Dressage

Sylvia Loch, a Scottish born and educated dressage trainer, has become a leading authority on the art of classical riding. Author of 8 books and over 8 films about the classical balanced seat and its development, she is today much in demand as a trainer, judge, lecturer and public speaker the world over. Her first and best known book is The Classical Seat, which has sold over 90,000 copies worldwide.
She learned her skills under the tutelage of her late husband, Major Henry Loch, and was much influenced by legendary equestrians, including the late Nuno Oliveira, Reiner Klimke, the Podhajsky family, and Arthur Kottas. Together, Lord and Lady Loch founded the first Lusitano Dressage Centre in the Algarve, Portugal. In 1979, they transferred the school to Great Britain, bringing with them their prized Portuguese and Spanish horses. Prior to that time, both breeds were virtually unknown in northern Europe, and it was Sylvia's books and DVDs that inspired an interest in the Iberian race as well as in classical equitation-an interest which has grown and flourished to this day. Sylvia is founder of the Classical Riding Club and has judged Iberian horses all over the world.
She is passionate about teaching a good position in the saddle, rein finesse, the unseen weight aids, and how to balance the horse without force, focusing on the correct biomechanical and humane training of the horse and rider.

acknowledgements and gratitude

List of Colour Plates

Foreword by Brigadier General Kurt Albrecht

Introduction

1    What is the Classical Art of Riding ?

2    Xenophon and the Birth of Classical Equitation

3    The Historical Significance of Collected Riding

4    Academic Equitation: the Early Romanic Schoolsof Naples, Portugal and Spain

5    Academic Equitation in Austria and Germany

The Age of Baroque

Post Baroque and Military Influences

6    Glorious France and the School of Versailles

7    The Classical School

Sieur de la Gueriniere

The Marquess of Marialva

8    England and the Duke of Newcastle

9    A Time of Change and of Controversy

10    French Brilliance at Saumur and the Contributionof Baucher

11    Fillis - the Forgotten English Genius

12    Caprilli and the Forward Seat

13    The Natural Dressage of the United States of America

14    General Purpose Riding - A Dilution of DressagePrinciples ?

15    Three Great Men

Wynmalen and Decarpentry

Colonel Podhajsky

16    The Competitive Success of the Germans

A Story of Progressive Endeavour

Writers and Trainers of Modern Germany

17    The Spanish Riding School Today

18    Nuno Oliveira and the Modern Portuguese School

A Classical Upbringing

A Lasting Contribution

19    The Quest for Olympic Gold and Other Influences

Contemporary Personalities and Schools of Present Influence

20    Reflections on the State of the Art

Essentials

Priorities

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

About the Author