Breaking and Riding - Hardcover

Fillis, James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0851310443 ISBN 13: 9780851310442

Publisher: Hurst & Blackett, Ltd. N.D., 1970

Synopsis

One of the most important works ever written on dressage, Breaking and Riding is essential reading for the serious dressage enthusiast. In this work, the result of a lifetime spent training horses, James Fillis (1834â 1913) clearly explains his theories and methods, starting with the basics of breakingâ lungeing, work in hand, and first mountingâ and progressing to advanced work, including canter pirouette, tempi changes, piaffe, and passage. Throughout the work, Fillis always returns to his basic principle: The horse must be â correctly balanced and light in forward movements and propulsion, in order that the rider may obtain the most powerful effects with the least exertion.â Fillis was an apprentice to a student of the legendary trainer François Baucher. In this book, while expressing admiration for Baucher, Fillis also explains in detail the ways in which he believed Baucher was mistaken in some of his methods.

About this title

From the Back Cover

The return of a classic! This landmark work, first published in 1902, is finally back in print. A fundamental text in classical dressage, Breaking and Riding is more relevant than ever with its emphasis on lightness and forwardness.
The legendary James Fillis details his theory and methods on a fascinating array of subjects, including:
Early training, feeding, and care of the young horse
Bits and bitting
Lateral, direct, and indirect flexion
Riding sidesaddle
Horses with vices
High school riding, including piaffe, passage, shoulder-in, two-tracking, the Spanish walk, and canter in reverse
The light and often humorous style makes this a pleasant read, as well as an absorbing look back in time. Illustrated with drawings and photographs, and with an intriguing new introduction by William C. Steinkraus, this volume is a must-read for anyone interested in the development of classical dressage in the twentieth century.
James Fillis was ecuyer en chef of the St. Petersburg Cavalry Riding School, and at the turn of the century was renowned as the greatest high-school rider of all time. He was a groundbreaker in the field of classical dressage, having developed innovations ranging from the spectacular reverse canter on three legs to the eminently useful fillis style stirrup irons, still used by nearly all dressage riders to this day. His motto-"en avante" (forward)-represents the basic principle on which all modern training is founded.

About the Author

JAMES FILLIS was Ecuyer en chef of the St. Petersburg Cavalry Riding School, and
at the turn of the century was renowned as the greatest high school rider of all
time. He was a groundbreaker in the field of classical dressage, having developed
innovations ranging from the spectacular reverse canter on three legs to the eminently
useful fillis-style stirrup irons, still used by nearly all dressage riders to this
day. His motto—“en avante” (forward)—represents the basic principle on which
all modern training is founded.

WILLIAM C. STEINKRAUS won the 1968 Olympic gold medal for show jumping
on his Thoroughbred, Snowbound, and was a member of the United States
Equestrian Team for more than two decades. He is the author of Reflections on
Riding and Jumping, and his writing has appeared in numerous publications
including Practical Horseman and The Chronicle of the Horse. He lives in Darien,
Connecticut.

Edition details

• Publisher: Hurst & Blackett, Ltd. N.D.
• Publication date: 1970
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0851310443
• ISBN 13: 9780851310442
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 376