Hi Herr Hausberger and all,
I've always read that the training methods of the SRS are based on oral tradition. Are there any materials (books, DVDs, websites) that outline the long-rein training methods you use?
I do have "The Spanish Workbooks" by Charles Harris, which is an amazing bit of reference. Also, I'd welcome a recommendation to any material in French or German, or written materials in Italian.
Lastly, why is the SRS alternatively called the Spanische Hofreitschule and the Spanische Reitschule? Is one more correct than the other?
Best to all,
Elaine
Spanische Hofreitschule and Spanische Reitschule is right. After the monarchy the young Republic of Austria thought that we don't have a court anymore so let's change the names of institutions with "court" in its name. It took the Austrian Republic a while to change the name back to Hofreitschule, our name for almost 430 years.
AntwortenLöschenUnfortunately there's no book about the training of a long rain horse.
Maybe I do one one day ;-)
Andreas
Yes,, please do write your book!
AntwortenLöschenI am certain many people are eager to know more of the SRS training methods.
Thanks for your reply,
Elaine
Elaine, is this a Lipizzaner on your private page? Where is he/she from? Andreas
AntwortenLöschenHi Andreas,
AntwortenLöschenYes, that is a Lipizzaner, my young filly Quiana. She is the light of my life! She is from California, from Laura Wiener-Smolka's breeding farm. Quiana is the grandfilly of Smokey--Maestoso II Sabrina.
Here's a link to a video of Smokey, ridden by Jennifer Roth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txe972g2Pz0
Also, I believe you also rode him during one of your clinics here in the US. Laura had a photo of you and Smokey on her page, and I have uploaded it to my page here.
Thanks for asking about Quiana! Although people have told me she is in her "ugly" young Lipizzaner stage (she's 2 1/2 years old), I think she is the most gorgeous thing on earth. She slays me with her beauty!
Best,
Elaine
I agree with Elaine, you should write a book for the correct training for a long rein horse. I don't think anyone else would be more qualified to do so than you are. Your description of Les Quatre Ecoles d'Art Equestre was very well done.The sights, sounds and movement were so well evoked, I could close my eyes and feel myself there in the arena. That is the first step for a good author, to hook your intended audience and pull them into your writing.
AntwortenLöschenDebi
Yes, Andreas, another plea to please write that book!
AntwortenLöschenI've only been able to find one book describing work-in-hand by a former rider at the SRS-Alfons J. Dietz wrote "Training the Horse in Hand: The Classical Iberian Principles"--but this book would benefit from more detail. And as mentioned before, "The Spanish Notebooks" by Harris.
I am looking for a copy of Mazuchelli's "Elementi de Cavallerizza," a definitive work on long-reining. Digital edition would be preferable, because the only hard copy I've been able to find was 590 euros. Anyone ever run across it?
When Quiana turns three early next summer, I'd like to start her with the training method of her heritage, but I don't think Andreas will have the book written by then! (chuckle, chuckle)
Best,
Elaine
PS. In a previous post, there was a mention of a library at the SRS. Is there a staff librarian there, and would they answer e-mail questions re; books like Mazzuchelli's?
The SRS does have a library, but just for us riders. Sorry for that! The library is a treasure full of antic books!
AntwortenLöschenIf there is a copy of "Elementi de Cavellerizza" in that library, I really envy you!
AntwortenLöschenElaine,
AntwortenLöschenWhere are you located? These are the only libraries I know of that have copies of "Elementi di cavallerizza". One is in Connecticut, the other in California. Possibly they could help you with research.
Debi
Here are the addresses and phone numbers:
Getty Research Library
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, California 90049
(310) 440-7300
Yale University Library
Library Administrative Services
Sterling Memorial Library
Yale University
130 Wall Street
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven, CT 06520-8240
Debi,
AntwortenLöschenMerci mille fois, viele danke, a thousand thanks--you are my new hero!
I am in Seattle, WA so am not geographcially near either of the libraries, but sometimes a digital copy is available via the library but not on a public site.
I've looked on Gallica, the BNF (Bibliotheque Nationale de France) site, as well as Gutenberg, not to mention LOC, among others.
So thank you very much!
Elaine
If you want to start Quiana in the manner used by the School, you don't need a reference on long rein work! They only do long rein work with fully trained horses. The also do not use work in hand with young horses. They start that somewhat later in their training.
AntwortenLöschenThey start young horses on the lunge for a few months and then put a rider up. The rider is usually an eleve or Asistant Rider and he (in two or 3 years it may be one of the 2 young women accepted as eleves last fall!) will ride the horse "calm, forward, and straight" for one to two years.
