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Paul Belasik first put pen to paper in the 1980s determined to
write an account of his personal journey to discover the
ultimate truths of riding dressage. During a span of almost
twenty years, he wrote this masterful trilogy filled with honest
appraisals of riding and training horses not only from the
practical, physical point of view, but also with a keen eye
toward the artistic, scientific, and philosophical components of
horsemanship as well.
Riding Towards the Light begins the chronicle of Paul
Belasik’s self-described apprenticeship. He traveled thousands
of miles of observe and learn from the latter-day masters, spent
countless hours practicing in the saddle, and researched
centuries-worth of equestrian literature seeking the wisdom of
great riding masters of the past, for example Dr. HLM van Schaik
and Nuno Oliveira. His wide-ranging studies even encompass the
concepts of Zen Buddahism and martial arts. However, he offers
more than unadulterated inspiration, the book is filled with
plenty of practical information on important issues such as use
of the seat, hands, legs, balance and the half-halt.
Exploring Dressage Technique follows as a sequel. Here Mr.
Belasik recounts his study of the biomechanics and philosophy of
riding and training dressage horses. Using state-of-the-art
findings, he debunks many commonly held dressage myths. Each
chapter offers a fascinating discussion on a different aspect of
riding and training, with many thought-provoking ideas for
today’s riders. Chapters include: A Fog of Walks; The Hovering
Trot; Lateral Work—In Search of the Mother Load; The Myths of
the Outside Rein; Riding as a Meditation; and numerous others.
The author points a way through some of the contradictory and
confusing tenets that exist in the world of riding and offers
refreshing new ideas and revives a few forgotten ones.
In
The Songs of Horses, the final book in the trilogy, Paul
Belasik uses two of the oldest teaching devices known to
man—allegory and story-telling—to communicate some of the
current theories and offers insight as to how people are taught
and learn. Through these fascinating stories, readers meet
unforgettable teachers, and it is Mr. Belasik’s hope that The
Songs of Horses represents the completion of a circle, the
last phase of decades of research: now the trained apprentice
must train the apprentices.
This inspiring body of work by a modern-day master of
horsemanship, Paul Belasik, will provide food for thought for
all students of the horse and the art of riding.
This trilogy, a compilation of Riding Towards the Light (1990),
Exploring Dressage Technique (1994), and The Songs of Horses
(1999), is a wonderful collection of author Paul Belasik’s work.
The trilogy gives readers a three-dimensional view of riding and
teaching, offering practical information of riding as well as
reflective thought…Take the time to read it slowly. Belasik’s
book is heavy, but not dry. And it’s not just for dressage
riders. It could only help to make anyone think about riding on
another plane.
-Michelle Gstattenbauer
The Chronicle of the Horse
Although [Cathy] Hughes liked all the books, this one was her
favorite. In the three books, Belasik discusses his life,
dressage theory, and how one has affected the other…Hughes feels
that everyone from beginner to advanced can enjoy and
benefit…Hughes is adamant, “I can’t say enough about the man.”
-Katherine Walcott
Eventing USA
Paul Belasik is a modern master and a rare horseman who can
relate his vast wealth of knowledge to his students as
flawlessly as he practices it with his own horses…Together the
books [Riding Towards the Light, Exploring Dressage Technique,
Songs of Horses] express the thought process of a true
equestrian artist, teaching a reader/rider to view horsemanship
as a dynamic process, a creative process, and a journey through
the self. It’s such a pleasurable read that one almost doesn’t
perceive the wealth of technical and historical information that
it provides on every page. This is a must-have for any classical
dressage rider’s library.
- A Reader
Amazon.com |
