For over a quarter of a century, Colonel Alois Podhajsky was the Director of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, home of the famous white Lipizzaner stallions whose remarkable performances have thrilled audiences throughout the world. Now for the first time, Col. Podhajsky has set forth explicitly and in practical, instructive fashion the step-by-step methods of training both horse and rider that are used at the School and that are the applicable foundations of all good horsemanship, for their purpose is to develop the natural abilities of the horse and to make riding a graceful, pleasurable experience.

An illustrated handbook on training the dressage horse on the lunge line and long reins in the classical Iberian and Viennese styles.

The internationally successful riding master demonstrates the best way to train horses by documenting in detail his training of one particular horse French riding master Philippe Karl writes about training horses from a very personal perspective, documenting the training and development of the Lusitano stallion, Odin, according to traditional French classical principles, from young horse all the way up to high school. Through this case study, he teaches readers the requirements of balance, including collection and conformation; the philosophy of Academic Equitation, including the language of the aids—seat, hands, legs; exercises for lateral flexibility, including work on one and two tracks. He also covers work at the canter—counter-canter, flying lead changes, tempi changes; collection—piaffe, passage, pesade; and canter pirouettes—preparation and development.

For the first time, the collected writings of Master Nuno Oliveira are now made available to English-speaking readers in one volume. This long-awaited publication is a must for riders and lovers of fine riding and classical equestrian art. This volume contains the following works: Book 1 Classical Principles of the Art of Training Horses Book 2 Horses and Their Riders Book 3a Notes on the Teaching of Nuno Oliveira Book 3b Notes on Elementary Equitation Book 4 From an Old Ecuyer to Young Riders Book 5 Reminiscences of a Portuguese Rider Appendix: Conference on Descente de main

First published in 1959, The Way to Perfect Horsemanship was immediately recognized as a classic work of equestrian literature. It offers insight into the psychology of the horse as well as its muscular system and the mechanics of movement. It explains in detail the basic principles of training, the fundamentals of riding, and the effect of training aids. Everyone, from trainers to occasional riders, will benefit from this book.