Bookshelf > Dressage > Anatomy of Dressage

Anatomy of Dressage
By Heinrick Schusdziarra and Volker Schusdziarra
Originally published in German and previously
published in English as the Anatomy of Riding.

Paperback: 144 pages (October 2004)
Language: English
Half Halt Press ISBN: 0939481693

This book presents a bridge between classic dressage texts and practical use of those texts, to improve either riding or teaching skills. It arose from discussions between the two authors, father and son, who debated about just what Muesler (among others) meant when he used certain phrases in his book, Riding Logic.

The result is a book that provides excellent instruction for intermediate to advanced riders, who understand the theory involved but who are perhaps unaware of how to relate theory to actual muscle actions. The use of common phrases such as ‘bracing the back’open the door for misinterpretation about what action is really taking place. The book’s detailed examination of what such phrases really mean can be especially useful for instructors.

There are no ‘cookie-cutter’ faults with corresponding solutions presented, as is so often seen in riding manuals. Instead, problems are looked at and dealt with from an anatomical perspective; what is and is not desireable, and what is and is not physically possible, are presented based on a thorough understanding of the human body.

We highly recommend this book as ‘recommended reading’ for any serious rider. The one criticism that we have is of the book design – the typeface used for the text is not the best for ease of reading. Hopefully this can be fixed in a future edition.

Return to Bookshelf > Dressage

From the back:
Anatomy of Dressage is a new translation of the classic work and provides riders with the anatomical basis for correct riding. Only with a working knowledge of human anatomy can a rider fully understand the instructions given for correct position in the saddle and explanations of the movements.

Anatomy of Dressage presents a clear overview of anatomy as related to riding, aimed at the layman. Working from this anatomical perspective, the authors, who in addition to being father and son are both medical doctors, discuss the individual requirements of riding theory. Many of their conclusions may seem surprising to some readers, such as the notion that it is physically impossible to "brace the lower back" as we are so often advised by instructors.

An absolutely fascinating read, Anatomy of Dressage is required reading for the United States Dressage Federation's Instructor Certification program.

Contents include:
Foreword, Introduction
Part One: Anatomy
Bones and Ligaments - The spine; the pelvis, thigh and hip joint; the hip joint ligament.
Muscles - Muscles of the seat; muscles of the thigh and lower leg; abdominal muscles; back muscles.
Part Two: The Requirements of Riding from an Anatomical Perspective
The seat: resting on three points of support?
Bracing the lower back
Using the leg
Going with the motion of the horse
Half halts and full halts
Balance - Going with the motion of the horse
Suppleness and gripping
The chair seat and the hollow back
The use of the seat muscles
The spiral seat
Riding through the corner
Shoulder-in and half pass
The transition to canter
Part Three: Training
Part Four: Teaching and Learning
Bibliography
Illustrations
Index

Return to Bookshelf > Hunter/Jumper