Kip's Tips

About the Book

Horsemanship is a never-ending process of learning and problem solving. In Kip’s Tips, author Kip Rosenthal addresses a host of questions and topics related to riding and jumping. Based on her more than sixty years of experience in the equestrian field, coupled with her degree in sports psychology, Rosenthal shares a wealth of knowledge about: flat exercises for riders and horses, including such topics as the rider’s position in the saddle at the walk, trot, canter, and gallop; coordinating rein and leg aids; lengthening and shortening the horse’s stride; and exercises to work on. jumping exercises for riders and horses, such as the rider’s position during the approach; flight and landing, cavalettis; cross rails, verticals, and oxers; identifying and correcting horse disobediences; and understanding when to increase obstacle height and width. horse show competition topics like finding suitable horse shows, divisions, and classes; preparing at home and in the schooling ring; analyzing equitation, hunter, and jumper courses; and determining when to move to advanced levels. sports psychology, including becoming mentally and emotionally prepared for lessons and competitions and developing techniques to a positive attitude. Providing a greater understanding and appreciation of the sport and their horses, Kip’s Tips presents the perfect guide for all ages and levels of trainers, owners, riders, and parents.

About the Author

I have been a rider and trainer for the past 60 years. I was very fortunate as a junior rider to learn from wonderful teachers, including Ann Grenci, Victor Hugo-Vidal, George Morris, Frances Rowe and Bert DeNemethy. One of my two horses, Goodbye Dee was a national Champion Junior Hunter of the Year. My other horse Rome Dome, was both my equitation and jumper;he was National Champion Junior Jumper Horse of the Year, and went on to become my grand prix jumper when I rode with the U.S. Equestriam Team. I started my training barn Benchmark Farm, Inc. in 1985. My students wona ll the Equitation National Finals (some more than once). Several horses that I trained won Horse of the Year in Green Conformation, Junior Jumpers and Amateur Owner Jumper divisions. I have also judged all the Equitation National Finals, some more than once, and I have served on numerous United States Equestrian Federation committees. My education background includes an Associative of Applied Science in early childhood education, a Masters in Education AND Psychology and a Ph.D in Psychology. My specialty is sports psychology in which I have worked with juniors, amateurs and professional athletes in many disciplines. Articles I have written appeared in todays's Equestrian (from which this book was drawn), The Chronicle of The Horse, and Practical Horseman.