I am compiling an updated reading list, so I have something to do with my idle time this winter besides binge watch vintage reruns. 
So, new or old, please tell me what your favorite books on dressage theory and training are, AND WHY, if you donât mind. Iâd prefer to stick to titles that are still available (used or new) to acquire.
âThe Way to Perfect Horsemanshipâ by Udo Burger. It is available on Amazon in a few different editions. For once a title of a book is not a lie.
After reading this book I had an easier time puzzling out what the other dressage books were saying.
As to why, this is the book that finally explained to me WHEN to apply an aid, WHY the aid should be applied at that particular time, HOW TO FEEL when the time is right, and what RESULTS I should expect.
All of a sudden the horses started understanding my aids after I read this book. I have sort of surprised some riding teachers(hunt seat) when their resistant lesson horses obey my gentle aids (often Iâve heard âwhat did you do???â)
(In my library it has a place of great honor as it is almost as good as âCommon Sense Horsemanshipâ by Vladimir Littauer, but the later book is about the Forward Seat, not dressage.)
âMy Horses, My Teachersâ by Alois Podhajsky. My husband got me this book 50 years ago for a Christmas present. I still re-read it regularly.
I have greatly enjoyed reading Martin Diggleâs books, âMasters of Equitation on Collecting and Lengtheningâ, âMasters of Equitation on Trotâ, âMasters of Equitation on Canterâ and âMasters of Equitation on Counter Canter and Flying Changes.â In these books Diggle has a topic and then goes to the books of the Masters and quotes the relevant passage about the topic. It is really interesting to see what ten or more dressage masters wrote about a particular topic.
Enjoy reading these books, you will be well educated about dressage, at least on a reading level!
âRight From The Startâ by Michael Schaffer. Invaluable to me in starting a few young horses. Dressage based, but can be applied to any discipline. Really appreciated his no nonsense, but very kind and understanding approach.
Iâm reading âWhen Two Spines Alignâ by Beth Baumert. It is helping me sit and ride with more precision. Itâs an enjoyable read, as Baumert writes well and clearly.
That is the book I was going to recommend. I need to read it again since my understanding and riding have progressed and Iâm sure I would get more out of it.
I really like Balance in Movement by Suzanne von Dietze and Iâm currently reading her Rider and Horse Back to Back book, which is also good. There is an accompanying DVD for the balance book. She really looks at the mechanics of different rider conformation and how that affects the seat, balance and everything, which is something most books seem to overlook. Or in the case of an Anja Beran book I have, she just suggests starting out with a long, lean body, which is not exactly helpful.
I read this when I was a kid, back before youtube - when the internet was a baby and there wasnât so much educational content. I checked out every horse related book in the local library. I donât think I understood much of the technical stuff at the time (even though I was doing dressage), but 20+ years later I might understand it more
Thanks for the recommendations so far, all. Adding to my list!
BioMechanical Riding and Dressage: A Riderâs Atlas by nancy nickleson. A complete break down and great illustration. It is very technical.
Udo Burger and Klimke!
Ooh, I love technical!
Academic Horse Training by Andrew McLean. Changed the way I thought of riding and handling horses.
I really like Centered Riding by Sally Swift
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