Cross-Train Your Horse: Book One: Simple Dressage for Every Horse, Every Sport

An excellent investment for beginners upto trainers/coaches. Jane explains the why and how successful trainers from multiple disciplines (western, english and saddleseat) use basic dressage training to develop a better balanced horse AND rider. The book sums up the benefits of dressage and then lists detailed exercises to get you started.

Cross-Training? Why would I want to read a book about jumping or endurance, I practice Classical riding. Well, if I hadn't been given this book I would probably have skipped it because of the title, and what a loss for me! This is NOT a book about either of those subjects, it is about Dressage. This book turns out to be about as good a textbook as could be written on introducing an aspiring rider into higher horsemanship. It is clearly evident that Jane Savois' years of teaching make a huge difference in the presentation of the "learning to ride" subject. She has very skillfully balanced the text between not enough and too much information, and the words she chose to present in the book strike a perfect tone. As a new student I would hope that my instructor would use this book as a guide. As an instructor I would hope that my student would read the book and use it as a manual. I really cannot emphasize enough how well this book is done. There is beginning rider information that is thoughtfully explained, yet she also touches on the advanced underlying principles that the movements are based on without burdening the reader with information that is beyond their ability (or even necessary) to comprehend. Fortunately if the rider is able to advance into higher horsemanship she has written a follow up book as well. Regardless of your riding level, this is a book you should have on your shelf.

No matter what your dicipline, this is THE book to read if you want to make your horse balenced, supple, and easier to ride! Jane Savioe writes in a very clear and concise way. As a dressage rider I admire her use of the tranining scale and German system. All the dressage theory in the world doesn't help if you can't put it into practice on less than perfect horses! I also highly reccomend her second book as well. The description of the half halt is the best I've seen. These books are a good reference source for the pleasure rider, and as a complament to a lesson program. I can tell from experience that it is easier to do a little reading now then to go back and fix mistakes later!

Whether you work with a trainer or not, this book is for all of those people who want to ride. Period. No matter what the discipline, this book is for you. If you don't work with a trainer, it explains all the basic and important concepts which a rider must have in order to keep the rider safe, the horse safe, and to get the horse to do what you want. If you do work with a trainer, it just reinforces what you already know, but with wonderful new ways of understanding exactly why the aids are so important for the horse and how the rider can best acquire these aids. Beginners and experienced riders alike will enjoy this book. It is easy to read and very informative.

I compete at a novice level in eventing, and ride in dressage and jumping events in the off-season - but never very succesfully. However, since reading this book, and trying to apply Ms Savoie's principles, my horse and I almost always find ourselves lining up to collect prizes. Although this book explains the basic principles of riding in a readable and simple style, Ms Savoie provides as comprehensive an introduction to the subject as I've seen anywhere. The illustrations are pertinent, and contribute significantly to understanding the text. Often, when I am struggling with a problem with my horse, I go back to this book for assistance - and invariably there is something that helps. I've recently bought Ms Savoie's sequel to this book, such is the confidence that I now have in her writing!

I read this book in anticipation of my first dressage lesson, and have gained great insight into this beautiful form of communicating with your horse. I now understand how to get the horse to respond to those invisible cues and why they do. I believe this book is perfect for anyone wanting to effectively and humanely communicate with their horse!