My Christmas List...

Sarah asked about my list of favorite dressage books. I've been thinking about it, because I have so many and sadly haven't read most of them. I've skimmed them, or looked up specific movements, but I haven't had a lot of time for reading them cover to cover. So I'll start with what I want for Christmas...

1. Cross-Train Your Horse by Jane Savoie
2. The Complete Training of Horse and Rider by Alois Podhjasky

"Grown Up" Books I Like
Lessons with Lendon (I *love* this book, I plan to go back to this winter)
Dressage in Harmony From Basic to Grand Prix by Walter Zettl
The Gymnasium of the Horse by Gustav Steinbrecht
The Art of Training: Lessons from a Lifetime with Horses By Hans von Blixen-Finecke (this one was my bible while doing 4-H, too bad it was beyond me at the time!)
Balance in Movement The Seat of the Rider by Suzanne von Dietze (I've only skimmed this one so far, but has some interesting ideas and descriptive pictures, good if you like Centered Riding I think)
Horsemanship by Waldemar Seunig

"Introductory" Books I Like
Dressage for the Young Rider By Pegotty Henriques (another of my bibles in 4-H)
Common Sense Dressage by Sally O'Connor (yes, that O'Connor!)
The USDF Guide to Dressage by Jennifer Bryant


I would like to get the Charles de Kunffy books at some point. As well as the other Podjhasky book (I already have The Riding Instructor I believe, just haven't read it yet). I'd like to see Tug of War in person to see if I want it. I have read Dressage with Kyra, and it was good, but I'd get the others I listed first I think. I'm also thinking about Dressage Masters : Techniques and Philosophies of Four Legendary Trainers: Klaus Balkenhol, Ernst Hoyos, Dr. Uwe Schulten-Baumer, George Theodorescu. I did start reading Dressage : The Art of Classical Riding by Sylvia Loch, but didn't get into it, that was early in my serious dressage learning though, so my opinion may have changed.

Anyway, those are the books I like, I know I have more, but they aren't all together and I think I've hit upon my favorites. I have to cancel yesterday's lesson because I was feeling nauseous and riding doesn't really help with that! Hopefully I feel ok for tomorrow's lesson, even though it's a chilly 30-something degrees.

Anticipation...

The day of moving Sophie is quickly approaching, and I am just getting more and more nervous. Lots of worrying about did I make the right choice for one. It's hard to buy a new horse, especially when the last horse you bought was 14 years ago...when you were only 13 years old, and you've pretty much been riding *that* horse ever since then. Then I worry about how my riding instructor (who will be returning from Florida next week) will like her. I never even told her I was looking for a horse, since I figured I needed to find one that I like because I'm the one that is going to have to ride it. I worry about how Sophie is going to settle in. Who will she be turned out with? How spooky is she going to be in her new surroundings?

And then there's the saddle issue. Should I buy a new saddle to take on trial for Sophie's first week home? It works out to go look tomorrow, on my way to my parents house, but how often will I even ride Sophie in the first week, as she settles in? I really don't think I'll ride her more than a couple of times, if that much between tomorrow and next Friday. So I think I'll hold off, even though I'm anxious to get going with this. But, I think I will buy a cob sized bridle, so stopping at the tack store won't be a complete waste.

Finally, on a less fretful note, I have been planning my return to riding. I've been reading Lessons for Lendon and plan on working on one or two of the lessons for each of our rides. She starts out working on some things that are important for Sophie and I, and I think it will help a lot. It's a great book, and if you've been thinking about buying it, I would. I got mine from Amazon, they were having a sale which made it cheaper than buying at Equine Affaire. The sale seems to be over now, but here's the link...http://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Lendon-Progressive-Competition-Practical/dp/1929164165/ref=pd_sim_b_title_30