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Centered Riding 2: Further Exploration
Centered Riding is not a style of riding as are dressage, hunter seat, or Western. Rather, it is a way of reeducating a rider’s mind and body to achieve greater balance in order to better communicate with the horse. Founder Sally Swift revolutionized riding by showing that good use of the human body makes a world of difference on horseback. Early in her work, she established what she calls the “Four Basics” — centering, breathing, soft eyes, and building blocks—which, together with grounding, are the main tenets of her method. When a rider learns and maintains these basics, then harmony between horse and human is possible.
Sally Swift’s first book, Centered Riding, made its revolutionary appearance in 1985 and continues as one of the best-selling horse books of all time. This second book doesn't replace the first one, it complements it. In the intervening years, Centered Riding continued to evolve, and Sally inevitably developed many new concepts and fresh imagery, all of which are presented here.
Sally Swift’s first book, Centered Riding, made its revolutionary appearance in 1985 and continues as one of the best-selling horse books of all time. This second book doesn't replace the first one, it complements it. In the intervening years, Centered Riding continued to evolve, and Sally inevitably developed many new concepts and fresh imagery, all of which are presented here.
- GenresHorsesNonfiction
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2002
41 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Sally Swift
38 books10 followersAt seven years old, a scoliosis appeared which became part of her daily life and was later instrumental in her development of Centered Riding. After the diagnosis and well into her twenties, she worked with Mabel Ellsworth Todd, author of The Thinking Body. Mable Todd was Sally’s first teacher in “body awareness” and encouraged Sally to explore her new “awareness”. This early training was enhanced when Sally began, and continued, to study the Alexander Technique™ and applied it to riding. Sally’s work with the Alexander Technique™ enabled her to discard the back brace she had worn for many years. The Alexander Technique™ is a method of re-educating the mind and body towards greater balance and integration with special reference to posture and movement. The Technique did not change any of her basic principles but added significantly to the depth and subtlety of her teaching. Sally worked with areas of the body rather than with specific muscles and used a balanced approach, teaching to both sides of the brain.
Sally was home schooled until 7th grade by her loving mother and then attended Milton Academy in Milton Massachusetts for her 7th through 12th grade education. After graduating high school, Sally studied with Phyllis Linnington in England and Colonel Guirey of the Boots and Saddle Riding School in New York City and also taught riding at various private schools.
Although discouraged by Mabel Todd from going on to college, Sally was determined to change her career, since at that time riding was only taught by "hard-boiled spinsters" or grooms with no education. Not wanting to be viewed as a "hard-boiled spinster" and having the benefit of a wonderful early education, Sally decided to attend the University of Massachusetts from 1943 to 1945 and then transferred to Cornell University. She graduated from Cornell University in 1947 with a B.S. in agriculture. She worked for 21 years at the Holstein Association of America located in Brattleboro, Vermont, retiring in 1975. During those years, Sally was active in the Brattleboro Riding Club and the Brattleboro Dressage Show. Under her leadership, the Brattleboro Riding Club Horse Show grew to be the largest single day horse show in the United States.
Upon her retirement from the American Holstein Association, Sally began teaching riding to a few friends and used concepts of her work with Mabel Todd to develop the Four Basics of Centered Riding. Sally charged $10 per lesson or $50 per day. This was the beginning of Centered Riding®. Sally never advertised her work; her teaching reputation simply spread by word of mouth. Before long, she was going up and down the East coast with her teachings. In the early 1980’s, when Sally was in her early seventies, she began traveling to other locations in the U.S. and Canada, Australia and Europe. As she developed her techniques and taught people about the Four Basics of Centered Riding, the demand for Centered Riding clinics and Instructor clinics blossomed and has since become a worldwide organization with members all across the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Clinics are now beginning to be held in France and Japan, and interest in Centered Riding has been expressed in Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, among other places.
Sally Swift’s book Centered Riding, now a classic, was published in 1985 and celebrated its twentieth year in print in 2005. It's been translated into fifteen languages (in 2008, Korean became the fifteenth language) and has sold over 800,000 copies worldwide. In 1986, Sally produced two videos Centered Riding: Tape 1 and Centered Riding: Tape 2, which are readily available now in both VHS and DVD formats. A second book, Centered Riding 2: Further Exploration was published in 2002 and is following in its predecessor's footsteps with nine foreign langua
Sally was home schooled until 7th grade by her loving mother and then attended Milton Academy in Milton Massachusetts for her 7th through 12th grade education. After graduating high school, Sally studied with Phyllis Linnington in England and Colonel Guirey of the Boots and Saddle Riding School in New York City and also taught riding at various private schools.
