Compared to other equestrian sports, dressage is a rather young branch in the United States, and in growing up, there has been some confusion about what dressage really means.
In the meantime everyone knows that dressage is not teaching tricks to the horse to be shown in the ring. Dressage is the mental and psychical training, aiming in the full harmony between rider and horse. Besides its fascination, it is primarily hard work, demanding self discipline and fairness towards the personality of the horse.
In the past, I have repeatedly been asked to write down my philosophy for training a horse. Well, I will do so, but first of all I want to make sure:
This is not going to be a “new school.” What I have in mind is to help trainers and riders better comprehend the German way of training a horse, which emphasize the importance of a solid foundation. It is the systematic basic training that enables the horse later to be successful in international competitions.
The German approach, which is practiced in most countries, is not a “new school” either, as it is an outcome of the Classical School developed by the old masters. It has been published in Deutsche Reitlehre, the official handbook for German instructors, and it has been translated in The Principles of Riding and Advanced Riding, both recommended by the USDF.
The Basics is meant to complement these standard manuals by adding some thoughts that originate form more than 50 years of training horses and teaching riders, which may simplify the complex issue. It will not repeat well known features, but it will give a perspective idea about the general procedure in training a horse as well as answer the following questions:
Which are the essential elements in dressage?
How do we achieve these elements?
In what order do we develop them in training?
What is the purpose of the movements and school figures?
When are these movements useful, when harmful and even faming?
How do we introduce them to the horse?
The Basics is also meant to complement W. Museler’s Riding Logic by presenting the concept for a logical procedure in training that goes along with the natural abilities of the horse.
The Basics will help clarify misconceptions in training a horse. In addition to the above mentioned standard manuals, it will be a guideline for everyone who wants to train a young horse up to the higher levels in dressage as well as in jumping and eventing.
The procedure may need time, but in basic training, the longer way is actually the shorter one, ass the horse’s well-being is a prerequisite and key for success.
Paperback.