The Sport Horse Problem Solver - by Eric Smiley (Paperback)

About the Book

"Former international event rider Eric Smiley channels the immense knowledge he has gained starting his own horses for decades. Most horses, unfortunately, do not get "the right start," and the result is a mount with behavior or training problems that are difficult to pinpoint and solve for optimal performance. Smiley addresses the most common issues he sees in dressage, eventing, and show jumping circles today, including problems with head and neck position; connection issues; lack of understanding of forward, straight, and regular; factors that interfere with collection; and a lack of consistency. Smiley provides an easy-to-follow system to determining what's wrong and gives you sensible exercises and methods for fixing it"--

Book Synopsis

A simple system for figuring out and fixing what's wrong with a horse's performance.

Former international event rider Eric Smiley has brought along his own top-level horses for decades. Now he taps his immense knowledge to help riders whose horses may not have had "the right start." Every horse comes with his own "baggage"--behavior or training issues, minor or significant, that may be difficult to pinpoint or resolve. In these pages, Smiley addresses the most common problems he has seen over the years in dressage, eventing, and show jumping, including:

Problems with head and neck position.

Connection issues.

Failure to follow the rules of forward, straight, and regular.

Difficulty with collection.

Lack of consistency.

Smiley teaches readers how to identify what isn't working by looking at how things should work. Then he walks us through dismantling and reassembling the issues, providing an easy-to-follow system for determining what's potentially wrong with a horse and choosing sensible exercises for fixing it. He introduces a troubleshooting five-point system:

Ask yourself, "What is the problem?"

Ask, "How, when, and why did it arise?"

Ask, "Why does it need solving?"

Formulate a plan.

Analyze the results in the context of "now" and what they may mean for the future.

Layers and shifts of understanding in horses combined with the physical and psychological challenges of riding can often make solving problems that arise seem complicated, and sometimes it is difficult to know where to even begin. Smiley's system helps readers find that "start point" and map out a sensible plan for future training. He shows how to determine when something may have become an issue for your horse or your performance, ways to try and avoid it happening in the first place, and of course, offers highly practical solutions to employ when you find you do have a problem. Smiley's goal is to "always leave people and horses with a positive journey to go on, with the prospect of 'better to come.'" With its usefulness, cross-disciplinary approach, and optimism, The Sport Horse Problem Solver is all you need to achieve success in partnership with your horse, wherever you are in your journey together.

Review Quotes

"To me it is not about the top competitions, the
winning, and the medals--it is the relationships I form with my horses, built on
trust, that are absolutely my priority. It is well worth reading
Eric Smiley's The Sport Horse Problem Solver as he is very much an
all-around horseman and a very successful trainer. His book will help solve
the common problems that we all experience in a patient, calm, and humane
way. It is so not about force with horses; force creates fear, not trust.
We need empathy and a confident partnership in which your horse
understands you are doing everything to help him. In my opinion, this is the
only way. Eric's book is all of this--and a good read." --Pippa Funnell,
Three-Time Olympic Medalist and Winner of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing

"Eric
is one of those rare individuals who combines a natural, practical approach in
his training of horse and rider with genuine intellectual curiosity. We as
riders, coaches and trainers-and therefore the horses- are all the fortunate
beneficiaries of his clearly communicated wisdom." --Robert Costello, Member of the USA Eventing Team at the 2000
Sydney Olympics; Top Ten Finisher at Rolex Kentucky, Fair Hill International,
and Burghley; and Chef d'Equipe of the 2022 Silver Medal USEF Land Rover Eventing
team at the Eventing World Championships in Pratoni, Italy.

"In
Eric Smiley's latest book, he articulates his profound understanding of the
mental and physical development of both horses and riders. He emphasizes
patience, introspection, and progressive training to address problems and to
enhance confidence and performance. Regardless of your level of riding or your
horse's education, this book has something to teach everyone. In addition to
reading his books, I've been fortunate to ride in clinics with Eric. He always shares
his wisdom related to producing horses through the levels of eventing, and his
insight has had a lasting impact on my career and my horses' development.
Throughout this book, he continues to clearly explain the methods and
strategies to support positive learning and experiences." --Ariel Grald,
International 5* Event Rider, Winner of a Team Silver Medal at the 2022 World
Eventing Championships

