Dressage in Lightness: Speaking the Horse's Language

by Sylvia Loch

Overview

Speak Your Horse's Language

When it comes to riding, it is easy to forget the horse’s point of view.
To create a relationship of understanding between horse and rider, we need to understand what the horse feels when we communicate in a particular way. This innovative guide shows you how to improve your riding with better communication. Sylvia Loch clearly explains the importance of tapping into a horse’s excellent memory with good sensations.
Loch focuses on helping the rider learn what movements help motivate a horse to learn new skills—and equally importantly--what feelings your horse may hate! By studying the muscle systems and understanding where your horse needs more support, it becomes easier to anticipate what he or she needs to feel in order to respond appropriately.
Loch’s innovative approach is must reading for every equestrian looking to improve transitions, exercises and movements.
“When to ask, and how to ask, has to be the foundation of good schooling, yet too often these factors are overlooked in the rider’s hurry to achieve.”-Sylvia Loch

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781635616965
Publisher:	Echo Point Books & Media
Publication date:	05/07/2019
Edition description:	Reprint ed.
Pages:	290
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 10.75(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Sylvia Loch- Scottish born and educated dressage trainer and writer, has become a leading authority on the art of classical riding. Author of 8 books and over 8 films about the classical balanced seat and its development, she is today much in demand as a trainer, judge, lecturer, and public speaker the world over. Her first and best known book is The Classical Seat, which has sold over 90,000 copies worldwide. She is passionate about teaching a good position in the saddle, rein finesse, the unseen weight aids, and how to balance the horse without force, focusing on the correct biomechanical and humane training of the horse and rider. She has taught, judged, lectured and given seminars the world over, including Brazil, North America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and throughout Europe.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Glossary

A Guide to Step-by-Step Schooling and Training

Part One: The Theory Behind the Practice

Chapter I: Tuning Into a Language—The Horse's Natural Aids

Chapter II: Structure and Movement—Aligning the Rider to the Horse

Part Two: Theory into Practice

Chapter III: Focusing Forward—Relaxation and Use of the School Through Walk

Chapter IV: To the Aids and Forward in Trot—Aligning the Horse to the Rider

Part Three: Work Proper—Basic Level

Chapter V: Bending and Suppling Exercises—Clarifying the Circle

Chapter VI: Confirming the Canter

Part Four: The Work Proper—Novice Level

Chapter VII: Two Different Trots—Building Impulsion Through Transitions

Chapter VIII: To the Bit—Flexions, Half-halts and Roundness

Chapter IX: Stiff or Hollow? Improving Both Sides of Your Horse and Tuns on Hocks

Part Five: The Work Proper—Elementary Level

Chapter X: Building up to Counter-Canter, Canter Transitions and Rein-back

Chapter XI: Lateral Work from Leg-yield to Shoulder-in—The Key to Collection

Part Six: The Work Proper—Medium Level

Chapter XII: Counter Shoulder-in, Renvers, Travers and Half-pass and Extending the Walk

Chapter XIII: Into the Double Bridle—Full Collection, Medium and Extended Work

Part Seven: The Work Proper—Advanced Level

Chapter XIV: Challenges in Canter—Half-pass towards Pirouette and Introducing the Flying Change

Chapter XV:Total Lighness—Piaffe and Passage and the Icing on the Cake

Appendix

Epilogue

Conclusion

Further Recommended Reading

Index