Zen & Horseback Riding, 3rd Edition: Applying the Principles of Posture, Breath and Awareness to Riding Horses
"It was in 2001 when Tom Nagel wrote Zen & Horseback Riding. It is a small, easy to handle spiral bound book with a soft cover. When he asked me to write the foreword for the new book I was more than happy to do so, because I absolutely love the book. Tom is an excellent writer, what he writes is easy to read. Throughout the book Tom has taken care to explain things simply and fully. He especially concentrates on the psoas muscles, how they function, and the importance of their correct use in tying the legs at the inner thigh to the lumbar spine as it levels the pelvis. The psoas muscles are also important in breathing. Tom emphasizes the importance of posture, breathing and awareness. Many of us know little about Zen. Tom has spent many years studying Zen and Zen Meditation and presents a wealth of knowledge in his simple way so the rest of us have a clear understanding of how it can influence us, our lives and our horseback riding. This is the core of this book. I liked this book so well after being given a copy that I couldn't wait to purchase six more copies for my friends." ------- Sally Swift, author of Centered Riding"You can't ride without a seat. You can't get a seat without working on your posture. People keep trying to ride without a seat and/or a position...but, well, it just doesn't work. Gimmicks and gadgets only go so far. There is only one thing that rides the horse and that is your body. Tom Nagel's concise little book tells you what you need to know to get your body organized so that you can really SIT. I use this book in all of my Dressage in the Fourth Dimension clinics. It's a really important book!" ------- Sherry L. Ackerman, Ph.D., author of Dressage in the Fourth Dimension"2011 Living Now Book Awards: Bronze Medal Winner: Yoga/Pilates/Bodywork Category --Jenkins Group of Traverse City, Michigan"Don't let the Zen color your thoughts. Zen & Horseback Riding is the most applicable book about applying the principles of posture, breath and awareness to riding horses that I know of. Tom makes simple and understandable how to truly have self-carriage on the horse through engagement of the psoas muscles, hyoid muscles and softening of the solar plexus." ----- --Dr. Suzan Seelye, DVM, Healing Heart Newsletter March/April 2008 Vol 4"Almost every page of this book gave me new perspectives. If you have never before bought a book on the anatomy of riding or the Zen of it or been confounded by those of the past, this is the one to get." ------- Mary Daniels, Dressage Today Magazine -  June - 2013 Book Review