Centered Riding is not a style of riding as are hunter seat and Western. Rather, it is a way of re-educating 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, Sally 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.

Why a second book? Centered Riding has continued to evolve, and Swift has developed many new concepts, complete with fresh imagery, which make her approach both rider-friendly and fun. Chapters include:

• The Four Basics and Grounding
  
• The Use of Self
  
• Learning Balance and Relaxation
  
• The Following Seat
  
• The Horse is Your Mirror
  
• Discover Shared Energy
  
• Gain Extra Stability from Riding in Three Seats
  
• The Joyful Center
  
• Hands That Help, Not Hinder
  
• Centered Jumping 

SALLY SWIFT hardly needs an introduction as founder of Centered Riding. She wrote Centered Riding in 1985, which became one of the best-selling horse books of all time. Sally continues to teach on a limited basis in her hometown of Brattleboro, Vermont.