Customer Reviews

School of Horsemanship

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Since late 70th I've been searching for this book. Every master in classical riding refers to de la Gueriniere as the one most important book on dressage ever written. When translating a book from 18th century french into modern english you have to choose your strategy. Should you use modern english terminology that might not mirror the meaning the original author had or should you "translate" the terminology into a somewhat frenglish but leaving to the original author to explain the meaning of the term? For me, with swedish as original language and french and english as second languages, the approach Tracy Boucher took is very good. It means that more of the original meaning in the text is preserved.

Everytime you read a good teachbook you are struck by the fact that the things you thought were very complicated and illogical gets logical when you start to understand it. That is what struck me when reading this school of horsemanship. Now there might be some progression in the world during the last 275 years but progression comes from need, and the need to master riding have diminished during this period in history. Therefore I belive the teaching on training, aids, etc can hardly be given from a better teacher than de la Gueriniere. It is expensive to buy, but look at it as an investment. It is worth it!

This beautiful book is of historical importance and should be of interest to all serious horsemen and women with a modicum of intellectual curiosity as to how things were when the horse was of ultimate practical value to transportation, farm, war, and industry. The directives to selecting and maintaining a valuable, healthy working animal is interspersed with appreciation of the beauty of these wonderful beasts when trained to their potential. The practical knowledge of health and training issues is expressed in the formal language of the time and is impressive in its depth and detail. However, even from almost 300 years ago, the loss of "classical" training of young horses, of the special men with special patience and skill to do the training of colts, to give them confidence, courage and vigor, before the time of riding, was lamented. This book is a real treasure.

A beautiful book, a treasure to own. A MUST for any student of classical dressage.

This book, now out of print is excellent but hard to find and expensive. Consider the paperback version of the Riding section, Part II published by Xenophon Press The School of Horsemanship Part TWO (Ecole de Cavalerie Seconde Partie, The Method of Training Horses According to the Different Ways in Which They will be Used). For only $30 you can get all of the wisdom of de la Gueriniere that is still applicable today for riders.

I am really enjoying this book. The historical significance makes it a must read for anyone who considers themselves a horseperson and the art work included is beautiful.

Old wisdom yet always fresh! The it self was almost desroyed before I got it. The package was so poor that the book had no corners left!!! Well it was readable anyway.

I have always enjoyed this book because of its wonderful information and pictures, however this edition is horribly because of the translation. Sorry, but I suggest buying a different book.