Dressage for the Not-So-Perfect Horse: Riding Through the Levels on the Peculiar, Opinionated, Complicated Mounts We All Love

329 Pages·2012·5.82 MB·English

by  Janet Foy

First published in 2012 by Trafalgar Square Books North Pomfret, Vermont 05053
Printed in China
Copyright © 2012 Janet Foy with Nancy J. Jones All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced, by any means, without written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer quoting brief
excerpts for a review in a magazine, newspaper, or website.
Disclaimer of Liability
The authors and publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect
to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in
this book. While the book is as accurate as the authors can make it, there may be errors, omissions, and
inaccuracies.
Trafalgar Square Books encourages the use of approved safety helmets in all equestrian sports.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Foy, Janet.
Dressage for the (not so) perfect horse : training secrets for the peculiar, opinionated, nonconformist,
complicated mounts we all ride and love / Janet Foy with Nancy J. Jones.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-57076-509-4
1. Dressage. 2. Horsemanship. I. Jones, Nancy J. II. Title.
SF309.5.F66 2012
798.2’3--dc23
2012002722
Book design by Lauryl Eddlemon
Cover design by RM Didier
Typefaces: Myriad, Eagle 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Dedication
To my family: my grandfather John
Altrichter Sr, my parents John and Betty
Altrichter, and my wonderful husband
Michael Foy, who wanted me to write a
book long before the vision took shape!
Contents
Introduction
Rodeo Queen to Dressage Queen
Quick Reference
Imperfections and Evasions
PART I: BUILDING A SOLID FOUNDATION
1 The Rider
Find an Instructor
Collective Marks
Mental or Physical?
How the Horse Learns
Feel
Using the Whip
2 Always So Basic
The Horse’s Training Pyramid
3 The Warm-Up
Imperfections and Evasions
Cures and Solutions
Rider’s Aids
4 Half-Halts and Simple Transitions
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Cures and Solutions
5 Stretching the Frame on the Circle
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Cures and Solutions
6 Leg-Yield
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Cures and Solutions
7 Begin the Pendulum of Elasticity—Trot and Canter Lengthenings
The Pendulum of Elasticity
Moving Toward Collection
How to Ride and Train
Imperfections and Evasions
Cures and Solutions
8 The Walk
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Cures and Solutions
9 Shoulder-In
Imperfections and Evasions
History and Benefits
How to Ride and Train
Cures and Solutions
10 Travers and Renvers
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Training Exercises and Solutions
11 The Halt and the Rein Back
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Training Exercises and Solutions
Part II: Achieving Success at Medium (Third and Fourth) Level
12 Turn-on-the-Haunches and Walk Pirouette
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Training Exercises and Solutions
13 Strengthen the Pendulum—Third Level and Above
Imperfections and Evasions
New Transitions and Paces
How to Ride and Train
Training Exercises and Solutions
14 Counter-Canter
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Training Exercises and Solutions
15 Half-Pass
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Training Exercises and Solutions
16 Flying Changes
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Cures and Solutions
Part III: The Pinnacle of Dressage
17 Pendulum in Full Swing—Fourth Level Through Grand Prix
Evaluation of Your Horse’s Potential
The Extended Paces
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Cures and Solutions: Extended Trot
Cures and Solutions: Extended Canter
Where the Pendulum Swings Next
18 The Zig-Zag
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Training Exercises and Solutions
19 Tempi Changes
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Training Exercises and Solutions
20 Piaffe
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Training Exercises and Solutions
21 Passage
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Training Exercises and Solutions
22 Canter Pirouettes
Imperfections and Evasions
How to Ride and Train
Training Exercises and Solutions
23 Have Fun!
Afterword
Meet My Horses
Photo and Illustration Credits
Acknowledgments
Index
INTRODUCTION
Rodeo Queen to Dressage Queen
First Lessons, First Horses
I grew up in Colorado Springs living next to a horse pasture so my sister and I
naturally fell in love with horses. My Austrian grandfather, John Altrichter Sr., or
“Papa” (my maiden name, Altrichter, means “old judge” in German…a sign
perhaps?), was a true animal lover, and he made sure my sister Charlene and I
got plenty of exposure to horses.
On Saturdays, Papa would take us to Mark Reyner’s stables in Austin Bluffs
(an area of Colorado Springs) where we would have a group Western riding
lesson. Afterward we always lunched at Conway’s Red Top, where the burgers
were the size of soup plates.
Soon my sister and I convinced my mom and dad we must have a horse.
Now up to this point, my sister and I were supplementing our Saturday lessons
by going into the pasture next door with our jump ropes, putting them over a
horse’s neck, jumping on, and riding away. There was not much chance of being
caught by the neighbors as the pasture was about 400 acres with hills, trees, and
streams!