Schooling Young Horses

Schooling Young Horses" is a good book for the rider or instructor interested in classical dressage. The author, Werner Storl is a founding member of the German Board of Quadrille Riding and a member of the Special Committee for Quadrille Riding of the German Equestrian Federation. The book begins with a short chapter on how to judge whether you are ready for your own horse and how to find and buy the correct young horse. It is obvious that the author has full knowledge of the foundations of the German methods of dressage. The author offers the rider a combination of traditional advice and years of personal experience. By using basic traditional and classical gymnastic exercises, primarily with the goal of preserving and cultivating the horses natural movement, the author conveys his message to the reader. He explains the prerequisites and skills the rider or trainer of young horses should bring to the task. His lessons under saddle are based on decades of experience and has been developed over years by famous riders and trainers. A basic training plan is outlined by Storl, including lungeing, and helping the horse to find its balance with a rider aboard at the walk and the trot. Teaching the horse to go forward willing and with impulsion is then described. The training plan advances to lateral work and flexion. Storl then moves the reader to the next stage of training such as the canter and teaching the young horse to negotiate cavalettis. Collection work is brought about as the last stage of training and the author closes by discussing common issues that one may experience while training the young horse. Storl methods translate into training techniques that casts a solid foundation for any young horse to advance to further training. This book could use additional illustrations. Although illustration provided are good. They contrast the correct and the Serious Dressage Riderincorrect technique or execution.