Hints For Hopeful Dressage Riders

Horses are athletes, and as with all athletes, it takes them years of training every day to become strong, supple, and focused enough to climb to the top. In Hints for Hopeful Dressage Riders, author Jane Richards presents a toolbox of exercises to help both horse and rider train and improve through basic dressage. With more than fifty years of experience teaching and training with horses, Richards helps horse lovers succeed in their riding goals. Hints for Hopeful Dressage Riders provides a host of tips to help both novices and the more experienced riders to: purchase a suitable horse; find the correct position and effective aids; learn training techniques; recognize signs of discomfort; solve common riding problems; practice useful exercises; understand the importance of the lunge line; and discover clinics and showing. Hints for Hopeful Dressage Riders addresses the everyday problems riders may encounter at the lower levels of dressage. Richards offers solutions that contribute to enhance the performance and enjoyment of all horses and riders. The book has useful information for all riders of all disciplines. The balanced seat is the safest form of riding as opposed to gripping in order to stay on, whether or not one is riding dressage with a longer stirrup length. The techniques and exercises for the horse are to improve strength, suppleness and become balanced which are important for all disciplines. They also help the horse to focus on the rider and become more obedient and in doing so become safer and more enjoyable to ride.

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.

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.

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.

A collection of short, easy-to-read articles to help make the complexities of dressage easier to understand. HowToDressage.com has worked with a team of British Dressage judges and Grand Prix riders to outline the principles of dressage, illustrate correct training, and break down dressage movements. Learn how to: - Ride dressage movements - Avoid costly mistakes - Fix common problems - Improve your riding - Increase your scores - Move up the levels One size does not fit all When it comes to dressage, or any equestrian sport for that matter, there is no such thing as one size fits all. We all know that every horse is an individual; some can be described as ''hot horses'' whereas others have a far more laid-back attitude. For those reasons, not every horse can be ridden in the same ''text-book'' way. To make matters even more complex, there are very few riders who have the luxury of riding and training a horse from a completely blank canvas. Usually, we are having to battle against unwanted learned behaviors and bad habits that have resulted from previous poor training. That is why, within this book, we aim to not only outline the principles of dressage, illustrate correct training and break down basic dressage movements, but also help you to avoid costly mistakes and fix common problems that are frequently seen in the dressage arena. In a nutshell, we want to answer the questions that other dressage books do not. Build your own adventure Depending on the current training level of you and your horse, along with each of your individual strengths and weaknesses, how you use this book will be unique to you. Think of it as a ''build your own adventure'' and move through the contents linking together the articles that are the most useful to your current situation. Nothing in dressage in a quick fix - horses and riders do not get to Grand Prix overnight - so you''ll most likely find that articles which are not relevant to you today, may come in handy in the future as you and your horse improve and move through the levels. Where to start This book was not designed to be read from cover to cover (although you can do that if you prefer). As you glance your eyes over the contents of this book, you''ll notice that some articles will be more relevant to you than others, depending on where you and your horse are at in your dressage education. However, before you do anything else, we recommend that you read the whole of Section One: Dressage Theory (starting on page 5) as these articles will give you the foundations that will underpin all of your dressage training. Once you have read an article, you can tick it off in the contents to help keep track of your progress. Where did this book come from? In February 2018, we created a new dressage website. The idea was simple; we wanted to create short, easy-to-read articles to help make the complexities of dressage easier to understand. With most of the article titles beginning with the phrase ''How To'', it seemed only fitting to call the website HowToDressage.com. Shortly after launching, we were given the opportunity of publishing our best articles into a book. Needless to say, we took it. We hope that this is going to be the first of many in the How To Dressage Book Series. Example articles that are in the book - How to keep a consistent rein contact - How to ride sitting trot - How to ride a give and retake of the reins - How to ride a walk pirouette - How to ride a half-halt - How to stop your horse coming behind the vertical - How to encourage your horse to be more forward, but not faster - What is the difference between bend and flexion HowToDressage.com

Tens of thousands of riders pursue the sport of dressage in North America, and the majority do so on a budget and with the horse they already have—or quite simply, the one they can afford. This means riders are facing the challenge of mastering one of the world's most esteemed equestrian events on horses that may not be bred specifically for the task, or even if they have been, may not be top prospects for any number of reasons. International dressage judge, clinician, and riding coach Janet Foy has ridden many different horses—different sizes, colors, and breeds—to the highest levels of dressage competition, and now she has compiled her best tips for training and showing in one highly enjoyable book. Her expertise, good stories and good humor are destined to bring out the best in dressage riders and their "not-so-perfect" horses everywhere.