Although discouraged by Mabel Todd from going on to college, Sally was determined to change her career, since at that time riding was only taught by "hard-boiled spinsters" or grooms with no education. Not wanting to be viewed as a "hard-boiled spinster" and having the benefit of a wonderful early education, Sally decided to attend the University of Massachusetts from 1943 to 1945 and then transferred to Cornell University. She graduated from Cornell University in 1947 with a B.S. in agriculture. She worked for 21 years at the Holstein Association of America located in Brattleboro, Vermont, retiring in 1975. During those years, Sally was active in the Brattleboro Riding Club and the Brattleboro Dressage Show. Under her leadership, the Brattleboro Riding Club Horse Show grew to be the largest single day horse show in the United States.
Upon her retirement from the American Holstein Association, Sally began teaching riding to a few friends and used concepts of her work with Mabel Todd to develop the Four Basics of Centered Riding. Sally charged $10 per lesson or $50 per day. This was the beginning of Centered Riding®. Sally never advertised her work; her teaching reputation simply spread by word of mouth. Before long, she was going up and down the East coast with her teachings. In the early 1980’s, when Sally was in her early seventies, she began traveling to other locations in the U.S. and Canada, Australia and Europe. As she developed her techniques and taught people about the Four Basics of Centered Riding, the demand for Centered Riding clinics and Instructor clinics blossomed and has since become a worldwide organization with members all across the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Clinics are now beginning to be held in France and Japan, and interest in Centered Riding has been expressed in Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, among other places.
Sally Swift’s book Centered Riding, now a classic, was published in 1985 and celebrated its twentieth year in print in 2005. It's been translated into fifteen languages (in 2008, Korean became the fifteenth language) and has sold over 800,000 copies worldwide. In 1986, Sally produced two videos Centered Riding: Tape 1 and Centered Riding: Tape 2, which are readily available now in both VHS and DVD formats. A second book, Centered Riding 2: Further Exploration was published in 2002 and is following in its predecessor's footsteps with nine foreign langua
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 14, 2021
A further collection of exercises from Sally Swift's Centered Riding methodology. Details explanations of the exercises and their purposes to help riders and horses work together safely and comfortably. This book adds information on Jumping and Riders with Disabilities, as well as working through helping every rider use their bodies more correctly to reduce or eliminate pain.
A useful collection of exercises for every instructor, though I've never participated in a Centered Riding clinic which would probably make them more intuitive. I would be curious to know if any of these methodologies have changed in the last 20 years especially with Safe Sport regulations.
No content issues.
October 29, 2018
Very detailed and some good ideas but a bit too mechanical for me.
February 27, 2010
This is not a riding book - it's a body awareness book.
If you're looking for exercises to do with your horse, this is the wrong book for you. This book is all about a journey of self-discovery and self-awareness.
Arguably one of the most influential authors in horsemanship in the 20th century, Sally Swift has a unique approach to getting it right off the horse before getting on the horse.
Highly recommended for all disciplines, this is a no-nonsense approach and very low on the bullshit that usually accompanies it's bookshelf companions in the 'mind body spirit' section: A welcome relief.
If you're looking for exercises to do with your horse, this is the wrong book for you. This book is all about a journey of self-discovery and self-awareness.
Arguably one of the most influential authors in horsemanship in the 20th century, Sally Swift has a unique approach to getting it right off the horse before getting on the horse.
Highly recommended for all disciplines, this is a no-nonsense approach and very low on the bullshit that usually accompanies it's bookshelf companions in the 'mind body spirit' section: A welcome relief.
April 8, 2013
A great book that can help those searching for natural ability in the saddle to achieve it with relative ease. Teaching us about our own bodies and how it affects the horse's balance and movements is enlightening and rewarding.
June 14, 2014
I started it, lost it, found it, finished it....now I ought to get back on a horse.
As for the book, Sally Swift does a brilliant job of conveying her riding techniques. Centered riding is all about the connection between rider and horse, the mental as well as the physical.
As for the book, Sally Swift does a brilliant job of conveying her riding techniques. Centered riding is all about the connection between rider and horse, the mental as well as the physical.
August 9, 2014
The advanced techniques in "Centered Riding 2" build on the foundation you have now built by practicing the techniques from "Centered Riding". Check out the DVDs, too, if you are a visual learner.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews