This colourful and practical guide provides the perfect introduction to the enjoyment any beginner can get out of riding, no matter what their age. Emphasizing the bond between horse and rider, key tips and checklists are pulled out for easy reference and personal anecdotes from experienced riders add a helpful dimension. The reader is taken through basic care and grooming, simple anatomy, which explains how a horse moves, and is introduced to the horse's natural behaviour and how it thinks. Step-by-step photographs and diagrams describe saddling up, mounting and the correct way to sit and hold the reins. Simple horseback exercises, with and without a saddle, will give a new rider the confidence needed to handle their horse and a series of basic schooling exercises will help to develop control and increase the understanding between horse and rider. The author's enthusiasm together with the numerous attractive, clear photographs, make this a practical and inspirational introduction to the fun of riding.