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Riding Practice: The Art, The Sport (Some Philosophical and Psychological Considerations) |
Paul Belasik is a graduate of Cornell University, is the author of numerous articles on horses, horsemanship and riding. These have appeared in publications around the world. His first book, Riding Towards the Light, published by JA Allen in 1990, chronicled his apprenticeship in the art of classical riding which included help from such late masters as Henri Van Schaik and Nuno Oliveira, and studies in Zen Buddhism and martial arts. It received international acclaim and is in its third printing. About his second book, Exploring Dressage Technique, JA Allen, 1994, Dressage Today said "for readers willing to make the serious intellectual commitment to reading this unique work, the payoff is great." |
Mr. Belasik lives in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA where he owns and operates a small busy training stable. At this historic property (circa 1720) called Moonlight Park, he founded the Pennsylvania Riding Academy, a self-sufficient riding school. He has helped riders at all levels as diverse as members of national and international equestrian teams, a North American Endurance Champion, and an American Handicapped Champion. He also takes in serious riders for intensive training sessions at his stable. He has ridden, trained ad competed horses at every level from novice to Grand Prix. Hap Davis, a chartered psychologist, Ph.D. from the University of Calgary, is married with two daughters. He has twenty-five years of clinical experience, fourteen in sport psychology with major work in equestrian, synchronized and speed swimming, gymnastics and ice hockey. For nearly ten years he has worked with Trish Mrakawa and Anne Reid at the Willow Grove Training Stable outside of Calgary. In one Olympic year he conducted a team-building clinic with the Canadian Jumper team. Additionally, he was with the Calgary Flames Hockey club and their minor league affiliate for twelve seasons. He has nearly eight years in synchronized swimming and gymnastics with national team, carded athletes and younger local competitors. He works with both carded and younger swimmers at the University of Calgary Swim Club. Individual consulting has spanned dressage, eventing, golf, track and field, skiing, tennis, figure skating and other sports. Dr. Davis is a Certified Consultant with the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology and is registered with the Canadian Mental Training Registry. He has published research in both sport and clinical psychology. This reserch has covered heart-rate studies, the prediction of success in ice hockey and the understanding of adaptive coping in the athlete. A manuscript in preparation looks at the psychological components required in a successful training stable. |