The principles of riding

[Manni01]

Because of the Jeremy Steinberg thread I got the idea for this thread. In Germany everybody was supposed to read and learn this book, because it is required for our medal system. For each medal you have a theoretical examination and the judge will ask questions from this book. It is kind of the bible of the german riding system, the riding instructors are taught by the book as well.
It is amazingly complete. It will talk about the correct seat, the correct aids, how you structure a lesson, what movements are for collection and which ones are for warming up, the gaits and whatever you can imagine.
As I said when I grew up there were no other books so really every rider had the same basic education.
And I am very very thankful, because this books still gives me the overall complete picture of riding. So whenever I take a clinic I kind of put the lesson of the clinician into my overall picture and try to do it. My experience is that clinicians are very happy when they see something is working and I am happy as well because I really like my progress in the last couple of years. I started with some horses on training/first level and now 2 of my horses are 3rd level and the 3rd one is going towards 4th level (i will probably enter her in the next show in 4th level) I think that is a satisfying progress for 2 years and I never ever rode 4th level before and 3rd level only once in Germany…

And as I wrote in the other thread, I think in order to make good progress you need an overall picture. You are not able to progress, if you don’t know what you are doing. And the book provides this…

So who read and really learned the book???

[Chestnut_Mare1]

Would love to find this book. Who is the author?

[caper]

Is it that little yellow book…?

[Pocket_Pony]

I think that sounds like an excellent system to have and I wish our system were more structured in that sort of way. I guess the Pony Club is probably more like that than anything, although I never did Pony Club. I remember in some shows back in the day, the judge in an equitation (flat) class would ask each rider a question as they were lined up at the end of the class. I wish there were more situations like that where riders would have to “pass” non-riding exams as well in order to judge horsemanship. While we all love to ride, stable management, planning for appropriate progression of the horse up the levels, understanding tack and how to fit it, knowing what to feed and why, and so on, are all important aspects of the whole development of the horse.

So what is this book? Is it translated into English?

[SendenHorse]

The L grads use gernan books, so I think I know what you are talking about???

They have textbooks for longing, riding, etc. I read them in the early 90s and they really helped form a clear idea of classical German dressage. I always appreciate that foundation, it keeps me grounded and able to understand when I see new clinicians, trainers, youtube. etc. I know what is correct.

[Manni01]

@SendenHorse

The L grads use gernan books, so I think I know what you are talking about???

They have textbooks for longing, riding, etc. I read them in the early 90s and they really helped form a clear idea of classical German dressage. I always appreciate that foundation, it keeps me grounded and able to understand when I see new clinicians, trainers, youtube. etc. I know what is correct.

https://www.smileysapp.com/emojis/mouth-shut-emoji.png

[Manni01]

@caper

Is it that little yellow book…?

I think there are different editions.
I know the 70s edition was dark blue , then I saw a pink one and I think the one from 2012 is grayish…
In the past editions they involved some of the best German dressage instructors to rewrite the chapters. Originally it was written for the army so you can imagine how plain and boring it was… We only worked through it because there was nothing else and we had to.
But from my point of view today we were the luckiest people in the world to be forced to read it. And many of the clinician I ride with learned from the book as well in their beginnings…

I think they just redid it again and translated it also very recently
https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Riding-Basic-Training-Horse/dp/1910016128/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BRDGBGKQ4CQ8SEA7RKPM

[Crockpot]

Yes have read it- always have considered it one of the classics. Looks like you can still find it on Amazon- or if you want an earlier edition maybe try abe books

https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Na…/dp/1872119719

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sea…inciples+of+ri ding&kn=&isbn=

[MissAriel]

are either of these (hardcopy and paperback of the same edition, I believe) what you are referring to? It would really help the discussion if we knew which book…

https://www.amazon.com/Principles-National-Equestrian-Federations-Complete/dp/1872119719

https://www.amazon.com/principles-riding-instruction-Equestrian-Federation/dp/1872082939

[Manni01]

@MissAriel

are either of these (hardcopy and paperback of the same edition, I believe) what you are referring to? It would really help the discussion if we knew which book…

https://www.amazon.com/Principles-National-Equestrian-Federations-Complete/dp/1872119719

https://www.amazon.com/principles-riding-instruction-Equestrian-Federation/dp/1872082939

you are right, it is confusing. There is a paperback edition and also a hard cover edition and they have been revised many times since I started riding.

Of course because I learned with the 70s edition I know and love that one, but they involved all the great German riders in the later revisions, I think Schultheiss and Zeilinger were involved in the past so they put a lot of thought in the newer editions and I don’t think they really changed anything, they just tried to make it a little more user friendly, so IMO it doesn’t really matter which edition you read. Its an amazing book anyhow

[Manni01]

@Pocket Pony

I think that sounds like an excellent system to have and I wish our system were more structured in that sort of way. I guess the Pony Club is probably more like that than anything, although I never did Pony Club. I remember in some shows back in the day, the judge in an equitation (flat) class would ask each rider a question as they were lined up at the end of the class. I wish there were more situations like that where riders would have to “pass” non-riding exams as well in order to judge horsemanship. While we all love to ride, stable management, planning for appropriate progression of the horse up the levels, understanding tack and how to fit it, knowing what to feed and why, and so on, are all important aspects of the whole development of the horse.

