The Art of Riding

In this new edition, French riding master Philippe Karl writes about training horses from a very personal perspective. The Art of Riding documents the training and development of the Lusitano stallion 'Odin' according to traditional French classical principles, from young horse all the way up to High School.



Philippe Karl, born in 1947, was for 13 years a member of the Cadre Noir, the elite instructor corps of the prestigious French classical riding school at Saumur. He has devoted himself to students from around the world on courses and clinics in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the USA. He settled in France in 2001, and in 2004 he founded 'The School of Légèreté' to train riding teachers according to his philosophy. He is the author of many successful books. His title Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage has already been translated into 4 languages



•The requirements of balance: collection and conformation

•The philosophy of Academic Equitation: the language of the aids – seat, hands, legs

•Exercises for lateral flexibility: work on one and two tracks

•Work at the canter: counter-canter, flying lead changes, tempi changes

•Collection: piaffe, passage, pesade

•Canter pirouettes: preparation and development



I first read Karl's later book Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage: A Search for a Classical Alternative [Hardcover] and then purchased this one as soon as it was released. While the basic topics are the same and Mr. Karl's techniques have been refined since this book was published, still "The Art of Riding" is well worth deep study as the material goes into greater depth on some of the most important techniques and exercises. It amplified and extended my understanding by addressing all issues in the order in which they should be approached with a young horse. The history and photos of Odin and the overall quality of the book are exquisite as well.



Both books have been important to me. Following this path to the classical traditions has transformed my relationship with my horses.