The Complete Training of Horse and Rider In the Principles of Classical Horsemanship

by Alois Podhajsky

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.

The result is a definitive book on classical hrosemanship from first introduction to the ultimate in haute ecole - a record and a manual of the fundamental prinicples, the techniques, and the practice of the art of riding. It is a book that belongs in every horseman's library.

Genres: Horses, Nonfiction, Animals

287 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Adam Crown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spanish Riding School of Vienna. That's about the pinnacle of "conventional" horsemanship. Once you get past the use of spurs, bits and whips -- things which I NEVER use with any horse -- there are a few good ideas in hear. Like spending a lot of time working on developing an independent seat. But overall, this whole approach is too coercive for my taste, and would be an excellent addition to the dustbin of history.

[Susan E. Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only equestrian book you need to read. Col Podhajsky is the ultimate authority; the book is written clearly and simply, and radiates with his love for the horse. You can't learn to ride from a book; but you can learn a lot about riding from a book, and this is the one true word.

[MaryEllen Elizabeth Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Challenging. Theory. A must read for any serious rider pursuing development of higher level of "English riding" and general "high school" equestrian skills

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alois Podhajsky, Director of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna for over 25 years - all through WWII - has done the equitation world such an important service in creating this manual. As he says in the epilogue, the training methods of this prestigious and long-lived school of riding have for generations of trainers and riders been handed-down only by word of mouth and he decided that it was time to put his experience and knowledge into writing as an ultimate gift to the art of horse and rider.

Even for a reader who is avidly interested in the topic of dressage riding this was a very dense and challenging book to read through and I took a months-long breather about mid-way and diverted myself with other subject matter. But upon my return to this treatise I found an improved appreciation for Podhajsky's expertise, generous expositions and careful explanations and overarching love and concern for the well-being of the horse as a magnificent creature capable of forming and willing to create a unique form of art with human partners.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is more for someone interested in dressage, but that said, there is a massive amount of practical advice here for any aspiring horseman. For that matter, there is a lot of advice here that even an experienced horseman might find invaluable.
Horse Person: you know how to tell a horse person because they will take every opportunity to brag about how much they know, how many shows they go to, how great of riders they are, what classy horses they own, blah blah blah. But when you watch them ride, you cringe.
Horseman: This person has horses who want to be ridden, they don't usually talk about how much they know unless you ask, they actually do know a lot, if they show, they are riders and not passengers. When talking horses, they usually talk about what they still have to learn.
Alois Podhajsky will help you become a horseman.
Warning: this is very in depth, and if you're looking for information on how to start out with riding, this may overwhelm you.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings about this one. Alois Podhajsky is one of the leading lights in Classical Equitation, and his methods and teachings are the basis of many of our modern training strategies. So what he has to say is important and interesting. But I found the style quite dry and struggled through some of it - maybe because, to me, a lot of it seemed quite basic. I ended up dipping in and out, rather than reading cover to cover, but have added it to my library as a book I want to refer to again in the future. I did love that it didn't start with a chapter on picking the 'perfect' horse, but says that you have what you have and work with it - a refreshing change from a lot of the more modern books, which seem to emphasise buying something tremendous to start with.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

the quintessential horse book! podhajsky does an incredible job of articulating how and why, exactly, classical dressage is such a difficult feat to accomplish. the true harmony and partnership between horse and rider is so much more complex than "sitting on a horse and letting it do all the work." an absolute must-read for anyone who seeks to strengthen the bond with their horse. understanding theory is definitely no substitution for actual riding, but the underlying foundations of how to ride correctly are greatly improved when one has read WHY we do all the crazy things we do to produce the circliest circles!

[Zuzana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read it and learned so much. Now I'll study it and learn even more

[carmen! · Rating 5 out of 5]

horse book horse book