Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I've already mentioned how much I love to read. A few weeks ago, I shared my summer reading list with you, and I have yet another sensational book to add to it. I'll get to that one in a later post. While I don't spend my evenings poring over horse books, I do occasionally dig one out to reference for specific issues. Last week, the $900 Facebook pony shared her collection of horse books. I scanned each book cover and was a bit surprised that I have not one of the titles she shared. Weird, huh? Just how many different horse books can there be? So, here's what I keep at home (I have a mound of others at school, but they're mostly kids' fiction). This first pile includes all of my vet books.The one in the top right hand corner first belonged to my stepmother before she handed it over to me in the mid-1980s. It was published in 1973. It's astonishing that I've owned it for at least 30 years. The next stack contains all of my dressage books. The Practical Dressage Manual by Bengt Ljungquist is my favorite for being the most reader friendly, but The Complete Training of Horse and Rider is my sentimental favorite. If I remember correctly, it was a Christmas gift when I was 15. It was only just a handful of years ago that I even knew who Alois Podhajsky was. I've owned that book for more than 30 years as well. Next comes my collection of memoirs and biographies. Two in the top row were written by endurance riders, one of whom I was very lucky to meet in person, the legendary Julie Suhr. Google her. You won't be disappointed. She rode in the 2016 Rose Parade at 91 years of age. The lady has kicked some serious butt in her lifetime. This next pile is an assortment of random books, several of which get regular use. Not the endurance book, obviously, but back in the day, it was one of the few endurance books out there. I've written plenty of posts about the bit books and the rock star book, so you know those get read regularly. And finally, there are my "I love horses" books. That pony book has also been with me for 30 years. I am pretty sure it came from a friend of my step mom's. My copy is an American edition publish in 1982, but it was first published in 1979 in Great Britain. The others are your run of the mill coffee table books, but I enjoy having them. I would dig seeing what you have in your library, so if you do an equestrian book collection blog post, come back and let me know!
9/24/2017 04:48:39 pm
Weird though how many different books everyone has. I wonder if it's regional or just preference? :0) 9/24/2017 04:47:48 pm
I saw your post, Heather. That's quite a collection! Comments are closed.
|
About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
|