Subjects 66

How Much Should We Ask? 67

Chapter 8 Developing Skills 69

The Start Point 69

Layering to Elevate Performance 70

Self-Assessment 72

My Scales of Training 75

The Training Orbit 78

The Training Spiral 79

Demystifying Common Expressions 80

Chapter 9 The Gaits 85

Is the Gait Correct? 86

What to Look For 87

The Rebalance 93

Chapter 10 Dressage Outside the Arena 97

No Arena? No Problem 97

Solving Flatwork Problems 100

Chapter 11 Pole Work 106

Exercises in Walk 106

Exercises in Trot 109

Chapter 12 Jumping in the Arena 114

The Five Phases of Jumping 115

Geometry and Jumping 120

Look…Jump 126

Mental Gymnastics 128

Developing Carefulness 132

Solving Jumping Problems 134

Chapter 13 Riding in Open Space 138

Roles and Responsibilities 140

Natural Instincts 141

Why Temperament Matters 143

Rider Position 144

A Bit of an Issue 149

Solving Cross-Country Problems 156

Chapter 14 At the Competition 163

Course-Walking 163

Competition Psychology 168

Prepare to Succeed 170

Rider Preparation 173

Coach and Team 173

Final Thoughts 175

Acknowledgments 179

Index 180

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“It is a truism to say that the best coaches are those who are themselves great students. For the 40 years I have been his supporter and colleague, Eric Smiley has always been a great student. Always listening, always questioning, always thoughtful, he never rests on his laurels but continually looks for new challenges and better ideas. This attitude, combined with his wide experience, gives his words special value.” -- William Micklem, Equestrian Consultant, Writer, Creator of the Micklem Bridle

“Eric Smiley is one of the few in the equestrian world who has gone from being a top international rider to a top international trainer and coach. He has a great technical knowledge that he combines with a well-thought-through ideology and philosophy. Eric is a naturally good horseman who has a common-sense approach to not just coaching the horse and rider, but also to solving problems where they occur. It’s therefore no surprise to me that Eric has given his book the title Two Brains, One Aim, and it’s a must read for not just coaches but also for riders on all levels.”&mcash;Yogi Breisner, Advisor, Swedish Equestrian Federation, Former Performance Manager and Chef d’Equipe, British Eventing Team
"I have known Eric Smiley, for many years, firstly as a competitor and then as an instructor, trainer and coach up to championship level. Eric has, like me, worked with riders at every level of experience and natural ability.

"I have had the opportunity to read his book Two Brains, One Aim and am struck by the evident practical horsemanship that comes through combined with reference and connection to the classical principles of equitation. Eric often puts himself into the mind and skin of the horse, so his advice has obvious feeling at its heart—what it feels like to be a horse. At the same time, he also relates to the pupil and what it is like to be taught a skill.

"This is an interesting and thought-provoking book for anyone involved as a coach, instructor, or trainer at any level in the sport." —Christopher Bartle, Performance Coach British Eventing Team, Olympic Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalist, and Author of Training the Sport Horse

"I have known Eric Smiley, watched him ride/compete and teach for many years, indeed, have been on the receiving end of some of these lessons. He has always had an incredible ability to break down any problems with a sympathetic and easily understood method—often with a great sense of humor added to take the sting out of any constructive criticism. This book will be an incredible help and reference point for any equestrian. Covering all aspects of training, teaching, and understanding of our equine athletes, it is a must-have." —Ian Stark, OBE, Winner of Four Olympic Silver Medals in Eventing and Cross-Country Course Designer

Editorial Reviews

It is a truism to say that the best coaches are those who are themselves great students. For the 40 years I have been his supporter and colleague, Eric Smiley has always been a great student. Always listening, always questioning, always thoughtful, he never rests on his laurels but continually looks for new challenges and better ideas. This attitude, combined with his wide experience, gives his words special value.” —William Micklem, Equestrian Consultant, Writer, Creator of the Micklem Bridle

"Part instructional and part philosophical, there's something for every rider to learn from the pages, whether you're working on your own, with one instructor or with multiple ones." —unTACKED Magazine

“Eric Smiley is one of the few in the equestrian world who has gone from being a top international rider to a top international trainer and coach. He has a great technical knowledge that he combines with a well-thought-through ideology and philosophy. Eric is a naturally good horseman who has a common-sense approach to not just coaching the horse and rider, but also to solving problems where they occur. It’s therefore no surprise to me that Eric has given his book the title Two Brains, One Aim, and it’s a must read for not just coaches but also for riders on all levels.”—Yogi Breisner, Advisor, Swedish Equestrian Federation, Former Performance Manager and Chef d’Equipe, British Eventing Team

"I have known Eric Smiley, for many years, firstly as a competitor and then as an instructor, trainer and coach up to championship level. Eric has, like me, worked with riders at every level of experience and natural ability.

"I have had the opportunity to read his book Two Brains, One Aim and am struck by the evident practical horsemanship that comes through combined with reference and connection to the classical principles of equitation. Eric often puts himself into the mind and skin of the horse, so his advice has obvious feeling at its heart—what it feels like to be a horse. At the same time, he also relates to the pupil and what it is like to be taught a skill.

"This is an interesting and thought-provoking book for anyone involved as a coach, instructor, or trainer at any level in the sport." —Christopher Bartle, Performance Coach British Eventing Team, Olympic Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalist, and Author of Training the Sport Horse

"I have known Eric Smiley, watched him ride/compete and teach for many years, indeed, have been on the receiving end of some of these lessons. He has always had an incredible ability to break down any problems with a sympathetic and easily understood method—often with a great sense of humor added to take the sting out of any constructive criticism. This book will be an incredible help and reference point for any equestrian. Covering all aspects of training, teaching, and understanding of our equine athletes, it is a must-have." —Ian Stark, OBE, Winner of Four Olympic Silver Medals in Eventing and Cross-Country Course Designer

"I commend this book to riders of all disciplines because it includes tips, techniques, and training exercises, built on an overarching philosophy and structure that can benefit everyone." —Mid-South Horse Review

From the Publisher