School of Horsemanship [SPECIAL EDITION] (Hardcover)

by Francois Robichon de la Gueriniere (Author), Tracy Boucher (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

First published in 1733 as Ecole de Cavalerie, this book is considered as the beginning of modern equitation. Here, for the first time, is the complete work.

About the Author

Francois Robichon de la Gueriniere was born in France in about 1688 and died in 1751. Little is known about him until 1715, when having been granted the title of Ecuyer he opened a riding academy in Paris opposite the Palais du Luxembourg. Here he taught both equitation and everything else related to horses.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: J. A. Allen; Limited edition edition (December 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0851315755
• ISBN-13: 978-0851315751
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #216,254 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The origin of all modern dressage riding, February 6, 2003

By	Johan Hambraeus (Åsele Sweden) - See all my reviews

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!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HORSEMANSHIP--written when the horse was king of the road, May 14, 2002

By A Customer

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.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!, May 28, 2000

By A Customer

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