Making, Not Breaking: The First Year Under Saddle [Hardcover]

The title says it all, Making Not Breaking. I had been looking through countless books and magazine articals, and watching a fare share of movies untill I read this book. It's informative, and it's methods really work with sound results. For the horse people out there it's a must have! Cherry Hill's methods are kind yet full of leadership and best of all logical. Not only are you informed on how to start a horse under saddle but what to do after your horse has gotton used to the saddle. Hill explains that you need to develop a plan and stick to it. I recomend this book to every horse person weather you own a horse or not!

I was very disappointed with this book, particularly since I have found "101 Longeing and Long Lining Exercises" and "101 Arena Exercises" (both by Cherry Hill) valuable additions to my equestrian library. I don't have issue with Cherry Hill's methods, but rather I question who this book is aimed at. Although described as "a practical approach for English and Western trainers", I think Western riders would appreciate this book more than I. If you are an English rider, I think you'll find other books more helpful. This book has a lengthy review of basic principles; in my opinion if you don't know the aids or how to fit a bridle you have no business starting a young horse - seek professional help. Novice riders may find the review helpful and yet other aspects of the book too technical. Experienced riders may find the review of the basics unnecessary and yet enjoy the technical aspects. Either way I think both will leave with unanswered questions and a sense that the book wasn't completely satisfying. In some respects the book is simplistic and can give the impression that starting a young horse is easy and straight forward. Young horses are unpredictable and even well prepared youngsters have their moments; this book gives no insight on how to deal with problems which may arise during your young horse's training.

This book is a classic. I found that it explained principles of training and horse behavior that modern “whisperers” and “round penners” have just begun to make popular.

The two previous reviews of this book contradicted each other – one says it is for Western rider, the other says it is geared toward English riders. I found it refreshing to see photos of English AND Western tack being used in the same book. Really, horses don’t know the difference anyway.

And that’s one thing I like about Hill’s training - she treats horses as horses, not favoring Western horses or English horses. Her training procedure is based on sensitivity and respect and is “a combination of the best aspects of Western and Dressage techniques”. I have found that if followed intelligently, her method will yield outstanding results whether starting a young horse or retraining an older horse, and no matter which style of riding the horse will be used for. I ride with Western tack myself but like to use a lot of dressage principles.

Hill is well known for writing that is easy to understand and accessible to beginners yet not condescending to experienced horsemen, and this book follows that tradition. Everyone will form their own training style by trial and error, by watching and reading other trainers and assimilating or modifying portions of those trainers’ methods. I have found that Making, Not Breaking can make the trials of training more productive and the errors less traumatic and easier to understand. I recommend this book to every person who rides or wants to ride a horse.