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.