My Horses, My Teachers [Paperback]

Alois Podhajsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1997

This classic memoir by Alois Podhajsky, Director of the renowned Spanish Riding School, explores the age-old relationship between horse and rider. Timeless, inspiring, and full of invaluable advice for all horsemen.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

About the Author

The late Colonel Alois Podhajsky was a teacher, triner, and the Director of the famed Spanish Riding School in Vienna.

Product Details

• Paperback: 202 pages
• Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570760918
• ISBN-13: 978-1570760914
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars His Horses, Our Teachers, January 24, 2005

By 

Diana Duffy "Diana" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Horses, My Teachers (Paperback)

With the increasing interest and participation in dressage today, many excellent books focus on the details of the rider's position and aids, but only briefly discuss the key element in the partnership, the horse.

After retiring as Director of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Col. Alois Podhajsky wrote The Complete Training of Horse and Rider and The Riding Teacher about the art of riding. His autobiography, My Dancing White Stallions chronicled his life with horses from his childhood up to his involvement with the Spanish Riding School, but My Horses, My Teachers is a literary monument to his equine teachers and companions of a lifetime.

It is a delightful, endearing book filled with love, humor, sadness and devotion to his four-legged partners, but to read it simply as entertainment would be a mistake, because careful reading reveals gems of wisdom as to what Col Podhajsky's horses did teach him. It is not a training manual in the traditional sense, but when Col. Podhajsky relates difficulties with individual horses, it is evident that he did not master them with correct body and leg position alone, but that he sensed their emotional and psychological needs, and established an unparalleled rapport and harmony which enabled him to accomplish his goals with the horse kindly, humanely, and patiently.

The Lippizaners dominate his recollections, but there are many others: timid, sensitive Thoroughbreds; hot, fiery Teja; sweet nondescript little Nora, who was always true and steady; Neger, his cavalry mount in World War I who was mortally wounded carrying him to safety; Judith, the jumping mare who never responded to anyone else as she did to him; and little Nero, almost laughed out of the competition ring as a "poor little sausage", who relied on him completely and helped him win a Bronze Medal in the 1936 Olympics.

This book is a rich character study and a beautiful reminder that putting the well-being of the horse is first and foremost, and, particularly, in riding, that "things take time". Col. Podhajsky's foresight to put his memories on paper makes them available to us long after his passing. Because of a changing world, masters of Col. Podhajsky's calibre will not come our way again, yet his rich experiences and ability to put his words so eloquently on paper are still timely and continue to enrich us today.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous book - very inspirational - must read!, August 24, 1998

By 

Martha A Collins - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Horses, My Teachers (Paperback)

I just finished this book. It's absolutely amazing. I'm ordering another Podhajsky book today! He's phenominal. The depth of emotion is touching. I wish I could have met him. His life work and experience is amazing and yet it gives hope and inspiration to even the amature rider. He truely gets to the heart of the matter about a rider/trainer's relationship with the horse - what it should be!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colonel Podhajsky's narrative., September 24, 2002

By 

"citrouble" (Wolfe City, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Horses, My Teachers (Paperback)

This book is written in a style similar to a series of short stories. Colonel Podhajsky passes along some of the lessons he has learned from his four legged teachers that any horse person can understand. It is like listening to a friend speak of his experiences rather than studying a textbook. This makes the book both entertaining and educational. What a pleasure to read!