Dressage Book- An Influential Horse Riding Book

Dressage Book
An Influential Horse Riding Book

A dressage book published as long ago as 1733 influences dressage riding even today. The classical principles it describes are still used by The Spanish Riding School of Vienna and the Cadre Noir of Saumur in France.

Its French title is “Ecole de Cavalerie” or “School of Horsemanship,” written by François Robichon de la Guérinière.

The Man

Guérinière was born around 1688 and during his lifetime riding was an essential part of every nobleman’s education. Unlike the beginner to horseback riding today, who rides for pleasure, court members had to ride well for both social and military purposes.

After mastering the basics, they then went on to learn advanced riding at a nobleman’s academy. This included such difficult movements as the piaffe and passage, which today are only for the highest level dressage rider.

Guérinière opened his own riding academy in Paris when he was granted the title of Ecuyer in 1715. The translation of this title is ‘equerry’ meaning a member of the royal household entrusted with the care of the monarch’s horses. In those days this was a very coveted position.

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Guérinière’s reputation as a horseman grew, and he was made director of the Académie des Tuileries in Paris in 1730. His fame continued to spread throughout Europe thanks to his book.

The Dressage Book

Guérinière was a strong believer in humane training practices. He advocated the use of gentleness, following the ideals of Xenophon (430-354 BC) and of another famous French horseman, Antoine de Pluvinel (1555-1620).

He dedicated himself to introducing the ideals of intelligence and kindness to classical dressage, and he achieved this through the wide circulation of his horse dressage book.

Some Methods and Terms


It’s interesting to note that Guérinière talks about holding the reins in one or two hands, which is now a big distinction between English and Western riding. However, riding with one hand would have been necessary to keep the sword hand free.

Although the parts of the bridle are the same as today, there are some interesting bit types mentioned. For example, the pigeon-throat, trumpet cannon and ass-step.

He mentions that to fatten a thin horse one must give him ‘green meat.’ Since meat is poisonous to horses, it’s good to know this refers to newly cut grass or fresh produce such as carrots and apples! Although, these days we avoid giving horses newly cut grass.

‘School of Horsemanship’ gives a fascinating insight into the life of the horse during the centuries when that noble animal was so vital to everyday existence, and still contains useful information for today’s rider.

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Novice Dressage - Eventing for the Beginner Horse Rider

Novice Dressage
Eventing for the Beginner Rider

Over time riding in the sand arena can get stale for the novice to horseback riding. Once the rider has adequate control over the horse, it may be time to consider eventing.

Eventing comprises the three basic areas of English riding: dressage, show-jumping and cross-country jumping.

The top competitions - Rolex in Lexington, Kentucky or Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire, England - will probably come to mind when you think of this sport. But those are the ultimate ‘three-day events.’

There are many opportunities for the novice rider to experience the fun of ‘one-day events’ at much lower levels.

The Novice Dressage Phase

If you’re going to event, you must be able to comfortably canter your horse, because of the jumping phases. But the introductory levels of eventing are geared to beginner horseback riding and only require walk and trot movements in the dressage test.

The judge is looking for nothing fancy: just smoothness of transition from walk to trot and back, and from walk to trot. Ribbons are awarded in the dressage class, regardless of how well the other phases go for you.

Jumping Phases

You may worry about height when you think of the jumping phases of an eventing competition. But there’s no need for concern as entry level classes have really low jumps, including the ‘tadpole’ classes with 18 inch fences.

Stadium phase: you ride over a set of pole jumps in an enclosed arena.

Cross-country phase: the obstacles are rustic, fixed fences, such as log piles or wooden gates, spread over a wide area of undulating grass terrain with plenty of room between them.

Number of Jumps

You’ll have between 6 and 8 obstacles in each of your jumping phases, and they’ll be very inviting to you and your horse.

Lower level cross-country phases are not timed, so you can trot your horse quietly over the fences at your own pace.

Fitness

Even the least strenuous one-day-event demands a reasonable level of fitness in your horse and yourself.

Since you’ll be completing all three phases in one day, you must have a horse in good physical shape. Read a horse riding book on conditioning a horse for competitions and you’ll find that the goal of getting your horse fit will increase your riding enjoyment.

When you’ve completed your first one-day event, you and your horse will have developed a deeper trust in each other, and you’ll be fired up for that next competition!

Novice Dressage
Eventing for the Beginner Rider

Over time riding in the sand arena can get stale for the beginner to horseback riding. Once the rider has adequate control over the horse, it may be time to consider eventing.

UNDERSTAND Novice Dressage - Eventing for the Beginner Rider - Horse Training
Like you Never have before

Eventing comprises the three basic areas of English riding: dressage, show-jumping and cross-country jumping.

The top competitions - Rolex in Lexington, Kentucky or Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire, England - will probably come to mind when you think of this sport. But those are the ultimate ‘three-day events.’

There are many opportunities for the beginner rider to experience the fun of ‘one-day events’ at much lower levels.

The Dressage Phase

If you’re going to event, you must be able to comfortably canter your horse, because of the jumping phases. But the introductory levels of eventing are geared to beginner horseback riding and only require walk and trot movements in the dressage test.

The judge is looking for nothing fancy: just smoothness of transition from walk to trot and back, and from walk to trot. Ribbons are awarded in the dressage class, regardless of how well the other phases go for you.

Jumping Phases

You may worry about height when you think of the jumping phases of an eventing competition. But there’s no need for concern as entry level classes have really low jumps, including the ‘tadpole’ classes with 18 inch fences.

Stadium phase: you ride over a set of pole jumps in an enclosed arena.

Cross-country phase: the obstacles are rustic, fixed fences, such as log piles or wooden gates, spread over a wide area of undulating grass terrain with plenty of room between them.

Number of Jumps

You’ll have between 6 and 8 obstacles in each of your jumping phases, and they’ll be very inviting to you and your horse.

Lower level cross-country phases are not timed, so you can trot your horse quietly over the fences at your own pace.

Fitness

Even the least strenuous one-day-event demands a reasonable level of fitness in your horse and yourself.

Since you’ll be completing all three phases in one day, you must have a horse in good physical shape. Read a dressage book on conditioning a horse for competitions and you’ll find that the goal of getting your horse fit will increase your riding enjoyment.

When you’ve completed your first one-day event, you and your horse will have developed a deeper trust in each other, and you’ll be fired up for that next competition!

UNDERSTAND Novice Dressage - Eventing for the Beginner Rider - Horse Training
Like you Never have before