Dressage: Begin the Right Way

Many inexperienced riders look upon dressage as the performance of high school actions and fail to realise that every rider can benefit from such a disclipline.  In this neat little book, Richards shows that anyone with a knowledge of basic principles, good teaching and application can learn the necessary aids and so improve performance.

A great book for anyone who would like to improve their horse's natural balance and movement.

From the NZ Herald obituary:
Mark Todd might not have achieved his international success without the support and knowledge of Lockie Richards.  Todd was part of the first three-day event team that competed outside Australasia when Richards took the team to the United States in preparation for the Lexington world championships in 1978.

Richards began his career with horses in his early 20s, breaking them in and teaching at Winifred Lysnar's "riding holidays" in Gisborne, where he was born.  The riding holidays were set up so that children who otherwise would have no chance to learn about horses or riding could do so in a relaxed environment.

Richards then moved to England and taught at riding schools, including Silver Hound and Porlock Vale, and became a Fellow of the British Horse Society in 1963.  At that time, he was the youngest person and only New Zealander to receive the honour, according to his life partner Don DeMacedo.  In 1964, Richards moved to the United States to teach at the Potomac Horse Centre, the largest residential school in America. He trained riders and horses, and in the early 70s was appointed resident instructor for the American Dressage Institute.

Richards coached the New Zealand Olympic team for the Montreal games and the New Zealand dressage team for a 1978 Australian tour.

In 1993, Richards and his partner moved to Reikorangi to run the Ngatiawa Warmblood Stud, which bred, trained and sold horses.  One of its horses was Uraeus, which was actor Viggo Mortensen's mount in second and third Lord of the Rings movies.

Condition: hardback.  Missing dust jacket. Otherwise in very good condition.  Unmarked.