Basic Training of the Young Horse

I am starting a young horse and I found the book straightforward and well illustrated. My youngster is already at the point of being under saddle but this book will be a very good reference as we progress in training.

This book, written by the late olympic dressage champion Reiner Klimke, is surely a standard reference. The English translation by Sigrid Young might be a little bit awkward at times (very noticable for a German native who owns the original, too), but the spirit and straightforwardness of Klimke's approach for the basic training of a dressage horse still comes across.

This compact, informative and economical guide to starting young horses provides an excellent overview of training the young horse, from early ground work to starting over fences. Although the book is dated, the German scale of basic training principles is timeless and very much en vogue in the dressage community today. Based on sound principles and written by an accomplished horseman, this is one to read. UPDATE - A year since my original review this has been the book I refer back to most of all, I think because of the handy size. Therefore, this book is well worth the money!!!

Klimke clearly and logically lays out the foundations of basic training. The information is easy to read, concise and shows a deep understanding and respect of the horse. There is much more packed between the covers than I expected. An excellent, excellent read for anyone who works with horses.

This book does a great job of explaining and outlining the early training of the dressage horse, from ground training to work under saddle. I have used it as a reference for several articles I have written on dressage theory.