The Simplicity of Dressage

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Summary: An overview of the German Training Scale
Review: Before finding yourself in a never-ending cycle of tension with your horse, invest in this book. From cover to cover, the entire subject of this book is the six elements of the German training scale: Rhythm and relaxation, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, and collection. In clear and concise language, this book illustrates that you cannot progress to one level before establishing the one before. It proves that before you ask for impulsion, you must have contact, and if you encounter tension in collection, you go back to relaxation. In other words, the authors successfully bring dressage within grips of every rider by providing solid building blocks to progressive dressage training.

Each element of the training scale is explained thoroughly. Potential problems are addressed with practical, easy solutions. By absorbing this information, you'll find that dressage is surprisingly simple...hence the title. Beware, though, that there is no intense detail as there is in other dressage books. For example, you won't find a 5-page description of the half-halt. You won't find a step-by-step instruction of the half-pass. You will, however, realze the importance of working by a system and you will see it reflecting on your horse.

A beautifully bound book and a joy to flip through with its numerous color photos. Definitely worth reading regardless of your level.

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Summary: Easy to understand, technically correct, beautiful photos
Review: Hinnemann is an accomplished rider and trainer. He studied with the great Reiner Klimke, who was, in turn a student of Harry Boldt, Sr. This means that Hinnemann's dressage education is as good as it gets. Successful dressage training requires patient, systematic work to improve the horse's rhythm, relaxation, acceptance of the bit, impulsion, straightness, and collection. This book shows how some of Europe's foremost trainers develop these critical qualities in their horses. Several of the examples and vignettes use top competition horses, but some focus on ponies and more average horses, making the book's content accessible and relevant to a wide audience of riders. If you want a horse that is balanced, obedient, and sound in mind and body, you should read this book. An beautiful pictures and simple language are an added plus. The book contains many important ideas in an "easy to read" format.