Dressage School


Book Description

A fantastically detailed and uniquely organized dressage reference for the rider. Discover the what, the how, and–most importantly–the why of more than 100 dressage movements. Color photographs of riders of various levels and on different breeds of horse show how each movement should look when ridden correctly. Each movement is clearly defined. Explanations include common mistakes and how to avoid them. Readers find out the benefits of each exercise and how it contributes to the “bigger picture” of the dressage training scale. “This book appealed to me,” says gold-medal-winning Olympian Isabell Werth. “Especially important is the emphasis on the meaning of the individual dressage movements within the overall context of a horse’s training. Only the rider who understands why the movements are important and what their purposes are can build a dressage horse systematically. This applies to both the development of the horse's muscles and the development of his mind.” Throughout, emphasis is placed on the horse as an individual and how it is the rider's responsibility to learn to customize movements and lessons to benefit any horse, with his particular physical and psychological characteristics in mind. Practical and easy-to-follow, this valuable resource provides explanations in seconds that will last a lifetime of rides.




101 Western Dressage Exercises for Horse & Rider


Book Description

This series of Western Dressage exercises are designed to improve suppleness, balance in movement, and responsiveness. Each exercise has a specific goal in mind, and they are organized by different areas of focus: softness, looseness, rider development, engagement, adjustability, and ground work. With illustrated step-by-step instructions and full arena diagrams, you’ll quickly be on your way to mastering this exciting discipline.




Training Strategies for Dressage Riders


Book Description

Training Strategies for Dressage Riders is a unique guide to the art and technique of dressage, written by one of the most renowned equestrian trainers in the world today. It offers a complete training system for both horse and rider, paying special attention to how a rider s actions can influence a mount. The book provides practical, in-the-saddle advice on a wide range of dressage topics, including: * The art of classical equitation * The development of the rider s seat and aids * Developing the basic gaits * Gymnastic improvement * Horse insubordination * Clinics and competitions judging Whether you want to prepare for dressage competition or simply improve your riding skills, this is a matchless guide.




Down to Earth Dressage


Book Description

This enormously popular book for riders at every level, makes dressage training accessible with step-by-step guides for improving pace, riding movements and competing.




Dressage Training In-Hand


Book Description

Over the course of her riding and horse training career, Kathrin Roida has progressively gained a deep appreciation for the benefits of gymnastic exercises, particularly those that can be taught to the horse from the ground. "In-hand" training has long been used to help develop the dressage horse, conditioning and suppling his body while at the same time preparing his mind to grasp the movements that may eventually be expected. Roida relies on these techniques when working with young horses, which she prepares for under-saddle training with exercises first learned on the ground, improving balance and enhancing confidence by refining the horse's sense of his body and where it is in space. Roida also uses in-hand techniques to vary the training of the fully schooled riding horse and to solve problems that may be more safely dealt with from the ground. In this book she details her methods, sharing the stories of a number of horses of different ages, breeds, and training backgrounds, and demonstrating the steps to teaching them: shoulder-in, travers, renvers, pirouettes, half-pass, piaffe, passage, canter work, the Spanish walk, and much more. Throughout her conscientious attention to what is best for the horse ensures that not only do the lessons result in a horse that is healthy in body but also one that is healthy in mind and happy in his work.




Dressage training and competition exercises for beginners: Flatwork & collection schooling for horses


