Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Annette Willson on August 6, 2009 at 6:10pm

I am quite biased I have written my own book and have a huge following. It will be available on DVD by Christmas.
It is a pilates based exercise program specific for horse riders.
Applied Posture Riding google it is it available as an E-book.
I still love Black Beauty too as a novel.

Permalink Reply by Wiola Grabowska on August 6, 2009 at 6:29pm

Charles De Kunffy (http://www.charlesdekunffy.com/) and these of his books:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Training-Strategies-Dressage-Equestrian-Lib...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Athletic-Development-Dressage-Horse-Classic...

I also really enjoyed this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gymnastic-Training-Horse-Rider-Approach/dp/...

Permalink Reply by Catherine Chamberlain on August 6, 2009 at 7:52pm

I really enjoyed Debbie McDonald's book 'Riding Through'. She had some very good insight into the dressage world. I found it at a store called Greenway in Arizona but it is fairly new so it shouldn't be that hard to find.

Permalink Reply by Jan Jollymour on August 6, 2009 at 10:42pm

My absolute favourite is Klaus Balkenhol's "The Man and his Training Methods"! I think I bought it on Amazon, or perhaps Chapters, as soon as it was translated from German. It's wonderful, and full of super information.

Permalink Reply by Sit_the_Trot on August 7, 2009 at 11:19am

Recently I loved Philippe Karl's Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage--I really appreciate the diagrams and explanations of the weight of the rider during movement and the discussions of the changes in FEI rules, it's interesting to see the changes over the years.
Of course Eric Herbermann is wonderful inspiration for building a great relationship with the horse and learning dressage.
I too like DeKunffy's books and also for young horses Klimke's Basic Training of the Young Horse.
For sports psychology Savoie's That Winning Feeling.

Permalink Reply by Donna Humber on August 9, 2009 at 11:02am

. Museler's "Riding Logic" My personal bible. I have referred back to it time & time again, especially whenever I run into a training glitch. It is an older book, but is illustrated and broken down into steps that anyone can understand. I also love the riding video series by Sylvia Locke ....some things are just easier to see than to read.

Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on August 9, 2009 at 11:23am

The best dressage book I have is Udo Burger's "The Way to Perfect Horsemanship", my copy is wearing out as I refer to it frequently, and I do not ride dressage. For once a riding book is accutately named, this book really improved my riding! My next favorite is "An Anatomy of Dressage" by Heinrich Schusdziarra and Volker Schusdziarra. Both these books gave me a way out of my utter confusion about dressage. My third favorite is "Reflections on Equestrian Art" by Nuno Oliveira. All of these are in print and you can find them through Amazon.com.
I have around 30 books on dressage. The others are useful (especially Podhajsky's books), but the ones I mentioned above are the ones I refer to constantly.

Permalink Reply by Mary McGuire Smith on August 13, 2009 at 3:39pm

I will add my current favorite (others have already mentioned some of my favorites, too...I have many).
I recently picked up a book (well, about a year ago) written by Yvonne Barteau, called "Ride the Right Horse: Equine Personalities" This is a book that applies to ALL horse training, across all disciplines. It is organized, insightful, and easy to read. It gives labels to the personality traits that are inherent in all horses, and thoughts about different training approaches that respect the different personality traits and layers of horses. The author is uniquely qualified to write such a book because of her deep and varied experience in training horses of all breeds, types, and personalities through the highest levels of dressage as well as other disciplines. I have recommended this book to other trainer/instructor friends of mine, and all have found it extremely valuable in their careers. As I said, I have many, many other favorite books and manuals, but this is my current one! :-)