Complete Training of Horse and Rider (Paperback)

by Alois Podhajsky (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Taking a page from Xenophon ("Anything forced and misunderstood can never be beautiful"), Alois Podhajsky presents the principles and procedures of the Spanish Riding School in training horse and rider in that renowned Viennese institution, of which he was director for some twenty-five years. He moves from first mounting to the most advanced accomplishments - even airs above the ground. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wilshire Book Company (October 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879802359
• ISBN-13: 978-0879802356
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #133,839 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Horse Book, July 6, 2000

By	Flame_926 "flame_926" (United States) - See all my reviews

In my opinion this is one of the finest horsemanship novels ever written. Alois Podhajsky, dressage icon and former head of the Spanish Riding School, has created an exemplary literary piece that few horse books ever come close to. The book is divided into six chapters; each chapter has smaller subsections for easy referencing. Although younger readers may find this book to be "long" or "boring" due to its eloquent vocabulary, any serious horseman (or woman) will find this to be an exceptional novel. For people with little time I would recommend reading small sections at a time. The author explains so much that the reader should reflect on what he or she is learning, not just try to "cram" through it. The explanations in this book resulted in a marked improvement in my own skills, and I often refer other riders back to it whenever they are having trouble. Podhajsky makes even the most complex dressage manuvers easy to comprehend. I especially liked the way that he formed two different chapters on "the training of the horse" and "the training of the rider." By breaking the two concepts apart, a rider is able to first read of what the horse should be doing and then what he or she should be doing at the same time. Other chapters are about the principles of riding, definitions and key concepts, saddles and bridles, and the Spanish Riding School. The photographs and drawings in the novel are logical and illustrate the points wonderfully. Wise is the rider (even Western riders will benefit from the control and balance exercises) that buys this book; it is the perfect companion to horsemanship lessons.

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the Missing Pieces, December 7, 1999

By	"jackswife" (U.S.) - See all my reviews

While reading this book it occured to me that of all the years I have spent with horses and all the trainers I have watched work, none have ever been as thorough or "filled in all the holes" with the basics as Podhajsky. Only when one truly understands the "basics" of horsemanship can they teach it to the horse no matter what discipline of riding they do. This book is a benefit to anyone who wants to develop their relationship with their horse!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dressage Technical Manual, January 17, 2002

By	"cellomerl" (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This is an absolute must-read for anyone who rides dressage horses. It's like a basic textbook. For the earthbound, or for the rent-a-pony crowd, it will be a crashing bore. Podhajsky is not an easy-reading "how to ride" book. This is a very technical manual for serious riders, and it is engrossing. Podhajsky's attitude toward positive reinforcement as a training aid is right on, as is his discussion of how the training of horses was often misdirected in the past. My only complaint is that I wish there were more illustrations.