Customer Reviews

Training Strategies for Dressage Riders

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here's a book for the well-educated, well-experienced dressage rider who wants to refine their skill and reaffirm their knowledge. It is by no means a quick, light read. It's a textbook to be read, studied, and absorbed with dedication. Charles de Kunffy is a master of classical dressage who apparently spent a great deal of effort putting this book together for the serious rider. He has high ideals and evident compassion for the horse, and structures all his techniques and strategies with the welfare of the horse in mind.

The 300 pages in this book cover a huge range of topics. Always the philosopher, Mr. de Kunffy writes in thick yet imaginative language, provoking just the right mental pictures. Everything is covered from the rider's seat to competition preparation. You will gain a greater, fuller understanding of correct seat and aids, correct flexion of the horse, lateral work, improving the basic gaits, and further schooling to higher level dressage. He also discusses various equipment and their uses.

This is an extremely valuable guide to any serious rider. Beware, though, that it's not for a beginner.

Although I agree that the author advocates a thoughtful and gentle approach to riding which is to be commended, as a novice to dressage I found the information hard to put to use. There is much digression into theory during explanation of the aids for various movements. I didn't find it helpful to hear how, for example, the perfect half-pass "should" be done. I was hoping to be told what EXACTLY to do with my aids, what to avoid and how best to present this movement to my horse, as clearly as possible and without a lot of "pie-in-sky" wishful thinking. I agree with the reviewer from Charlotte that this book is not for beginners. If anyone thinks I am off the mark, please let me know - otherwise I will return this book.

This is a fabulous dressage book. Be sure to get the 2nd edition as it is a joy to read and is clear and explains everything so well. If you only get one dressage book,this should be the one. I have tons of them and this one is the best.

The author demonstrates clearly his love for horses and the art of dressage. He emphasizes the fundamentals of good riding: a good seat and hence quiet giving hands. This is not really a 'how-to' book, but then no book on riding really can be, because riding is not something mechanical. I enjoyed reading this book, even though the text is quite repetitive at times. It made me newly aware of aspects of my riding, and I have been riding dressage for more than 20 years!

This book tells you how to get the best results out of your horse. It has so much vital information if you want to become a good dressage rider or just in general riding. If you love horses and want to ride your horse with the most humane and loving way this book is for you!! I admire the author's love, dedication and respect for horses and there well being.

I've watched and attended clinics with Mr. de Kunffy. I have ridden dressage for 10+ years. I have found his clinics confusing. I do like this book though. I wouldn't recommend it to new dressage riders it's better read by the trainers and people who have ridden "real" dressage. Now to slam the beginners but it, like his clinics can be very confusing. I would recommend reading this book.

I have not actually finished this book, but so far, it is the BEST dressage book I have read. Mr. De Kunffy focuses on the horse being happy and relaxed. All of the horses shown in the book look GREAT! You can actually see the "elastic" feel in the reins. He also provides you with some good images for using while in the saddle; how it should feel when your seat is correct. I particulary like the fact that he emphasizes the relaxed horse. This is somewhat contrary to many dressage styles and many books I have read. I consider this book a "must have" for any horse person.

At last! A book that not only tells me what to ask the horse for, but also tells me how to most effectively submit my request! So often, an author writes a book full of great ideas that remain unusable by the reader because the author fails to describe how to ask the horse effectively. "Ask the horse for movement A" is only half of the equation. The rest of the statement is "by doing X with your seat, Y with your shoulders, Z with your legs, and adjusting your hands thusly." Mr. De Kunffy provides the whole statement. I am on the third reading of this book in a month, not because I didn't understand it the first time, but because of the depth, breadth, and significance of the material. Mr. De Kunffy tells me how to ride the horse in balance with my seat and legs -- not my hands -- with amazing results. He gives me the courage to reject any false quick fixes to meet with peer approval. I see immediate returns from my recovering saddle seat Morgan in the form of increased trust and reduction of fear. This is an excellent volume for those of us who lackacess to equestrian training meccas. I expect this volume will forever affect my interactions with horses. I thank the author for telling me, clearly and beautifully, what I can do to ride well and earn the trust and influence the development and performance of my equine partners.

Do you have a horse?
For the horse's sake, read this book, and when you are done, read it again!
It took me a long time to read this book, because every time I read a page I felt that my head was so full of thoughts that I had to put it down for a minute just to absorb it, and then I'd read the page over again.
And I loved every minute of it!
This is a book based on dressage, but it covers things that are essential for every horse that is going to be ridden, no matter what type of riding you are into; this book contains information you do not want to miss.
Charles De Kunffy is such a talented horse man and author, it is a true pleasure to read any one of his books, and this one is the best one yet. Besides being a very useful book in practical terms, it is so thorough in it's descriptions, what strikes me the most is the love and passion for the horse that comes through. A lot of people think that dressage is something for the few, but this book will show them how it can not only benefit every rider, but more importantly every horse.