Rating: 
Summary: The best equestrian book out there.
Review: This is, by far, the best and easiest-to-understand book on dressage that I have read! I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to understand how to train your horse in a non-confrontational manner up the levels of dressage. This book is a must read for novice or advanced readers!
Rating:
Summary: Clear and simple step by step instructions!
Review: Walter is nearly as wonderful in writing as he is in person. His philosophy is based on the critical foundation of the horse's well being coming first, and the whole book is built on this foundation.The instructions for each exercise progress along the levels, and describe common pitfalls and appropriate corrections. A must-have book for the classical dressage rider!
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best
Review: Walter Zettl's classic Dressage in Harmony is simply the best book out there for most dressage riders, and their horses will agree. Not only does Herr Zettl cover just about every important detail for dressage training, but he also makes sure that the horse is the rider's primary concern, and he stresses that only correct, classical training is truly the most natural way to ride your horse. The book covers everything from longeing and backing the young horse to performing Grand Prix movements on the seasoned schoolmaster, always emphasizing empathy toward the horse. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves horses, whatever discipline they choose to partake in. This book has relevance for all horsepeople.
Rating: 
Summary: To those who wish to ride their horse in harmony......
Review: What was the reason I wrote this book? When I came from Germany in 1981 to Canada to be the manager of IESS (International Equestrian Sport Service), the owners were Hans and Eva Maria Pracht. There I gave my first clinic. I saw a lot of passion and idealism, but with the lack of quality trainers and school horses, as well as the immensity of North America, it was only possible to help riders through clinics or literature. It is best to receive regular and continuous instructions from the same coach. The same can be said of the importance of having the correct literature. I have read many books discussing the training of dressage horses, but they all focus on "how things should be". Very few tell you how to deal with difficulties along the way, and how to best avoid making mistakes. With my book, I am trying to make it easier for the horse and rider to master various exercises. My goal is for us as riders to have a better understanding of our horses, and bring them to their highest potential without force. One can only attain this with much patience. It is very difficult to bring two living beings, the horse and rider, together as one. The horse is a flight animal, which can be panicked simply by a small bird or a piece of paper. It is a large and strong animal, but also very timid in many ways. He must never understand how strong he is in relation to our weakness. On the other hand is the rider, who is hand-oriented, and who is not always patient enough. With horses we want to build a partnership and a relationship which is built on understanding and trust. Our horse should respect us, but never fear us. Our horse should never be faced with a new task with force, but with understanding and patience. Only when a rider has self-control, can he or she control their horse. The rider should bring their horse to its fullest potential possible, without asking more of the horse than he can give. If, with my book, I can help riders and horses become more harmonious with eachother, then that alone makes my writing it worthwhile. Walter Zettl
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing...
Review: With all of the great reviews and the author's reputation, I was expecting a lot more. I just don't see anything new here, to me it reads like a dictionary on dressage. Fine, but not too interesting. I guess what really put me off straight away, was the the author's claim that horses are not very intelligent, and if they were we would be afraid to be near them at all. And "A horse will never do anything on purpose". I think that anyone who has spent a lot of time around horses would disagree with that statement. For example, if you have ever seen a horse work open a stall latch, I think you might agree that they are capable of doing things on purpose and with planning. From someone who supposedly stresses love for the horse during training, I found these statements quite inaccurate and somewhat cold. I've got loads of books on dressage, and this one would be at the bottom of my list.
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