Upcoming changes in the list

I am going to make some changes in the list of upcoming reading to insert a few new books that have been brought to my attention. Stay tuned!

Membership donations

I am donating two memberships to The Gingersnap Girls annual benefit. Their website is here The Gingersnap Girls . I am also donating a couple of lessons. Please come out and help the horses and bit on my donations. I hope to see you there!

Tomorrow at the Rust Library!

Of course, we may be getting another dose of winter now, but we moved the meeting to the Rust Library in Leesburg because of lack of parking due to snow at the home of our member.

6:30-7pm is social time, and 7-9pm is the meeting, we are in conference room A and reading Fillis "Breaking and Riding" (don't worry if you haven't read it, there won't be a quiz)

Feel free to check us out.

-Callie

Look down for the new Chapter post

Giving the new chapter possibility a bump up.

If you are interested in joining a new chapter, let me know so I can keep you updated.

The book list on the next post are what the current group has/is reading, but the list can be tailored to the new group also.

Enjoy!

The book list

I had a request to see the list of books we have read/are reading in the group.

Here it is. We are starting Fillis Breaking and Riding. Hard to believe you have read all those books, isn't it?

The Handbook of Riding Essentials
by Francois Lemaire De Ruffieu

Start Riding Right
by Jean Licart

The Education of Horse and Rider
by Jean Froissard

Zen and Horses: Lessons from a Year of Riding
by Ingrid Soren

Story of Riding
by Kellock

Understanding Equitation
by Jean Saint-Fort Paillard

Alexis-Francois L'Hotte
by Hilda Nelson

Horse training;: Out-door and high school,
by E Beudant

Another horsemanship
by Jean-Claude Racinet

Reflections on Equestrian Art
by Nuno Oliveira

The Birdie Book
Dr. Deb Bennett

Francois Baucher: The Man and His Method
by Hilda Nelson

Racinet explains Baucher
by Jean-Claude Racinet

Twisted Truthes of Modern Dressage
Phillipe Karl

Breaking and Riding
by James Fillis

Naked Liberty
by Carolyn Resnick

Hackamore Reinsman
by Edgar N. Connell

Academic Equitation
by General Decarpentry

The Ethics and Passions of Dressage
by Charles De Kunffy

Animals in Translation
by Temple Grandin

It's Not About the Horse
by Wyatt Webb

The Way to Perfect Horsemanship
by Udo Burger

New Chapter Anyone?

I have had some interest in a new chapter of the book club.

If you might be interested please drop me a line so I can keep you in the loop. If there are enough people (it only takes around 5 to get started) we will have an introductory meeting to get some of the logistics figured out (when/where we will meet, etc.)

We would meet somewhere in northern Loudoun County, VA. So if you are near enough to there to drive in one evening a month you should e-mail me! Book club is super.

Come explore theory in a fun, relaxed setting!

The Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage

Book Review:

The Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage by Phillipe Karl

Buy it here.

We just finished this book, we spent 3 months on it and even had a hands on meeting with a horse!

I was fortunate enough to see Mr. Karl in Canada at his first clinic in North America. He is a wonderful man who is clearly all about the horse. I have seen his 4 videos and also read his book on long lining (which will be the subject of another review).

The book is beautifully and clearly illustrated. Considering that much of what we have been reading in the club is illustrated by line art at best, this was a refreshing change. Comparing the photos in this book to the photos in dressage magazines in a lesson in itself. The format and layout is modern and up to date.

The author makes some very valid points, with real supporting evidence. He approaches the subject in a thoughtful fashion and seeks to provide clarity for the readers. He does flip-flop back and forth between his ideas and the "other ideas" which can be a little confusing at times.

Overall, the group loved the book and we would wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone, especially those of you who may be searching for something different that the current show model.

Personally, I think this book and The Birdie Book by Dr. Deb Bennett are the two core books for what I believe about training horses. This book addresses the physical horse, and Dr. Bennett addresses the mental horse. While neither book is perfect, they are definite must haves.