Jane Savoie’s Dressage 101

It's a simple, riddle-free system of training that places a high priority on the horse's physical and mental well-being. Beginning with the three golden rules of dressage training — clarity, consistency, and kindness — Jane Savoie walks you through her four stages of dressage education.

Stage One is an introductory course in the basics, and Stage Two covers the "nuts and bolts" of training, including transitions, school figures, and movements. By the time you finish Stage Two, you'll have a happy, responsive horse that understands going forward and being straight; accepts contact so you can communicate with him through the reins; moves in a regular rhythm and a steady tempo in all three gaits; and can do transitions, circles, and turns, back up, lengthen his stride, and go sideways.

In Stage Three, Jane translates the secrets surrounding the half-halt, enabling you to put your horse "on the bit," and adding a whole new dimension to your training. You'll even be ready for some "fancy stuff" in Stage Four. Don't worry, everything in this book is well within the capacity of most horses — we're simply talking about the work required in the United States Equestrian Federation's (USEF) dressage tests at Third Level. This includes collected, medium, and extended gaits; advanced lateral movements; and flying changes.