Authors: Barbara Burkhardt
ISBN-13: 9781570762789, ISBN-10: 1570762783
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Trafalgar Square
Date Published: April 2004
Edition: REV
Barbara Burkhardt, a dressage instructor and competitor for over 35 years, has managed and judged many dressage competitions. She lives in Las Lunas, New Mexico.
While there are many excellent how-to books on dressage training, there are surprisingly few on dressage competition. Now, Dressage from A to X will prepare both the novice and the seasoned competitor for successful navigation of all the little, and not so little, elements of training and showing a dressage horse. It covers: the selection of a horse, equipment, and clothing; training the horse and rider mentally and physically for competition; locating shows and completing entry forms; traveling and show grooming; memorizing, practicing, and riding a test; evaluating judges remarks; strategies for advancement; and much more. No more trial-and-error fumbling through shows, trying to figure out what is expected of you and your horse it s all here in Dressage from A to X! Barbara Burkhardt has taught riding for 35 years, specializing in dressage since 1975. She is an active rider, judge, and show manager residing in Los Lunas, New Mexico.
Acknowledgments | vi | |
Preface to the Second Edition | vii | |
Introduction: Why Compete? | xi | |
Chapter 1 | An Introduction to Competitive Dressage | 1 |
Chapter 2 | Here Comes the Judge | 11 |
Chapter 3 | Know the Score | 17 |
Chapter 4 | Dressage, Eventing, or Pony Club--What's Your Choice? | 28 |
Chapter 5 | Where to Start | 37 |
Chapter 6 | The Horse | 47 |
Chapter 7 | Equipment | 60 |
Chapter 8 | Dress Code | 75 |
Chapter 9 | Making a Good Impression--Rider Position and Posture | 84 |
Chapter 10 | Rider Fitness and Diet | 96 |
Chapter 11 | All the Horse Needs to Know | 108 |
Chapter 12 | What are Working Gaits? | 119 |
Chapter 13 | At What Level Should You Compete? | 129 |
Chapter 14 | Memorizing and Visualizing Tests | 140 |
Chapter 15 | Practice Makes Perfect (Almost) | 147 |
Chapter 16 | Developing a Warm-Up | 160 |
Chapter 17 | More Practice | 168 |
Chapter 18 | Grooming the Horse | 179 |
Chapter 19 | A Rider's First Show | 190 |
Chapter 20 | Dealing with Nerves | 201 |
Chapter 21 | The Horse's First Show | 210 |
Chapter 22 | Ride Your Best Test | 222 |
Chapter 23 | Evaluating Your Test | 230 |
Chapter 24 | Musical Freestyle | 250 |
Chapter 25 | Quadrille | 259 |
Chapter 26 | Onward and Upward | 270 |
Appendix | 287 | |
Bibliography | 288 | |
Index | 290 | |
About the Author | 296 |