Read a small bit of what's in each issue of.... Topline Ink (TM) Equestrian Journal Magazine! |
| "It would be an over-simplification to say that correct balance is everything (it is really only the beginning), but it is safe to say that without it, nothing else can occur. (The Importance of the Lower Levels) - Arlene Rigdon |
"The position of efficient balance, on or off the horse, is the position of good posture." (Tools for Riding in Balance) - Beth Glosten, M.D.
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"We must also take into account what we are feeling, or not feeling, in our own bodies. Some people are crooked in their posture but they do not know it." (Feel, Technique and Compromise: The Foundation of all Training) Manolo Mendez "The seat should communicate with the horse deliberately and with meaning, and at the same time be used so as to not create pain, pressure, or confusion to the horse." (The Important Basics of the Seat) Tammy Fifer "Levels training through second mark the period of the basic training of the horse. If this foundation is correct and complete, the progression into the medium levels of third and fourth is smooth and painless." (The Importance of the Lower Levels) Arlene Rigdon "In reality, however, one progresses, developing horses' gymnastic proficiencies, only by paying constant attention to the basic riding principles, not merely "going back" to them" (Back to Basics) Charles de Kunffy "The basics of the rider must come before a rider can really train the basics to a horse. This means that riders progress the most easily and completely when given lunge lessons and practice riding horses that have been trained in their basics." (Experts Perspective Q & A) Linda Landers
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"Walk is a foundation gait for horses and for humans. In dressage, walking is a gait with four phases that are heard as hoof beats." Dr. Nancy Nicholson (Riding Walks: And an Independent Seat)
"Dr. Heuschmann thoroughly explained the muscles and structure of the horse's back, neck, and hind end to show how a horse is able to carry a rider." (Tug of War: Highlights of a Clinic with Dr. Gerd Heuschmann) - Dawn Fisher
"All these qualities appear in a collected walk, and its physics partake of some of the elastic character of the ballistic gaits of trot and canter for expression. That is, in a lively collected walk, there is springiness that comes from some inverted pendulum spring of legs. Dr. Nancy Nicholson (Riding Walks: An an Independent Seat)
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"The trademark of the School Horse was and still is that it can be ridden by anyone, even a beginner." (Equestrian Observations - Trained Versus Cued) - by Karl Mikolka "Every step we take is a step towards a stronger, straighter, suppler, more confident, more balanced and forward horse or a step toward crookedness, impure gaits and possibly career ending lameness." (Balance & Rhythm in the Young Horse: Essential to Forward in Self Carriage) - by Manolo Mendez w/ Y. Dean & C. Larrouilh "Apprenticeship is indispensable for the acquisition of equestrian craftsmanship. The discipline of riding presents such a variety of circumstances, due to the variety of individual horses, that only through daily guidance and diversification can the sport be successfully pursued" (Equestrian Culture and the Whole Person) - by Charles de Kunffy "As a student of classical riding, I was reminded on a daily basis that 'supplenes in motion' should be the goal of every training session regardless of level." (Why Are So Many Horses So Stiff? The Issue of Bending) - by Karl Mikolka "I truly believe that one can't reach the height of feeling for what is going on in the horse and how to interact with this to produce the correct response without a correct classical seat. It is this seat that gives you the tool and the freedom to reach such heights." (Thoughts on the Classical Seat) - by Gael Bourquin "Overextended stirrups are counter-productive to the correct position of legs and feet." (The Assignments to the Leg) - by Charles de Kunffy "In the big scheme of things, it is not so important that the classically trained horse/rider combination always wins. It is far more important for the classically educated rider to represent his teachers and the classical heritage with dignity and integrity by riding well and placing the horse's well-being above all other considerations." (Classical Dressage and Competitions) - Dr. Thomas Ritter |
"You only can have extension when you have collection. To improve your extension it is necessary to work on and improve your collection." (Dressage Theory Lessons) - Jana Wagner |
| "When we sit on the back of a horse and take up the reins, the contact is not only between our hands and his mouth but also 'mind to mind.' If the horse accepts your leadership and trusts you, he will be more relaxed in his mind to become submissive to a contact." (Master the Balsnce and Master the Horse) - Jenny Rolfe |
| "Truly listening to your horse and looking for any barriers to effective communication is hard work. It is much more difficult than just giving more forceful aids a second time, but the rewards are great.....This more effective way of communicating with my horse led to a more "playful" approach to training." (Knowledge Speaks, but Wisdom Listens) - Gigi Nutter |
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