Anne Kursinski - Anne Kursinskis Riding and Jumping Clinic: A Step-By-Step Course for Winning in the Hunter and Jumper Rings

ANNE KURSINSKIS

RIDING AND
JUMPING CLINIC

ANNE KURSINSKIS

RIDING AND
JUMPING CLINIC

_______________

A Step-By-Step Course for Winning
in the Hunter and Jumper Rings

_______________

ANNE KURSINSKI
WITH MIRANDA LORRAINE

Photographs by Amber Heintzberger

This paperback edition first published in 2020 by

Trafalgar Square Books

North Pomfret, Vermont 05053

Original paperback edition published in 2011 by Trafalgar Square Books, North Pomfret, Vermont

Original hardcover edition published in 1995 by Doubleday

A division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., New York, New York

Copyright 1995 Anne Kursinski and Miranda Lorraine

Original paperback edition copyright 2011 Anne Kursinski and Miranda Lorraine

Revised paperback edition copyright 2020 Anne Kursinski and Miranda Lorraine

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means, without written permission of the publisher except by a reviewer quoting brief excerpts for a review in a magazine, newspaper, or website.

Disclaimer of Liability

The authors and publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damaged caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book. While the book is as accurate as the authors can make it, there may be errors, omissions, and inaccuracies.

Trafalgar Square Books encourages the use of approved safety helmets in all equestrian sports and activities.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Kursinski, Anne, author. | Lorraine, Miranda, author.

Title: Anne Kursinskis riding and jumping clinic : a step-by-step course for winning in the hunter and jumper rings / Anne Kursinski with Miranda Lorraine.

Description: Reprint edition. | North Pomfret : Trafalgar Square Books, [2020] | Includes index.

Summary: Olympian Anne Kursinskis acclaimed book on riding horses over fences delivers on-target counsel and the kind of sophisticated, quality instruction you can only get in top barns around the world. Let this medal-winning international competitor show you how its done with step-by-step descriptions of 20 exercises to improve your position, your feel, and your overall understanding of how to confidently and successfully master a jump course. Throughout, explanations are clarified with hundreds of illuminating photographs, completely reshot in full color for this new edition-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020000726 (print) | LCCN 2020000727 (ebook) | ISBN 9781570769849 (paperback) | ISBN 9781646010288 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Hunt riding. | Show jumping. | Jumping (Horsemanship) | Horsemanship.

Classification: LCC SF295.65 .K87 2020 (print) | LCC SF295.65 (ebook) | DDC 798.2/5079--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020000726
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020000727

All photographs by Amber Heintzberger except: p. 242 top left and right (Isabel Kurek); bottom left (James Parker, The Book LLC); p. 243 top left and middle right (Kelly Hudyman); top right (Jan Gyllensten); middle left (Tish Quirk); bottom right (Andrew Ryback Photography).

Book Design by Lauryl Eddlemon

Cover Design by RM Didier

Index by Michelle Guiliano, DPM (linebylineindexing.com)

eBook Design by Prabhati Content

Printed in Hong Kong

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

TO THE ORIGINAL
PAPERBACK EDITION

W hen I first wrote this book in the early 1990s, I had no idea it would be so well received. I simply put into words my philosophy and the system I believe in. A system I developed and refined from life experience and time spent with fine mentors, both human and horse. My hope was to give back and teach future riders and horses.

Today I continue to have people tell me how much they learn from reading and rereading this book. It has helped them win competitions or overcome particular problems with their horses. Some have told me they keep it by their beds, others in their tack trunks. Several colleges use it as a textbook for their equine studies classes. I am always thankful for this positive feedback.

In 1995, when Riding and Jumping Clinic was first published, I had been on three U.S. Olympic Teams, a Pan American Team, several World Cup Finals and two U.S. World Equestrian Teams. Since the book has been in print, I won another Olympic silver medal in Atlanta in 1996, competed in my third World Equestrian Games, and went to my fifth Olympic Games in Hong Kong 2008 as the alternate rider where the United States won the gold medal. I have had a wonderful career with amazing horses, owners, and adventures!

Throughout my career, all my horses and students have used the exercises in this book. My passion for excellence, discipline, attention to detail, and great horsemanship I continue to share with riders and trainers. My philosophy of learning correct basics, understanding how to communicate with your horse, and always being your best, are timeless concepts. With consistent practice and application I have seen horses and riders change dramatically.

I am still riding, training and competing. I love riding horses! There is nothing like watching and feeling horses learn, develop, and changephysically, mentally and emotionally. I get tremendous pleasure from producing great horses. I found Avenue Blue as a green four-year-old in Germany and brought him along to be a circuit champion in Wellington, Florida, and Grand Hunter Champion at Lake Placid. Of course, my most famous partnership has been with Eros. We started together in 1992 when he was a five-year-old from Australia. In 1996 we won an Olympic silver medal together in Atlanta. For years we won international Grands Prix and Nations Cups. Eros retired on my farm in New Jersey. He was an amazing teacher and lifelong friend!

I truly enjoy teaching riding. I give several clinics throughout the year. Riders come and work with me at my farm Market Street when I am home. Having taught for quite a long time, occasionally I have riders tell me they worked with me years ago and still can hear my voice ringing in their ears! I hope what they hear is mostly good!

This summer I had a new experience, traveling to Europe with the U.S. Young Riders Team. This is exciting and new for our U.S. Show Jumping Young Riders to get experience on Nations Cup teams while under 21 years old. These kids are the future of our sport. I enjoy sharing my training and competing experience with these riders in an international setting.

I intend to continue teaching the art of riding, training, and horsemanship to future generations. For me, there are no shortcuts. To be a true winner, there are 110 substitutes for hard work and dedication. They have served me well.

I am extremely thankful to all of the horses in my life. I would not have accomplished so much without them. The horses have been my greatest teachers!

Anne Kursinski
2011

TO THE ORIGINAL
HARDCOVER EDITION

A nne Kursinski and I have lives that seem to intertwine. Weve known each other for almost two decades, and were actually almost related. My familys closest friend in Connecticut married Annes uncle in Pennsylvania, where on many weekends I stopped en route to and from Charlottesville, Virginia, while attending the University of Virginia. Of course Anne wasnt around at that time, but common ground was established.