Recommended Books/videos

[Rachel]

Does anyone have any books/videos that they would recommend to me on riding/training and complementary therapies? And videos that I could use as a mental 'picture' for when I'm riding? (sounds mad but it's what works for me!)

Cheers

Rachel

[skh_26]

Strange that I should read your post after just writing a reply to another post with the answer to your question.  I just mentioned a book which I have found very helpful. It's by Joni Bentley -Riding sucess without the stress.  There are lots of illustration and photo's in the book which easily stick in my head. The basis of the book is Alexander Technique and some psychology.  The drawings are excellent at showing where the horse's energy is flowing(or not flowing) and I especially like the drawings that describe things to feel while you are riding to help keep the correct position.

[Heather]

Not mad at all Rachel!! Visualisation techniques are well known teaching tools. personally, like you, I find that keeping a mental picture of a really good rider in my mind, helps me a great deal.

There was a wonderful video called Classical Schooling 2, by Kalman de Jurenak, but I believe it is no longer in production.

I am going to do a video evening here at some point, and I have the tape, so you and your boss must come along.

Some of the best videos I can reccommend which are still available. are the three last tapes of the late great Reiner Klimke. They feature his son and daughter, Michael and Ingrid as well as several other riders. I have always been a huge admirer of Michael's riding, and it is an interesting contrast to see the difference between brother and sister. Ingrid's riding is hard too fault technically, but lacks a certain fluidity and elegance. Michael on the other hand, whilst a tall and well built guy, is infinitely preferable to watch, from an aesthetic point of view.

 A very fine book to read is Paul Belasik's Dressage for the 21st Century. I have never agreed with Paul's teaching of riding itself, much of it the opposite to what i have been taught, but cannot fault his succes with the training of the horse itself. The book is a superb one, with excellent illustrations throughout.

Heahter

[alexis_haines]

Sylvia Loch's books are very readable, but personally would not recommend the videos.

 

[Cobstar]

Well for starters:

Classical Schooling 1 and 2 are lovely videos if you can get hold of copies. Must get my copies back from the friend I lent them to!  The Reiner Klimke videos are interesting too.

Richard Heinrich's Schooling in Hand video is wonderful too - and the book of the same name is good.

As Heather says, Paul Belasik's Dressage in the 21st Century is fantastic.  For some inspirational reading read his trilogy that starts with Riding Towards the Light.

Mark Rashid's books are a great read too.  He manages to convey a lot of information about working with horses in a horse friendly way in a way that reads almost like a novel.

The TTT have a video called something like Training the Baroque Horse - with some nice work from Nuno Oliveira's grandson and Bent Branderup.  

 

[Cobstar]

PS. And how could I forget Heather's book Enlightened Equitation.  It's one I come back to time and again.

[Woody]

Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling for a slightly alternative approach.  Dancing with horses - the book and the video.

For a light but really positive book and great for self belief try Perry Wood's book 'Real Riding'.  I read it really quickly but it made me feel good and convinced I was on the right track.

[Rachel]

Thanks for the replies. I already have a few of them (retail therapy!   ), but as videos (and some books) are so expensive I wanted to make sure that I was getting a good one. My mum bought me 'Dressage for the 21st Century' for Christmas after seeing Heathers recommendation on amazon! I'm having to read it in small doses though - it's great but if I have too much information to quickly it doesn't 'stick'.

The video evening sounds great, Heather, please tell me when and I'll tell Sarah, I'm sure she'd want to come.

[alexis_haines]

Another book that is easy to read is Erik Herbermann Dressage Formula.