People know that I’m a serious geek when it comes to reading – I looove reading- and lately I have been reading horsey book – so prepare for lots of reviews-, killing 2 birds with one stone: reading and learning more of horses 🙂
When I learned about this book, that it included all of the Grand Prix movements and that is was written by Stephen Clarke it immediately became a must in my list. I took me a while to decide to buy it and it was not that easy to get, but I finally order it on Amazon last year when I was in the UK (You can get it here).
I must admit that the first time I opened it I was disappointed, I was expecting a magic guide to ride the Grand Prix and obviously there was not. A little while a go when I was packing I found it and gave it another chance.
The book is divided in 19 mini-chapters: 15 of Grand Prix and 4 of the FEI Pony.
Each chapter talks about a movement of the Grand Prix test – the first 2 are not movements but they are something that we always aspire in Dressage: Lightness and Harmony-. With each movement you can see a combination that exemplifies it. A little bit of their history, talks about the rider’s most memorable test, their routine, how he/she began to ride. It also present you the trainer and the horse.
In each chapter you learn a bit about who they are (where) those famous names, why they where famous and understand more of what it’s expected of a certain movement. Some of the riders and horses presented in the book are: Carl Hester, Kyra Kyrklund, Edward Gal, Isabell Werth, Ulla Salzgeber, Anky Van Grusven, Salinero, Totilas, Berntina, Blue Hors Matine. I must say that some of the combinations I have only heard of because I was little when they shone, but because of the book I now know more of who they are and what they did.
With a new attitude towards the book I must say that is a really good book that presents you little known parts of rides, horses and trainers. It is like a private interview with them. For me the only part that is missing is to include current combos – Valegro & Charlotte!!- but the book was published in 2009 before the Valegromania.
An excellent book, I really recommend it and it’s perfect for a table coffee.
Some one has it already? Do you like it? What other books would you recommend?
