Harmonic Dressage: Part 1 Optimizing Your Seat and Use of the Aids

This book explains in detail the correct position of a rider and how riders can better co-ordinate their driving aids with their receiving aids to create a supple connection over the back of the horse. Using this information together with her insights on how horses learn, can enable a rider to open clear two-way communication channels with the horse. Understanding how horses learn as well as understanding how to co-ordinate the aids is the key to being able to truly ride from “back to front.”

Dr. Gail Hoff is the owner and director of Los Alamos Dressage Center, the first school of dressage in the United States, but wears many hats. She is a USEF licensed "S" Dressage Judge, "R" Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Judge, "R" Western Dressage Judge, long time horse breeder and an FEI grand prix level trainer, coach and competitor. She is also a USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalist. These awards were earned solely on self-trained horses. Gail is also a PhD biologist listed in Who's Who and other biographical publications for products she invented in the field of medical diagnostics. Her scientific background together with her knowledge and experience training both horses and riders as well as judging horses gives her a unique perspective of dressage. She is pleased to share a lifetime of study and experience with others in her books called Harmonic Dressage(R). Harmonic Dressage is a system or methodology Gail developed for training both horses and riders. It is based upon the classic Training Pyramid or Training Scale but brings a scientific approach to understanding how it works and can be used to train horses up the levels in dressage. Gail is recorded in Who's Who, Who's Who of American Women, American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who of Technology Today, American Biographical Institute, International Biographical Center and the National Registry of Who's Who for several medical diagnostic products she invented. She received two Proclamation citations from the New Jersey State Assembly and Governor Whitman for civic work done to benefit both the community and equine research at the University of PA School of Veterinary Medicine.