So what is this book? Is it translated into English?

I think they just translated the newest version into english.

https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Riding-Basic-Training-Horse/dp/1910016128/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BRDGBGKQ4CQ8SEA7RKPM

But honestly I am so conservative so I don’t even know whether I would recommend the newest version. I talked to a friend of mine about it and he was very upset, because he thought that they changed some things for the worse in that edition… I admit I have not read the newest version so I don’t know…

[caper]

I pulled my book off the shelf and realize the yellow book I have is Advanced Techniques of Riding Book 2. Book 1 is The Principles of Riding. 1986 edition. I won it at a Championship show as part of my prize. I found the book invaluable and often refer to it. At the top it says The Complete Riding and Driving System. It is The Official Instruction Handbook of The German National Equestrian Federation.

[atlatl]

I’ve read it and frequently revisit it, as in last night. As noted, it’s available on Amazon. I also have the Advanced Techniques of Dressage which is equally great but crazy expensive.

[MissAriel]

@MissAriel

are either of these (hardcopy and paperback of the same edition, I believe) what you are referring to? It would really help the discussion if we knew which book…

https://www.amazon.com/Principles-National-Equestrian-Federations-Complete/dp/1872119719

https://www.amazon.com/principles-riding-instruction-Equestrian-Federation/dp/1872082939

These are hardcover and paperback versions of the 1997 edition. I’m not sure if that is far enough back or not.

[Manni01]

OMG I just looked up my edition https://www.booklooker.de/Bücher/diverse+richtlinien-für-reiten-und-fahren-band-I-grundausbildung/id/A01topcj01ZZH?zid=04fa8e33d9f53e4f9470820eab2c9082

[Manni01]

@MissAriel

These are hardcover and paperback versions of the 1997 edition. I’m not sure if that is far enough back or not.

I am sure they are fine!!! I do admit that I am not too familiar with the newer versions… I just know that my friend who is very knowledgeable complained about the newest version…

[netg]

@caper

Is it that little yellow book…?

Yes. That’s the version I have.

https://www.amazon.com/principles-riding-instruction-Equestrian-Federation/dp/0668064692

[pluvinel]

The US equivalent of this German book is Gordon Wright’s “Horsemanship and Horsemastership.” This is a book that George Morris references quite a bit.
https://www.amazon.com/Calvary-Manua…orsemastership

H&H was required reading for anyone who came of age riding after WWII…and up to 1980’s. Something happened then…that emphasis was taken away from these books.

Wright’s book is a total copy of the US Cavalry Manual…
https://www.amazon.com/Horsemanship-…orsemastership

Some people have said Gordon Wright’s book includes some unattributed material from Lt. Col. Harry D. Chamberlin’s 1934 “Riding and Schooling Horses” and his 1938 “Training Hunters, Jumpers, and Hacks.”

All of these books are classic descriptors of the US Cavalry style of riding…which is a riding style more based on the French school, since the US was allies with France.

A reprint of the US Cavalry Manual is available thru the US Cavalry Association.
http://www.uscavalry.org/shop/index…nship-volume-i

[DownYonder]

I have the yellow paperback. Cover page says: “The Principles of Riding - Official Instruction Handbook of the German National Equestrian Federation.” It was published in 1985, and has a foreword by Jennie Loriston Clarke. The flypage says “Translation of Grundausbildung für Reiter und Pferde.”

It was given to me by my first real dressage coach, who had studied classical dressage under Michael Handler, son of Hans Handler (of SRS fame). It’s a great book - chock full of information about tack, how to hold the reins, how to apply aids for this and that, how to ride various movements and figures, and also includes really helpful illustrations.

I also have a navy blue hardcover, with a paper cover in white/blue with dark red text. The cover says: “Advanced Techniques of Riding: The Official Instruction Handbook of the German National Equestrian Federation.” It was published in 1987. It does not have a foreword. The flypage says “Translation of Richtlinien für Reten and Rahren, Bd. II.”

The second book doesn’t have as much basic information as the first book. As its name implies, it addresses more advanced principles, including high school movements such as piaffe and passage, as well as even more advanced work like work in the pillars, levade, and even discusses airs above the ground. It also has a good-sized section on show jumping.

The first book was revised and reissued in 1996 or 1997. IIRC, Susanne Hauptmann did the rewrite (I believe her husband was/is head of the German FN). I had a copy of the revision, but I loaned it out years ago and never got it back.

I love that little yellow book. It is so informative!

Edited to add that I think Susanne Hauptmann has used her husband’s last name for a long time (Miesner).

[Dramapony_misty]

The pink covered version (https://www.amazon.com/Principles-National-Equestrian-Federations-Complete/dp/1872119719/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502307876&sr=1-2&keywords=principles+of+riding) and the Purple cover Advanced Techniques of Dressage (https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Techniques-Dressage-Equestrian-Federations/dp/1872119646/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502308030&sr=8-3-fkmr1&keywords=Advanced+principles+of+dressage) were both required reading for my dressage riding lessons in college. I’ll have to pull them back out! I don’t think I appreciated the information they offered back then.