Book Description

Ready to improve your dressage skills? This book is packed full of groundwork and riding exercises to improve your dressage training and competition results. It includes how to get ready for your next dressage competitions, handy checklists for your dressage test day and tips to help memorize your test. Plus if you’ve ever read ‘needs more collection’ on your dressage test results, this book will show you exactly how to improve your horse’s posture, collection and self-carriage the kind way. No pulling on the reins or crazy muscles required! Help your horse to stay healthy, reach his full potential and have fun with dressage. Lessons include: - Origins of dressage - Why dressage is great for your horse - Benefits of dressage - Dressage success tips - Saddles for dressage - Bridles and tack for dressage - Gadgets - Bitless, barefoot and treeless options - Finding a great trainer - How to improve your riding posture - When to start dressage training - Why should you do groundwork? - Halt and backup groundwork exercises - In-hand forequarter and hindquarter yields - Walk in hand - Speed and rhythm groundwork exercises - Shoulder out groundwork exercise - Don’t overbend your horse - When beginner dressage goes wrong - Collection - what it is and is not - Dressage riding exercises - The warmup - Straightness riding exercises - Energy and impulsion riding exercises - Weight aids, timing and cues exercises - Bends and corners - Transition exercises - Serpentine riding exercises - Falling in love with corners riding exercise - The 10 step exercise for collection - Spiral collection exercise - The teardrop collection exercise - Shoulder out for collection - Leg yields for collection - Going to dressage competitions - Dressage test mindset - Checklist: The week before your dressage test - Checklist: The day before your dressage test - Checklist: Your dressage test day - How to get the most from the judge's advice - The warmup arena - Tips to remember your dressage test - Managing competition nerves - Competition tips - After your dressage test - Common dressage test questions and issues - Dressage mistakes and problems to avoid Impress your friends and become a great dressage rider and talented horse person - starting today! Elaine Heney is the #1 best-selling author, award-winning film-maker, director of Grey Pony Films, and creator of the 'Listening to the Horse™' documentary. She has helped over 120,000+ horse owners in 113 countries to create awesome relationships with their horses. Elaine lives in Ireland with her horses Ozzie & Matilda. Discover Elaine’s series of world renowned online groundwork, riding & training programs at Grey Pony Films.




101 Jumping Exercises for Horse & Rider


Book Description

Get jumping! This collection presents a logical series of fun and rewarding exercises that are designed to develop your horse-jumping skills. With straightforward instructions and clear arena maps, this guide can be hung on a pole and easily referenced from the saddle. In addition to clearly articulated goals and progressively difficult variations, each exercise also includes encouraging advice on what the rider should keep in mind while jumping. Saddle up and get ready to fly through the air with grace and confidence.




The USDF Guide to Dressage


Book Description

Whatever your primary equestrian discipline, dressage is an ideal way for you to increase your riding awareness and enhance your relationship with your horse. Providing an overview of basic techniques and a series of helpful training exercises, Jennifer O. Bryant stresses the tenets of harmonious communication between horse and rider as she guides you through the graceful movements of dressage. With suggestions on how to find qualified instructors and information on necessary equipment, this comprehensive guide will inspire you to explore this exciting and rewarding world.




The BIG Book of Dressage Exercises


Book Description

Over 40 floorplans and 190 dressage exercises (including pole exercises) Never get stuck riding around the edge of the arena again! All floorplans have both 20x40 and 20x60 diagrams Space to take notes and keep track of your progress Directives and tips sharing what judges are looking for Exercises to suit a variety of levels with space to modify and make your own THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS BOOK... When it comes to creating dressage floorplans, there's actually not that much you can do. Think about it; a dressage floorplan is no more than a series of straight lines and circles. That's it! The level of difficulty is increased by riding these straight lines and circles in different places, including transitions, and riding lateral exercises. But ultimately, when it comes to navigating your 20x40 or 20x60 arena, you will either be following a straight line or riding around a circle. Even when riding lateral exercises such as half-pass and leg-yield, you're still following a straight line. The only difference is that you are following the line in two or three tracks, rather than on one track only. So technically, we lied to you a little bit! This guide isn't a book of dressage exercises. It's really a book of dressage floorplans. BUT each floorplan can be modified to included different combinations of paces, transitions, and lateral work, giving you an almost infinite amount of dressage exercise combinations. We've created some of the exercises for you (over 190!), but there's also space for you to modify them and create your own. After working through this book, you'll never look at straight lines and circles in the same way again! Created by How To Dressage HowToDressage.com




The Scales of Training Workbook for Dressage and Jumping


Book Description

The "scales of training" are the components of a progressive training system that has evolved from the teaching of the great riding masters of Italy, France, and Germany. The scales apply to the basic schooling of every horse, whether the rider wishes to concentrate on dressage, jumping, or eventing, and provide an essential foundation for the horse's physical and mental development. If the scales are not observed at novice level, then it is unlikely that horse and rider will progress to advanced levels or be able to maintain a consistent level of performance. In this illustrated workbook Claire Lilley explains how to use the scales when schooling and jumping at home. She describes the principles of each training scale and includes in each section a number of exercises designed to improve performance, with notes on what to look for, training tips, and solutions to common mistakes and misunderstandings.