The first is Unlock your Horse's Talent in 20 minutes a Day by Richard Maxwell and Johanna Staples (David & Charles, 2007).

Riding and handling horses these days is more a lifestyle than a sport, says Richard Maxwell, and to achieve a learning curve, you have to leave the comfort of the plateau. The book provides a structure in which the reader can approach the training of their horse, starting with basic groundwork, and then progressing to groundwork training from a distance, to making the connection to ridden work. Then there is also a section on problems and problem horses.

The second is Schooling for Success with William Fox-Pitt by Kate Green (David & Charles, 2007). William Fox-Pitt has ranked number one in the world eventing rankings and this book illustrates his depth of knowledge when it comes to educating horses and improving one's riding. The tips will be valuable for any rider, from novice right up to international level, as the principles are the same for all.

The book is illustrated with a host of dynamic sequenced photographs, making it a visual guide featuring action sequences from the world's top horse trials, accompanied by expert commentary on how to improve your riding style.

The third is the Horse's Health Problem Solver by dr Roberta Baxter (David & Charles 2005), a book to help with effective diagnosis and treatment for common injury and disease. It is structured into five parts, starting with basic healthcare, then feeding and exercise, a healthy environment, then first aid and concluding with a description of some common diseases. This last part looks at, inter alia, aspects such as diseases of the heart and circulation, respiratory conditions, digestive disorders and the musculoskeletal system.

The aim of the book is to provide both novice and experienced horse owners with an up-to-date, easily accessible reference that will help them to deal with any problems their horses might have.