"Eric
Smiley has spent a lifetime with horses, both as a successful international
rider and also as a highly qualified and regarded trainer. This book brings a
wonderful fresh approach to all aspects of training a horse and shows the deep
understanding Eric has to the complexities of producing a horse, but put in a
very simple and understandable way. It will be a wonderful 'go-to' reference
point for riders of all ages and abilities who want to improve the training and
rideability of their horse, whether a riding club hack or 5* eventer." --Sir Mark Todd, KNZM CBE,
Seven-time Olympian in Eventing with gold medals
at Los Angeles (1984) and Seoul
(1988), five wins at Burghley Horse Trials, and four wins at Badminton Horse
Trials

"Eric
Smiley's wonderful new book is called The Sport Horse Problem Solver.
That is a tactful choice of words, because it OUGHT to be entitled The Sport
Horse RIDER Problem Solver. The horses wouldn't have all those problems if
we riders were knowledgeable enough and skilled enough not to create them. Eric
must have been using me as a model, because I think I have created just about
each and every problem that he enumerates and suggests strategies for
alleviating. 'Live and learn, ' as they say, but I'd have learned sooner and
created far fewer issues with many fewer horses that needed to be corrected if
I'd had Eric's new book as a guide." --Denny Emerson, author of How
Good Riders Get Good, Know Better to Do Better and Begin and Begin Again

"I
cannot tell you how excited I am for this book! From the first time I met Eric
Smiley, over twenty years ago, and experienced his teaching methods, I knew he
was a 'how-to-make-it-all-better' clinician. There was no 'cookie-cutter
formula' for his training programs. Eric is a problem solver, and with every
learning opportunity he presents a methodical approach based on long-lasting
awareness and thought process. I am incredibly delighted with the content of The
Sport Horse Problem Solver and can easily hear Eric's voice--enjoy the
journey with him! You will be better for reading!" --Beth Lendrum, Eric Smiley Clinic Organizer, USEF Eventing
Sport and Owners Task Force Committee Member and Former USEA Board of Governors
Member

"It is a truism to say that the best coaches are those who are themselves great students. For the 40 years I have been his supporter and colleague, Eric Smiley has always been a great student. Always listening, always questioning, always thoughtful, he never rests on his laurels but continually looks for new challenges and better ideas. This attitude, combined with his wide experience, gives his words special value." --William Micklem, Equestrian Consultant, Writer, Creator of the Micklem Bridle

"Eric puts himself into the mind and skin of the horse, so his
advice has obvious feeling at its heart--what it feels like to be a horse." --Christopher Bartle, Performance Coach British
Eventing Team, Olympic Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalist, and Author of Training
the Sport Horse

"Eric has always had an
incredible ability to break down any problems with a sympathetic and easily
understood method--often with a great sense of humor added to take the sting out
of any constructive criticism." --Ian Stark, OBE, Winner of Four Olympic Silver Medals in Eventing and
Cross-Country Course Designer

"There is no doubt this title will bring you approachable methods to make improvements in your equestrian endeavors and relationship with your horse, regardless of which riding discipline you favor. ...Highly approachable and an easy read." --Catskill Horse Magazine

"If you get flummoxed by the pyramid of dressage training, or if you sometimes have trouble figuring out what the dressage judge actually meant by those comments, The Sport Horse Problem Solver will help you make sns of it all--and will point the way toward better riding and training." --US Dressage Connection

About the Author

Eric Smiley is a former international event
rider who represented Ireland at European, World, and Olympic level, winning
team bronze medals on two occasions. Smiley began his equestrian career in the
Pony Club, and continued it in the army and at the world-renowned Talland
Equestrian Center in the United Kingdom, during which time he gained his
British Horse Society Instructor's certificate. In 1995 Smiley passed his
British Horse Society Fellowship exam, the highest teaching qualification in
the industry. Smiley was Team Coach of the Belgian Eventing team for the 2011
European Eventing Championships and 2012 London Olympics and was an FEI judge
who regularly acted as a Ground Jury member. Smiley is the author of the
cross-country bible Look... No Hands! and Two Brains, One
Aim. He travels the globe helping professional and amateur riders achieve
their goals (ericsmiley.co.uk).