Dressage for the Not-So-Perfect Horse: Riding Through the Levels on the Peculiar, Opinionated, Complicated Mounts We All Love

by Janet Foy

A 5* dressage judge's practical ways to learn to love your horse's idiosyncrasies and turn weaknesses into strengths. Thousands of riders pursue the sport of dressage across the globe, and the majority do so on a budget and with the horse they already have, or quite simply, the one they can afford. This means riders daily face the challenge of mastering one of the world's most esteemed equestrian pursuits on horses that may not be bred specifically for the task, or even if they have been, may not be top prospects for any number of reasons—behavior quirks, conformational impediments, age or soundness—you name it. International dressage judge, clinician, and riding coach Janet Foy has ridden many different horses in the course of her riding and horse training career—different sizes, shapes, colors, and breeds—to the highest levels of dressage competition. Now she has compiled her best tips for training and showing the horse you have (or the horse you love, despite his “faults”) through the levels. With lists of common “imperfections and evasions” experienced when riding movements—from simple transitions and leg—yield to zigzags, tempi changes, and piaffe—followed by training tips and creative ways to “perfect” the “imperfections.” Riders are bound to discover countless ways to apply Janet's advice to their dressage pursuits.

Genres: Horses, Animals, Sports, Nonfiction

241 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

Reviews

[Jessica]

I read this a while ago, but have kept it on the Currently Reading for some reason? Anyway. This is a great book for people who are interested in learning dressage but are struggling to find a coach, and wishes to escape the elitism that often comes with the discipline. Dressage is all about harmony and synchronization, the feeling of absolute unity. There's nothing elitist about it, but it comes with pearls and top hats and cufflinks in the highest levels going, so those who tend to train and practice it at the lower levels (and price points) can be real jerks about its stature in the equestrian community. Janet Foy does allow for some vague descriptions, and it is two parts theoretical and one part technical application of movements and techniques. I'm okay with this! I have another book dedicated entirely on how to correctly apply aids for certain movements. Janet is able to provide some techniques for those (frequent) moments you apply the aids and your horse decides to spook at a bird in the corner of the arena, instead. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who has been riding for a while and would either like to dip their toes in the world of dressage, or are interested in seeing their world from another point of view.

[Amy]

This is a dipping book, not a thru-read. Glad I bought it, useful, thoughtful, honest. Will keep it front and center on the shelf as our horses move through the levels.

[Rachel Also]

Very helpful

[Dark-Draco]

To be honest, I have only read the first couple of sections - not because I wasn't enjoying it, but because this is the level me and my horse are at - I don't need to read about piaffe's and pirouettes, when we can just about canter a circle without falling on our noses (young horse, I hasten to add, not incompetent rider!).

I found this easy to read and really enjoyed the introduction - learning about the author and the differences between the English and American Dressage scene. There were some interesting exercises to try, and the author has attempted to explain how to get round an awkward horse too. These sections can't tackle everything, but at least they give you some ideas and pass on the hope that even the worse of animals can be taught.

I'm looking forward to moving up the levels and returning to the more advanced sections of the book.

[Delia]

Easy to understand and logically broken down this book de-mistifies some of the more confusing "basics" that many people struggle from. Myself included. You can quickly find the chapter that interests you or read it cover to cover. Either way I'm sure you will learn a lot and be ready to put it into practice. Once we all get out of quarentine.

[Katherine Blocksdorf]

Great book! Very useful and down to earth solutions for those of us who don't ride the perfect dressage horse.

[Ava Altair]

Great book for training

I thought this book was well organized and easy to use. Goes from the very basics all the way up to gran prix.

[Alexander S]

A lot of dressage books are too cerebral for most riders, but this one has clear instructions on every issue arising from Warmup to Passage. It's pretty much a Pony Club manual for adults.