Customer Reviews

Reflections on Equestrian Art

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Should be required reading for all modern-day dressage riders and anyone who truly believes in achieving harmony with his or her horse! Not a specific "how to" book, but rather the core of the master Oliveira's philosophy of classical horsemanship succinctly and powerfully stated. His was a school of horsemanship that expected and achieved a level of lightness and collection rarely attained in today's competitive dressage horse. As Sylvia Loch said in her book (also highly recommended) Dressage: The Art of Classical Riding, Nuno Oliveira was " . . .a man who could bring magical steps out of the most ordinary horse, a man who rode like a king, so that his horses carried him like a king."

This book is written by probably the greatest horse master in the 20th century. A book that every horse lover, and especially dressage rider, must have. It is a pity that only one (I believe) of six books is translated into English.

If you are looking for hands on exercises this book is not for you. But if you are looking for deeper understanding on how to think and feel when riding - this is one of the best ones. For many riders today riding is either sport or time to relax. Then there are a few serious students of equestrian art. The ones that ride to achieve unity with their horse, to submerse themselves in the beauty of deep understanding between their equine partner and the rider. If you are looking for a philosophical approach you just found it. A true jewel for the rider that wants to dig deeper and find meaning beyond the sport in his/her riding.

This book is an absolute delight to read and a source of inexhausitble inspiration for riders of any discipline. I'm sharing it with friends at the moment but can't wait to re-immerse myself in the "just-add-water" classical principles outlined by Sr. Oliveira. His descriptions of both horse and rider describe a state of kinetic beauty that can only be achieved through proper attention to the fundamentals.

THIS IS THE DISTILLED WISDOM OF THE GREATEST HORSEMAN OF THIS CENTURY. IT IS A WONDERFUL COMPANION

As others have said, this very small book will not tell you more about what aids to use to ride your horse. But it may motivate you about horse riding as an art form.

I was already motivated, and need to know how to ride better.

After reading this book, get Michel Henriquet's 30 Years with Nuno Oliveira, newly translated into English from Xenophon Press30 Years with Master Nuno Oliveira: Correspondence, Photographs and Notes Chronicled By Michel Henriquet

This short book don't give much explanation on how to give the right aids or how to train your horse. But it is quite easy read and might wake up your desire to learn more. As inspiration boook rather than school book I think it is good.

toute la collection nuno oliveira est a nouveau di sponible en francais et en allemand.(8 titres dont 2 inedits)coedites par les heritiers de nuno olive ira.