12 Myths and Misconceptions of Horsemanship

About the Book

In order to form a partnership with your horse, you need to dedicate yourself to learning about the horse. In this text I hope to add to your knowledge of the horse’s physical and mental capabilities and his “natural” responses and physical boundaries. What I intend to do is clear up some of the myths and misconceptions that persist in the world of horsemanship. Oh sure, people have been riding horses for thousands of years – but there are concepts that have sometimes “slipped through the cracks” of equestrian literature. A basic premise is: The more you knowledge you have, the less frustration you will have. Whether you are a weekend rider and want a horse that can take you safely down the trail, or you’re a highly competitive show or event rider, or somewhere in between, I want to help you have a better relationship with your horse.

About the Author

Having taught equitation in saddle seat, stock seat, and dressage for more than forty-five years, Barbara Burkhardt produced several state equitation champions during the 1960s and 1970s. She competed as an amateur on three- and five-gaited American Saddlebreds and professionally showed Arabians and Half Arabians in halter, English and Western pleasure, park, costume, and dressage. She also showed Quarter Horses and numerous registered and “grade” horses in Western pleasure and dressage. In 1975, she began to seriously study dressage, working with various breeds and crossbreeds, expanding her well-rounded background of practical experience. Barbara loves training, teaching, competing, and judging. She especially enjoys introducing newcomers to the theories and practices of dressage and has coached many beginning riders to numerous local, regional, and national awards. Barbara will be the first to admit that her students have always done better in competition than she has.