For riders at all levels, Carl Hester and Bernadette Faurie aim to make dressage training accessible with step-by-step guides for improving the horse's paces, riding dressage movements, and competing. Essentially this book is about every rider making the most of his or her potential and, in the process, producing a horse that is more pleasing to ride and more athletic in its body. The book offers advice on training all types of horse and in everyday language, explains how to set about improving the horse's paces and suppleness, whilst keeping him happy and enthusiastic in his work. It describes how to ride dressage movements, from simple circles to flying changes, and pointing out common mistakes and how to correct them. Carl Hester is seen, in over more than 100 specially shot photographs, schooling his horses at home, bringing on youngsters and fine-tuning the more experienced animals.

Table of Contents

Dedication & Authors What is Dressage Q word from Carl & Bernie Carl's horses Perfect Paces: 1 Walk 2 Trot 3 Canter 4 Transitions 5 Halt, Move off, rein back 6 Engagement Smart Moves: 7 Circles & Turns 8 Starting lateral work - leg yield 9 Shoulder-in 10 Travers and half pass 11 Flying changes Putting it all into practice: 12 Practising your test 13 Dressage to music 14 Working through the seasons 15 Tense, spooky horses 16 Tack 17 Keep on improving