Complete Training of Horse and Rider in the Principles of Classical Horsemanship: In the Principles of Classical Horsemanship

This is a book by Alois Podhajsky that details what he believes are the essentials for starting young horses. His information is based on his observations from his years as a rider and director of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna Austria. This book is written in the style of a textbook and has very detailed information. It is translated into English from it's original German, and due to this occasional passages might require some re-reading to clarify their points. I found this book an excellent step by step treatise of the basic principles of starting a horse in the tradition of classical dressage. It is a book with great depth and I have found that every time I have gone back and re-read it, I take away a better understanding of the information presented. The book will grow with your progess and the progress of your horses. If you are looking for a simple book with diagrams and simple presentations of information this may not be the one for you. However if you want in-depth information on training your young horse you should be pleased with the information that is availble in this volume.

This is one of the best books I've read. The descriptions of aids and exercises are clearly explained and often accompanied by discussions on when horse and rider are ready to begin a certain exercise or level of training and some of the problems that may be experienced. I particularly enjoy Colonel Podhajsky's empathy and feeling for the horse and that he sees this as a large part of his success. It is not a picture book for beginners but I enjoyed reading it as a beginner and have continued to refer back to this book as I gain more skill and training in my riding. The principles of riding are the same today as they were in 1965 (or indeed 1865) and this really is one of THE classics when it comes to true understanding of equitation. The book is arranged into roughly three sections - an overview \introductory set of chapters which includes a brief history of dressage training and riding 'schools' and techniques - training of the rider, which explains basics such as the seat, correct aids and the process of learning to ride right through to troubleshooting advanced movements in dressage - training of the horse - which looks at most aspects of bringing a young horse into training and teaching on the lunge or long reins. If you enjoy this book you may also enjoy 'My Horses, My teachers' - although it is more autobiographical, it too covers many interesting riding subjects, including much of Alois' own learning experiences, something you don't often get from other riders!

In my opinion this is one of the finest horsemanship novels ever written. Alois Podhajsky, dressage icon and former head of the Spanish Riding School, has created an exemplary literary piece that few horse books ever come close to. The book is divided into six chapters; each chapter has smaller subsections for easy referencing. Although younger readers may find this book to be "long" or "boring" due to its eloquent vocabulary, any serious horseman (or woman) will find this to be an exceptional novel. For people with little time I would recommend reading small sections at a time. The author explains so much that the reader should reflect on what he or she is learning, not just try to "cram" through it. The explanations in this book resulted in a marked improvement in my own skills, and I often refer other riders back to it whenever they are having trouble. Podhajsky makes even the most complex dressage manuvers easy to comprehend. I especially liked the way that he formed two different chapters on "the training of the horse" and "the training of the rider." By breaking the two concepts apart, a rider is able to first read of what the horse should be doing and then what he or she should be doing at the same time. Other chapters are about the principles of riding, definitions and key concepts, saddles and bridles, and the Spanish Riding School. The photographs and drawings in the novel are logical and illustrate the points wonderfully. Wise is the rider (even Western riders will benefit from the control and balance exercises) that buys this book; it is the perfect companion to horsemanship lessons.

Podhajsky spent his whole life training horses and he is also adept at communicating all his knowledge to the reader. This book includes a step by step guide to each aspect of training the horse, from walk trot to passage and piaffe.

Podhajsky does a marvelous job of detailing the Classical dressage theory of the Spanish Riding School. He starts with a brief history of dressage & ends with airs above the ground. This is a must-read for any serious student of dressage. This book will help the reader understand the mechanics & methodology behind this extaordinarily successful system.