Dressage with Mind, Body & Soul: A 21st-Century Approach to the Science and Spirituality of Riding and Horse-And-Rider Well-Being

A new approach to the classical methods of training dressage horses—methods that can cause the animals undue physical and emotional distress—these powerful new techniques from world-renowned horse trainer and behaviorist Linda Tellington-Jones. Linda Tellington-Jones has worked with top dressage competitors and horses from all over the world during the course of her amazing career, which now spans more than 40 years. Through the Tellington Method, Linda has provided tools riders and trainers can use to better a horse's attention span and ability to learn; surmount behavioral and training challenges; improve flexibility, balance, and way-of-going; and recover from injury or illness. In the pages of this very unique book, Linda combines her understanding of horses, her world famous TTouch bodywork, her proven groundwork techniques, and her innovative methods under saddle with exciting ideas specifically for the dressage rider and trainer. Her intriguing ways of looking at the Classical Training Scale, her tips for harnessing the power of intent, and the guiding principles in her Circle of Well-Being provide desperately needed keys to keeping dressage horses happy, healthy, and performing their best. To demonstrate how the Tellington Method can be practically applied to the dressage horse, Linda shares more than 20 problem-solving stories, featuring the world-class riders, trainers, and horses with whom she has worked. In addition, she includes techniques to help riders improve their ability to focus, cultivate habits of observation and patience, and practice the arts of understanding and thankfulness with both their horse and other human beings.