Because of the great demand for the book: "The Rider Forms the Horse", which was first published in 1939, and the ongoing topicality of this topic, Xenophon Press decided to reissue this unique work. In this book, the authors Udo Bürger and Otto Zietzschmann describe the requirements for successful training and ultimately for a long and healthy life as a riding horse in a very understandable and clear way. The authors explain physiological findings as the basis for riding lessons and explain important clues for training the horse and recognizing and resolving training problems. This is confirmed by the team Olympic champion and former national trainer of dressage riders Klaus Strahlhol: Countless top horses disappear into obscurity due to improper training, never to be seen again, while other difficult and rather averagely gifted horses are transformed into top horses with good trainers. What is needed is an understanding of the connections between muscle activity and the skeleton in the interaction during the various training phases and lessons, regardless of which branch of riding you choose. Target group: For all responsible riders and trainers who are involved in the training of horses as well as for tournament judges and equine veterinarians

First published in 1959, The Way to Perfect Horsemanship was immediately recognized as a classic work of equestrian literature. It offers insight into the psychology of the horse as well as its muscular system and the mechanics of movement. It explains in detail the basic principles of training, the fundamentals of riding, and the effect of training aids. Everyone, from trainers to occasional riders, will benefit from this book.

This comprehensive reference work forms an encyclopedia of the world's main horse breeds and illustrated catalogue of riding equipment. It also provides a practical training course on how to ride, as well as a care guide for horses and ponies.

First published in the late 19th century, this book is truly a work of remarkable coherence, comprehensiveness and depth of understanding. Steinbrecht's reputation as a master in the art of dressage makes The Gymnasium of the Horse a cornerstone of equestrian literature. Originally published in German; this translation from the 10th German edition by Helen K. Gibble, into English. Sections are: Rider's Seat and Aids; Purpose of Dressage; Systematic Training of the Horse; School Movements; Epilogue. Scarce title and long awaited for the many dressage enthusiasts who are familiar with the thoroughness with which Steinbrecht first addressed this topic.

Out of print for more than 20 years, this classic book on equitation introduces and explains the art of riding. Updated with all new color photography of contemporary riders and horses, it includes details on training the rider, schooling the horse, cross-country riding, dressage exercises, and jumping techniques. It expertly provides a wealth of practical knowledge and experience and concisely lays down rules and guidelines that are as applicable today as when the book was written more than 70 years ago. Beginners and experts alike will find the instructions easy to follow and will benefit from the essential theoretical background provided here but so often overlooked in modern riding.

In this study of the relationship between men and their horses in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century England, Monica Mattfeld explores the experience of horsemanship and how it defined one’s gendered and political positions within society. Men of the period used horses to transform themselves, via the image of the centaur, into something other—something powerful, awe-inspiring, and mythical. Focusing on the manuals, memoirs, satires, images, and ephemera produced by some of the period’s most influential equestrians, Mattfeld examines how the concepts and practices of horse husbandry evolved in relation to social, cultural, and political life. She looks closely at the role of horses in the world of Thomas Hobbes and William Cavendish; the changes in human social behavior and horse handling ushered in by elite riding houses such as Angelo’s Academy and Mr. Carter’s; and the public perception of equestrian endeavors, from performances at places such as Astley’s Amphitheatre to the satire of Henry William Bunbury. Throughout, Mattfeld shows how horses aided the performance of idealized masculinity among communities of riders, in turn influencing how men were perceived in regard to status, reputation, and gender. Drawing on human-animal studies, gender studies, and historical studies, Becoming Centaur offers a new account of masculinity that reaches beyond anthropocentrism to consider the role of animals in shaping man.