Best Dressage Books

[bort84]

Okay, I love to read, and I’d love to hear some feedback on great dressage books.

Books I’ve read include:

Complete Training of Horse and Rider - Alois Podhajsky

• Really great book I thought. Pretty detailed descriptions about what is correct, and constantly reminds you that the horse should always be a willing partner. Sometimes probably a little more technical than I would recommend for beginners.

My Horses My Teachers - Alois Podhajsky

• This one is less technical obviously, but definitely reminds you what is really important in your horse relationships. Enjoyable for even the most casual rider.

Common Sense Dressage - Sally O’Connor

• She seems to understand that a lot of us do not get to start every horse from scratch and may need some good fixer upper techniques. She’s also pretty clear in her instructions, though not always that detailed. A good one for beginners I think.

Tug of War: Classical vs. Modern Dressage - Gerd Heuschmann

• Interesting perspective and has some useful anatomy lessons.

The Elements of Dressage: A Guide to Training the Young Horse - K.A. von Ziegner

• A great reminder that you can’t rush perfection. Goes through the training scale but is not as detailed as I would sometimes like.

There are some others, but that’s the list for now.

So, are there any books y’all have read that really just did it for you? I’d love to hear so I can go spend a bunch of money on Amazon, haha.

[poltroon]

The Athletic Development of the Dressage Horse: Manege Patterns, by Charles de Kunffy

I also quite like Schooling for Young Riders by John Richard Young, though it is not dressage, just good training.

Taking up the Reins is the story of an older woman who went to be a working student in Germany in the 1970s. Neat.

And if you want to read more fiction and narrative type books, there is a list of them relating to dressage at ponydom.com.

[bort84]

Ooh, Taking up the Reins sounds like a goodie. I hope I won’t be “older” by the time I get back to the horses full time, but I will definitely older than I’d like, haha. Just gotta pay my student loans first. Grad school seemed like such a good idea. But now I have to have a job to match my education level or I can’t afford to pay for my past education, haha. Vicious cycle. Seems like if I had just stuck with undergrad I could maybe have afforded to work on going pro from the getgo. Ooooooh well! Hindsight’s 20/20 = )

Definitely interested in the Charles de Knuffy books. I’ve heard good things.

[poltroon]

Two other authors that people like for dressage training books are Paul Belasik and Walter Zettl.

[merrygoround]

A great book for the rider. " The Classical Seat" bySylvia Loch!

[Ambrey]

I really liked For the Good of the Rider by Mary Wanless

[bort84]

Anybody else? With the variety of opinions (understatement), I thought this would be the perfect place for dressage book recommendations, haha.

[_Freedom]

@bort84;3833189

Anybody else? With the variety of opinions (understatement), I thought this would be the perfect place for dressage book recommendations, haha.

I have a few of the old masters that I read through. Some are not available in English.

I am sure that SLC has a ton of them (for research purposes) she will be able to advise you on one.:yes:

[DressageK]

I really enjoyed Dressage Masters by David Collins.
The USDF Guide To Dressage was really educational.
Dressage With Kyra which focuses on Kyra Kyrklund’s training techniques.

And Conditioning Sport Horses was very technical but great for the proper ways to develop your horses muscles. There is a section for the dressage horse, but also for show jumping, combined driving, endurance racing, polo, cutting, reining, sprinting sports, and chuck wagon racing.

[Gontyna]

Some of my favorites…

Das Dressur Pferd, by Harry Boldt (yes, it’s in German, but the photos are amazing!)

The Way to Perfect Horsemanship, by Udo Burger

Misconceptions and Simple Truths in Dressage, by H.L.M. Van Schaik

Dressage in the Fourth Dimension, by Sherry Ackerman

Dressage with Kyra, by Kyra Kyrklund

Dressage Insights, by Kathy Connelly and Marietta Whittlesey

Dressage as Art in Competition, by John Winnett

Horses Are Made to Be Horses, by Franz Mairinger

Ahlerich, by Reiner Klimke

[BoyleHeightsKid]

“Dressage in Lightness” by Sylvia Loch

[darrin]

i liked debbie mcdonald’s riding through. part autobiography, part how to, nice photos.

[Sandy_M]

All of the books listed are good.

I found “Feeling Dressage” by Ruth Sabine Schaefer very helpful, and just the other day I saw it remaindered at Half Price Books for $4.98!! Check out your local Half-Price Books store!

[Equus_girl]

-Not really a dressade book, but something I would recommend to anyone : Hoof Problems: Hoof Construction, Trimming and Shoeing, Solutions for Common Issues and Ailments
-The Way to Perfect Horsemanship by Burger, Udo; Bartle, Nicole [Hardcover]
By: Udo Burger (Author)

• Classical Schooling with the Horse in Mind: Gentle Gymnastic Training Techniques [Hardcover] By: Anja Beran. An exceptional dressage book

[Perfect_Pony]

@Equus_girl;3837960

• Classical Schooling with the Horse in Mind: Gentle Gymnastic Training Techniques [Hardcover] By: Anja Beran. An exceptional dressage book

Ditto, love it.

I also like the Jane Savoie books, especially the cross training books, and “it’s not just about the ribbons”.

[Equus_girl]

Perfect Pony,
I just ordered Anja Beren’ DVD off ebay, have you seen it?

-Another good book on classical dressage is Ride from the Heart by Jenny Rolfe

[bort84]

Have not seen the Anja Beren DVD yet, but I will take a look at it. Let us know how it goes.

Thanks for the great suggestions thus far guys! Can’t wait to go blow some money on horse books, haha. Thank goodness for half.com (though I kind of like to get the pretty ones with pictures new… I’m bad.)

[marshmallow1]

I second the “Dressage in Lightness” by Sylvia Loch.

She’s a great writer, her style is extremely informative and easy to understand, but still quite technical. An easy read, too. I bet she’s a wonderful teacher.