Since your most immediate need is for material on starting a young horse, I have some recommendations for books and videos:
1. Podhajsky's "Complete Training of Horse and Rider" (still in print after 40+ years) has good dsecriptions of the early training. The paperback edition is readily available for $15. Any equestrian book dealer should have a hardcover copy available (Try searching on BookFinder.com - a website that searches several online databases for you)
2. The video series "The Art of Classical Dressage" by retired First Chief Rider Kottas has 8 different videos. For your situation the most pertinent may be: 1 Lungeing the Horse, 2 Lungeing the Rider, 3 From Snafle to Double Bridle, 5 Work in Hand. The other segments are also very worthwhile: 4 Medium Advanced to Grand Prix, 6 Corrections, 7 Live Seminar, 8 Improving the Quality of the Gaits
3. A second video series by retired First Chief Rider Kottas, "Perfecting Dressage" has 5 parts. Part 1 is "Training the Young Horse". He scatters work in hand throughout parts 3 and 4.
The Kottas videos were formerly available as VHS tapes from tack catalogs but are now sold as DVD's. For example, Dover Saddlery carries "The Art of Classical Dressage" as 4 DVD's. The "Perfecting Dressage" series never had good distribution in the USA but you can order it through Ashanti Farms, a dressage barn where Kottas still does clinics - see http://www.ashantifarm.com/products/videos.html for details
Re the Dietz book. Observe that the title says he explains the Classical Iberian principles, not the classical tradition of the SRS. That's because Dietz was an eleve at the School but he was never a Rider. If I remember correctly, was an eleve for the entire time he was there, never being promoted to Assitant Rider. So, I would not expect him to write about the SRS tradition of work in hand as he had little experience their methods. That does not mean that his book is not worthwhile reading. It just means that you shouldn't think that he's teaching you about work in hand at the SRS!
John
P.S. The BookFinder.com website I mentioned can also search European databases for works in languages other than English. So, I have found it a good resource!
AntwortenLöschenJohn, (although your knowledge is remarkably reminescent of Craig Stevens!)
AntwortenLöschenMany thanks for all your detail and input. I do have all of Podhasky's books, but thank you for the reminder reference. I've gleaned some excellent information from his books, even the chatty ones such as "My Horse, My Teachers."
As for Dietz, in the book, I don't believe he mentioned what his station was at the SRS...just that he was there for 8 years while Klaus was head. Thanks for clarifying!
From your description, it seems that you have seen the Kottas DVDs/video yourself. I had seen these for sale, but could never find anyone who had actually seen them. Have you seen them?
Could you please contact me off-list at elaineh@amazon.com? I'm don't want to fill up Andreas's blog with all my questions!
I noticed in your profile that you are in Monroe....I am in Seattle...if you are the "Craig" person, would you happen to have a copy of "Elementi de Cavellerizza" in that wonderful library of yours?
Best,
Elaine
No, I am not Craig Stevens. I've never even met the man. I will contact you offlist.
AntwortenLöschenThanks, John...will be looking forward to your e-mail.
AntwortenLöschenJust saying Hi since I am form Snohomish - I guess plenty of Seattle folks here.
AntwortenLöschenI will follow up on this discussion, because I am also interested in learning more about the training methods of the SRS.
About this, I have a question for Andreas also: In October, I had a chance to go back to my home country and ride a Lusitano schoolmaster at the Belgian Academy for the Art of riding. This was aan awsesome expirience, and I learned da lot. I asked them if how similar their training methods were to the SRS, and thsy told me that that were basically very similar, basically coming essentially from the teaching of De la Gueriniere. However, there seems to be some (maybe small) differences, as they have been more influenced by the Portuguese/French tradition (the school was started by students of Nuno Oliviera). Now, both Michel and Leopold are excellent and very elegant riders (I had a chance to see them perfom), and If I have to judge the quality of their training by the horse I rode - I'll ride one their horses any day (I just wish). I guess I just need to win the lottery.
So, how much difference are there really between the various classical schools? There is much arguments between the different 'styles', but IMHO, there is good riding and training, then not-so good riding and training. I personally feel that having been exposed to both the SRS and the Belgian school, I have just seen some of the best. However, what differences in training methods should I expect to see?
If this school follows the french tradition in dressage riding, than they are influenced by Baucher and not so much by de la Gueriniere. Funny enough both where french, but the Cadre Noir works after the methods of Baucher. The Spanish Riding School after de la Gueriniere.
AntwortenLöschenAs you mentioned, there's just good and not so good riding.
As a French speaking by birth, I have to confess that the French have done great things to confuse us all. From I have seen and read, there is different 'flavors' of French training, depending on how much they combine the teachings of the DLG with some of Baucher. Michel from the Belgian schoolttold me that there were very close to DLG, so I assume the differences must be small. At the end, there really is just good riding and not good riding, regardless of the flavor.
AntwortenLöschenThe influence of Baucher is everywhere, even at the SRS. For example the one-tempi-changes! Of course we follow dlG!
AntwortenLöschen