4 Books 4 Styles

DP recommends four books for the bookshelf, following the suggestions of some of the interviewees in this issue. They vary between a more technical content, through photography to biography.

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The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art director, Mr. Filipe Figueiredo (Graciosa),  suggested two books.   The first is from Coronel Pierre Durand – L’Equitation française - Mon Choix de Coeur et de Raison, published by Actes Sud. The second is a book published by Belin editions, to commemorate the world premiere event Les 4 Écoles d’Art Equestre which took place in Paris in 2007.  It is entitled Les hauts lieux de l’art équestre – Vienne, Saumur, Jerez, Lisbonne and is written by Alain Laurioux and Guillaume Henry.   Both books are written in French.

Mr. Francisco Beja, Coordinator of the Department of the Stud Farms belonging to the Alter Real Foundation, suggested a biographical book about one of the most well known Portuguese equitation masters, Mestre Nuno de Oliveira by Marion Scali, published in Portugal by Inapa editions.   This book is available both in English and French.

Mr. Camilo Borges, Technical Director and Manager of Equitop Equestrian Centre, suggests a practical book, which he reviewed for the Portuguese version.  Intended for all levels of amateur and professional riders, Dressage: Técnica e Aprendizagem, a book from Kathy Amos-Jacob published by Dinalivro.

 

L’Equitation française - mon choix de coeur et de raison

Author: General Pierre Durand  

Publisher: Actes Sud (October 2008)

ISBN 978-2-7427-7630-6

Language: French

Note from the publisher

This work is not just another equitation manual. It is a lot more than that:  it depicts the experiences of a whole life as a rider.  And this is not about any rider:  privileged student of Colonel Margot (one of the most brilliant masters of Saumur), Pierre Durand completed his military career as Cadre Noir Chief Rider and then as director of the National Equitation School.   His sportive résumé is very  impressive;  he participated  twice  in the Olympic Games in the disciplines of eventing and show jumping,  more than twenty five times  in the Nations Cup  as well as  earning dozens of national and international individual victories in show jumping – the  main discipline in which he was several times French military champion and  also World Champion in 1962.

écuyer Pierre Durand effortlessly popped his slim silhouette over the obstacles while simultaneously maintaining high school airs. To him, sport equitation and classical equitation, work with obstacles and ground work are of the same nature, requiring muscle harmony, rassembler and lightness.

Believing that riding is a never ending learning process, General Durand has refused up until now to publish any treaty, any definitive work.  But he has finally decided, at the end of an exceptional career, to compile in this book his observations as a horseman.   All of his memories and reflections, technical opinions and funny episodes testify his equestrian mastery and respect for the horse.   He also reminds us of the principles that form the foundations of the beautiful French Equitation.

 

 

Les hauts lieux de l’art équestre - Vienne, Saumur, Jerez, Lisbonne

Authors: Alain Laurioux , Guillaume Henry  

Publisher: Belin  (July 2008)

ISBN 978-2-7011-4667-6

 Language: French

Note from the publisher

“The Great Schools of Equestrian Art together at last in one book”.

 

For the first time a book brings together:

·         The Spanish School of Vienna;

·         Le Cadre Noir of  Saumur;

·         The Royal School of Equestrian Art from Jerez;

·         The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art from Lisbon;

 

Find out the roots of their traditions and follow the daily work of their horses. Understand the functioning of each school, recruiting and riders training, their similarities and their differences, and the future of each one of them.

Alain Laurioux received the award Yves Hilaire from the French Equestrian Press Association (FEPA) for the book: “The high places of equestrian art”, as well for his whole career. Alain Laurioux is the manager of the Black Painting shows responsible for conception, sets, environment and coordination.  As a photographer, he collaborates in several equestrian publications (Cheval Magazine, Cheval Pratique, etc.) and regularly shows his photos in Brussels, London, Berlin, Saumur, Tour, Lyon, Paris, Budapest, etc.  He is currently preparing to show his work in Washington.  He’s provided pictures for several horse related books for the editors Belin, Crépin-Leblond, Proxima,and several “beautiful books” for Gallimard, Artémis and Arthaud-Flammarion.

Guillaume Henry is an equitation instructor, trained in Saumur.  He’s the author of several technical articles in French publications or Belgian (Cheval magazine, Cheval Harmonie, etc.) and on equitation history (Equus, Historia, etc.); as week as publishing around fifteen technical and historical books about equitation.  He also created the Pégase Academy, which has given two literary awards every year since 1990; the award Pégase ENE and the award Spécial Cadre Noir.  As an editor, he divides his time between writing and the daily equitation practice.

 

Mestre Nuno de Oliveira

Author: Marion Scali

Publisher: INAPA

ISBN 978-972-797-161-9

Language: Portuguese, also available in English and French

 Note from the publisher

Master Nuno de Oliveira: Nuno de Oliveira (1925-1989) was without doubt the most brilliant rider of the 20th century. The “Equitation Master” as he was called by his numerous students from all four corners of the world. Globally recognized, he dedicated his life to teaching and dressage.   He drew the High School action line, promoting the Lusitano horse as a perfect example of “equilibrium and lightness”.

 

Dressage : Técnica e Aprendizagem

Autor: Kathy Amos-Jacob

Publisherr: Dinalivro (March 2004)

Language: Portuguese

Note from the publisher

Lots of riders lament working alone and wish for a guide to help them progress with their horse. Kathy Amos-Jacob lets us know everything, in a simple and clear way, from her experience in dressage (French word derived from the French verb dresser and that simply means ‘to train’).

Currently, this expression has been adapted as the name of the discipline, but also means a training method. In this sense, a classical and direct approach of elementary dressage is made, with the purpose of helping riders in their technical progression, as well as their daily relationship with the horse. According to the author, this relationship must be born out of respect and love, because love, care, trust and knowledge of dressage techniques and horse biomechanics are indispensable to properly train your horse.