Over the past few decades, an evolution in how we go about training horses has encouraged horse owners to spend more time handling their horse on the ground in order to achieve good behaviour, mutual trust, and a healthy partnership - before they ever think about getting in the saddle. This has created a generation of horsemen and women perfectly poised to pursue the competitive and social benefits of the sport of Horse Agility.

Horse trainer Vanessa Bee, founder of the International Horse Agility Club, says that we need to change the way we think about horses and the sports and activities we so often pursue with them. She sees no reason the horse cannot enjoy your time together so much, he will choose to 'play' with you - over, under, and through obstacles, without a lead rope, even when loose in a large, grassy pasture. Hard to believe? Try it for yourself!

The Horse Agility Handbook has all you need to get started in the sport, including lessons in handling and body language, directions for obstacle and course construction, and information for managing competitions and 'play days'.

• The complete start-up guide to training horses in horse agility
• Written by horsewoman Vanessa Bee - Founder of the International Horse Agility Club and 3-Minute Horsemanship
• Explains a step-by-step process: first developing a relationship with one's horse and then continue together to build confidence and co-operation
• Covers horse and handler basics, obstacle construction and organising and judging competitions
• Horse agility is an activity and a sport which provides a place for those people and horses who may not wish to, or be able to, work under saddle