Horses Are Made To Be Horses [Paperback]

Franz Mairinger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 13, 1996

Horses Are Made To Be Horses is both a testament to the life and ideals of the former Spanish Riding School instructor, Franz Mairinger and a tribute from his many pupils and associates. The book is based on notes from lectures and demonstrations given throughout Australia by Franz Mairinger and painstakingly assembled by his widow, Erna, friends, pupils, and followers of his teaching.

Every page communicates the presence and personality of the teacher as he instructs, persuades, argues, accuses, jokes, provokes, and draws analogies from many areas of human experience. In dispelling the myth of the whip-wielding dictator he creates the picture of a patient and caring horseman who regards discipline as the basis for social stability as well as the natural order. His profound understanding of the horse involves the belief in its true place and purpose in creation, as an animal whose energies and talents are best expressed by following the pattern of nature-never by invoking force.

This book is essential and wholly enjoyable reading for all serious riders who wish to compete in dressage, show jumping, or three-day eventing. The text emphasises a gradual progression from the basic philosophy and psychology of riding, to the simplest and eventually the most advanced movements, dressage, jumping, combined training, and judging. The carefully chosen illustrations reflect just as truly as his words, Franz Mairinger's quest for perfection in all aspects of horsemanship and his continuity with history's great masters of the art of riding.
The Howell Equestrian Library

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

FRANZ MAIRINGER was born in Vienna on 11 December 1915, the son of an engineer. He enlisted in the Austrian Cavalry in 1935 and was soon chosen to attend the highly regarded Cavalry School of Hanover where he spent two years receiving thorough training in jumping and three-day eventing. His skill so impressed the Director of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna that he was offered a position at the School, where he worked for more than twelve years with great success. In 1951, after a time as a private instructor in Switzerland, he left Europe to begin a new life in Australia with his family. His appointment as the first trainer of an Australian Olympic Equestrian team in 1955 was the beginning of an extraordinarily successful association. With his skilled guidance, the Australian team gained fourth place at the 1956 Stockholm Olympics (Equestrian) and followed this by winning a gold medal at the Rome Olympics in 1960. In all, Franz Mairinger trained six Australian teams for the Olympics and was preparing the seventh at the time of his death on 10 May 1978 — a tragic loss both to all Australian riders and to the international equestrian world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (November 13, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876057172
• ISBN-13: 978-0876057179
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #604,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting view worth going through the lines for., May 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Horses Are Made To Be Horses (Paperback)

Although the writing style and the frequent repetition in the text sometimes distracted from getting the point that was being made, the advice and lessons within the book are well worth digging for. I found the last few chapters had the most to offer with the last couple lines of the book really summing it up.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read, December 31, 1999

By 

Kaitie (Nova Scotia, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horses Are Made To Be Horses (Paperback)

This book wonderfully led you into the mind of a horse. It was very well written. The only reason that I rated it 4 stars intsead of five was because I did not fully agree with everything said. That is ok, it was only my opinion. This book shows you how to reconsider everything you do on a horses back, near a horse or around a horse. It does no tell you how to do something or what it might feel like, but it tells you how to get there. I loved it. Any person that is even a little interested in Horses and would like to know more, I urge you to read this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended Reading for the Dressage Enthusiast, February 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Horses Are Made To Be Horses (Paperback)

This is a wonderful read, told beautifully but Mairinger also manages to get the philosophy of dressage across to the reader without going into details of the movement. This is more of a philosophy of dressage but in doing so Mairinger manages to explain and emphasise the need for consistency in your seat and aids. How starting off with a good seat enables you to build from there. I read it in upon recommendation by my instructer (a pupil of a pupil of Mairinger's) and it enabled me to understand what she was getting at in her lessons. His anecdotes and stories while explanatory also make for an enjoyable read.