ANY EXPERIENCED COMPETITOR WILL AGREE THAT COMPETITIONS ARE REALLY WON AT HOME, AND IN THIS BOOK, SARAH PILLINER EXPLAINS EVERY ASPECT OF MANAGEMENT, TRAINING AND CARE TO HELP THE AMATEUR RIDER TO PRODUCE A HORSE CAPABLE OF PERFORMING TO ITS BEST ABILITY. THE FIRST PART CONCENTRATES ON PREPARATION: FROM BRINGING THE HORSE UP FROM GRASS, VACCINATING, CLIPPING AND SHOEING, TO DEVELOPMENT AND FITNESS WORK. INTERVAL TRAINING - A METHOD USED BY TOP BRITISH AND AMERICAN EVENT RIDERS - IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL, WITH GUIDANCE ON ADAPTING THE TRAINING TO SUIT INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. ADVICE IS GIVEN ON ALL ASPECTS OF FEEDING FOR DIFFERENT TYPES AND LEVELS OF COMPETITION, AND ON DETECTING EARLY SIGNS OF INJURY OR ILLNESS TO KEEP THE HORSE SOUND AND HEALTHY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. PART 2 DEALS WITH CARE DURING THE COMPETITION, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CORRECT WARMING UP AND COOLING DOWN PROCEDURES TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF INJURY. CARE AFTER COMPETITION IS ALSO IMPORTANT, AND PART 3 COVERS ASPECTS SUCH AS PREVENTING DEHYDRATION AND CHECKING FOR AND TREATING INJURIES. FINALLY THERE IS ADVICE ON HOW TO KEEP THE HORSE FIT, FRESH AND SOUND OVER PROLONGED PERIODS SO THAT IT IS ABLE TO PERFORM AS WELL AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL REFERENCE MANUAL FOR RIDERS WISHING TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY WITH THEIR HORSES AT ALL LEVELS AND IN ALL DISCIPLINES INCLUDING EVENTING, COMPETITIVE TRAIL RIDING, LONG DISTANCE RIDING, COMPETITIVE CARRIAGE DRIVING, WESTERN RIDING, FOX HUNTING, SHOW JUMPING AND MUCH MUCH MORE. PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED WITH B/W PHOTOGRAPHS, LINE DRAWINGS AND CHARTS.