Dressage Solutions: A Rider's Guide

Following the highly acclaimed Kottas on Dressage, this book offers advice on the correct way to introduce work on the paces, exercises and movements, together with in-depth analysis of common problems and the ways to correct them. The author makes the points that many errors, so easily attributed to the horse, are rooted in faulty posture or aiding on the rider's part, and emphasises throughout the importance of focusing on these issues at all stages of training. Constant emphasis is also placed on the need to be mindful of the horse's mental and physical ability to copy with what is being asked of him — there are reminders throughout that, often, the best way to achieve progress is to take a step back and ensure the building blocks are in place that will facilitate the next step forward. The need to consider various aspects of conformation is also stressed — not all horses are perfect specimens, and the overall training of any horse will be enhanced if due consideration is given to individual considerations. Dressage Solutions takes the reader through many stages of training, from ensuring that the basic paces are correct, through introducing the lateral exercises, developing the canter, rein-back, piaffe and passage, to a final chapter that explains some of the long-established movements of the High School. This is a journey that will provide much food for thought, and a great deal of invaluable advice, for all riders who have progress and their horse's well-being at heart.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Introduction 1. General Thoughts 2. The Seat 3. The Basic Paces 4. Basic Training Problems 5. Lateral Work Problems 6. More Advanced Canter Work 7. Piaffe and Passage 8. The High School Jumps Closing Thoughts Glossary Index

About the Author :
Arthur Kottas - accepted as an Eleve (trainee) in the Spanish Riding School of Vienna in 1960, he rose rapidly under the tutelage of Colonel Alois Podhajsky to become the youngest ever First Chief Rider in 1981 and in 1983 Riding Master. From 1995 until retiring from the School in 2002 he was First Chief Rider. Kottas is a ride and trainer of the highest international repute and has successfully trained many horses and riders up to Olympic standard. Andrew Fitzpatrick has ridden and trained for over 30 years worldwide. He was both a BSJA course builder and joint organiser of horse trials.He became involved with Training the Teachers of Tomorrow Trust, and through that began working with Arthur Kottas. He is a firm believer in the benefits of classical training for both the horse and rider.

Review :
This book is quite amazing! It is full of superb photographs and illustrations and is so obviously a product of a lifetime of experience and expertise, written and presented in such an easy-to-read way...Even if you don't compete in dressage competitions, there are many pages in this book which are relevant to just riding, showing or flatwork for jumping. This book will be inspirational to all classicists and those aspiring to the art...The book is set out in a very clear, concise way. As the title suggests it deals with problems often encountered at most stages of training, in most cases giving a blueprint of how things should be; how they can go wrong; followed by solution. Simple, clear, and unfussy, Dressage Solutions is the reference I'll be turning to for advice in tackling all those little (or not-so-little) training quandaries.