REVIEWS
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"Much has been written already in the 21st Century on dressage... one book that really has stood out, and in my opinion is the best to be written this century, is Kottas on Dressage published by Kenilworth Press. Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg surely needs no introduction. A former First Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School he is probably one of the greatest exponents of true classical dressage. He is clearly one of those who has 'walked the walk' with authority, clarity and simplicity. I particularly liked the section on the riders' position which is clearly explained, and the author gives excellent summaries at the end of each section as well as good, fault-solving tips. When Alois Podhasky's book The Complete Training of the Horse and Rider was first published in 1965 (1967 in the UK) it very quickly became a classic and is still regarded as 'the bible' in many quarters. To my mind, Kottas on Dressage equals this book and I have no doubt that it will go down as one of the classics of the 21st century. In a time when more and more people take up dressage and, in many instances, horses appear to be pushed and hurried in their training (perhaps due to a lack of patience either from a lack of knowledge or instant gratification), then many trainers, instructors and riders would do well to invest in this publication." Patrick Print FBHS, British Horse magazine
"Arthur Kottas, former First Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna could well be considered the greatest living authority on the correct schooling of horse and rider today - and rightly so... Kottas on Dressage is a book to be handled well, read and re-read, tucked in the pocket of the car on the way to a lesson, studied in bed - if that's your habit -shown to others and dipped into - endlessly. It is clear, concise and informative - like the author himself and it is beautifully laid out with bullet points and sub-headings for every aid, every movement, every eventuality. In some places the tone reminds me of Nuno Oliveira's first book Reflections on Equestrian Art because much of the more technical work is dealt with economically, with approachable, crystal clear gems of advice... Basically, in this book you will find it all". Sylvia Loch from the Classical Riding Club Newsletter
"As a retired riding master with the Spanish Riding School, Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg knows a thing or two about dressage, and this book is heaven for all riders wanting to give the discipline a go... Backed up by a stunning array of pcitures, Arthur takes us through a journey from the basics (rider position, lunge lessons, ground work) right through to the tricky (piaffe and passage). Being from Vienna, Arthur uses a lot of European influence in his writing, which gives a different insight into dressage training and makes for a refreshing read. I learnt lots from this book, which is easy to read and to dip in and out of'. Your Horse
