Book Review by Leigh Ballard
The premise of Janet Foy’s Dressage for the No-So-Perfect Horse: Riding Through the Levels on the Peculiar, Opinionated, Complicated Mounts We All Love, is that most riders in dressage are riding horses that are not perfectly bred or trained for the sport. In short, the majority of riders are making do with the horse they have. Understandably, there are imperfections to overcome as a rider works her way through the levels to achieve a measure of success in the pursuit of dressage. As a judge, clinician, and coach, Foy has seen all the imperfections, and this book is a handbook of sorts for correcting each one.
Each chapter is about riding one particular movement, for example, a counter-canter or a half pass or a shoulder-in. The chapters are well organized according to particular movements and the imperfections that impede achieving the best results. The USEF Rule Book description of the movement is given. From that basis, Foy lists the “imperfections and evasions” that are commonly seen in each maneuver, then explains the “cures and solutions” for them. Foy describes how to properly ride and train each maneuver, and also gives a “judging tip” for each maneuver. Each chapter is organized in the same style.
The style of Foy’s writing is comfortable, down to earth, and personal. She writes as if she’s coaching the reader, i.e., “think about this,” “do this if that happens,” “remember this,” etc. The judging tips seem to me to be very helpful, and are given from her personal experience as a rider who was often under the scrutiny of a judge, and then from her viewpoint as an international dressage judge. Foy intersperses personal anecdotes about her experiences with different horses, mistakes she has made, and disasters or successes she’s had.
Though I have no experience with dressage, it seems to me that this book would be extremely helpful and full of valuable detailed information for dressage riders who are working through problems either with their horses or with themselves, and the way they ride certain maneuvers. Foy presents the information in a clear, organized, and easy to understand style. I recommend it!
The premise of Janet Foy’s Dressage for the No-So-Perfect Horse: Riding Through the Levels on the Peculiar, Opinionated, Complicated Mounts We All Love, is that most riders in dressage are riding horses that are not perfectly bred or trained for the sport. In short, the majority of riders are making do with the horse they have. Understandably, there are imperfections to overcome as a rider works her way through the levels to achieve a measure of success in the pursuit of dressage. As a judge, clinician, and coach, Foy has seen all the imperfections, and this book is a handbook of sorts for correcting each one.
Each chapter is about riding one particular movement, for example, a counter-canter or a half pass or a shoulder-in. The chapters are well organized according to particular movements and the imperfections that impede achieving the best results. The USEF Rule Book description of the movement is given. From that basis, Foy lists the “imperfections and evasions” that are commonly seen in each maneuver, then explains the “cures and solutions” for them. Foy describes how to properly ride and train each maneuver, and also gives a “judging tip” for each maneuver. Each chapter is organized in the same style.
The style of Foy’s writing is comfortable, down to earth, and personal. She writes as if she’s coaching the reader, i.e., “think about this,” “do this if that happens,” “remember this,” etc. The judging tips seem to me to be very helpful, and are given from her personal experience as a rider who was often under the scrutiny of a judge, and then from her viewpoint as an international dressage judge. Foy intersperses personal anecdotes about her experiences with different horses, mistakes she has made, and disasters or successes she’s had.
Though I have no experience with dressage, it seems to me that this book would be extremely helpful and full of valuable detailed information for dressage riders who are working through problems either with their horses or with themselves, and the way they ride certain maneuvers. Foy presents the information in a clear, organized, and easy to understand style. I recommend it!
