Product Description
How to best communicate with the horse has long been pondered, studied, and deciphered. From a handler’s body language on the ground to the rider’s use of “aids” (seat, legs, reins) when in the saddle, the ways we convey our wishes to the horse are the essential foundation of the partnership we seek with him. Although the basic aids are taught at the most elementary levels of equitation, renowned classical dressage trainer Sylvia Loch feels that most riders never fully realize how their weight when mounted impacts the horse in hundreds of nuanced ways–both good and bad. Developing an understanding of “weight aids” ensures that riders cultivate better balance and “feel,” ultimately riding with more empathy and a finer connection. Here, Loch provides an image-driven visual guide that shows how each tiny shift of the rider’s weight affects the horse’s balance. With the help of dozens of illustrations and fabulous color photographs, she demonstrates the minute changes in rider position that determine a horse’s comprehension of instruction as well as his physical ability to perform. With this book, novice riders will develop a much greater awareness of their own bodies and abilities, as well as those of the horse, from Day One, while more experienced riders will discover new avenues that lead to successful riding performance and fulfilling relationships with their horses.
Hardcover, 144 pages, color photos.
Sylvia Loch is a dressage instructor and the founder of the Lusitano Breed Society of Great Britain and the Classical Riding Club. She is the author of a number of books, including The Balanced Horse; The Classical Rider; Dressage in Lightness; and Dressage: The Art of Classical Riding.
3 reviews for The Rider’s Balance Understanding the Weight Aids
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Elizabeth Micheel –
The pictures alone are worth the price of the book, but Sylvia Loch also couples that with concise descriptions. Nothing can take the place of riding a true schoolmaster, but this book comes about as close as a book can. Worth it for riders of any discipline!
jennyeilers319 –
This is an excellent book. Everything is broken down to where it makes sense and is easy to follow. The descriptions both written and drawn are wonderful. This is not just for dressage riders, this book helps with any type of discipline. This is an excellent book to add to your library. It seems to help put the pieces together and is another great resource to help improve your horsemanship. I’m planning to read it again just to help things sink in better.
pwalsh1129 –
Sylvia Loch has created, in this her latest book, a comprehensive guide to understanding the weight aids. She breaks them down into small digestible pieces and puts them together in a way that both the novice and the expert in dressage can understand. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is striving to improve their riding. Your horse will thank you.