Customer Reviews

Pilates for the Dressage Rider

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Up front, I'm a Pilates instructor and I ride. I had different training from Ms. Dulak and have a difference of opinion of some fine points.

I don't agree with the traditional Pilates "style", if you will, in that it focuses on tightening the [...] and thighs and turning the toes and legs out. I know several horses who would not put up with a clenched [...] from the rider. And I don't think those of us who ride dressage want our toes pointed out with the backs of our thighs and backs of our calves on the horse. Horses mirror everything from us, including how we use our bodies. Do you want your horse to have a clenched [...]?

That being said, it's a good basic book. Just don't take it as the be-all end-all source.

I also take exception to the essay at the end of the book that comes across as a diatribe to me. There are many qualified and well-trained Pilates instructors who did not train with Romana. Ms. Dulak's main point of finding a well-trained and qualified Pilates instructor is a good one. But she went too far with saying that only those trained by Romana are worth going to.

Several of the photographs show the demo person attempting to do an exercise that I would have corrected before having them photographed.

This book was a disappointment to me, I found the formatting to be a huge distraction. The black and white photos are dark, the cartoon graphics are unappealing, and I was expecting it to be more demonstrative and less "block paragraph" and wordy. I have picked it up three times since I bought it and just cannot work my way through it. I'm a visual learner and this book is definitely not overly visual.

If I'd gotten a better "look inside", I would not have purchased this book and gone for one that more clearly illustrated what was being done.

I am enjoying this book very much. The explanations are thorough and easy to understand and the relation to Dressage (which is why I began Pilates) is wonderful. I especially like the open leg rocker illustration on the back of a horse now I picture that as I ride around the arena. Gives you a great perspective on what your position on the horse should be and how it should feel. I have great admiration for the athletic abilities of the riders and their horses this book helps me get closer to my horse and sit on him with more confidence and finesse. Thank you Janice

Ms. Dulak has presented a book that will provide real help for any serious rider. But special help will be found for riders with conformational flaws. That would cover most riders but naturally endowed and gifted riders may also find ways to improve.

I have ridden for 40 plus years with instructors from all over the spectrum and this is the first realistic attempt to help get to the real root of position problems.

I am still working on the exercises and expect it will be some months to be ingrained but I already see improvement in the way my horses go after one month.

This will take committment but any serious rider has plenty of that.

This book should be titled Pilates for the Dressage Rider Who is Also an Intermediate Pilates Student. I thumbed through it when it first arrived, and it is far more advanced than I would have thought from the publisher info. My Pilates instructor said I won't be ready for most of this book for at least a year, with twice-weekly lessons and regular self-practice using a DVD. Also didn't have very many illustrations to help explain. The illustrations that were present are confusing and drawn from bad angles that make it hard to see what you should or shouldn't do. Overall, I would avoid this book and try something like The New Total Rider.

It is so important to focus on our own physical training as a rider. Pilates activates those little rarely used muscles and makes us more empathetic for what our horses are learning to do.Out Of The Saddle: 9 Steps to Improve Your Horseback Riding

I'm enjoying this book so far. I like how she relates the human body and what it does in relation to the horse's body. It has helped me more aware of my body and I know it will be a help in my riding position.

Excellent read to get you motivated no matter what your discipline is. I am currently trying to change my couch potato status and this book helped!!!

I've worked with my horse to improve her. I've worked on our relationship to improve that. Now I am working on me to become the best me I can be for my horse and our relationship.

I have just started using this book, but I can it will be very useful in getting me more fit as a dressage rider.