The Balanced Horse: The Aids by Feel, Not Force

When I first bought this book, I couldn’t fully appreciate what the author had to say about the aids and developing “perfect understanding” with the horse. My riding has reached a new level recently and this has become an invaluable textbook for understanding how shifts in my position translate into movement for my horse.Each chapter ends with Classical Quotes from different schools of riding. They provide interesting views for consideration.At the end of the book suggested exercises are listed for each chapter.One thing I especially liked was how the author points out when aids or cues are the same in various riding disciplines.

I have been riding dressage for years but find that there is always more to learn. Sylvia Loch's book is that addition one wants to add to existing knowledge. I was so pleasantly surprised as I got into the ebook, how much information there was and described in a way that is easy to understand. The photos are also very helpful. More than anything it really made me aware how aids are never static always have to flow with the balance and situation at hand. Her description of various rein aids really added to my repertoire. Her frase of" if one door closes another door has to open" is very powerful. I can really recommend the book and as it had a content site in the ebook version, it is easy to go back and look up information. I very much recommend this book.

A well-written book packed with information! I've read it three times and it continues to reveal new information each time. The inclusion of the "Classical Quotes" at the end of each chapter validate these time-honored concepts. In addition, the photos are excellent. They appear to have been taken specifically to illustrate a point in the book. This is a big improvement over many books where the photos appear to be afterthoughts: pulled together from existing libraries and often are not the best illustration of the point the author is trying to convey.

I am new to classical riding, only about 1 1/2 years into it. This book is written for riders of any level to understand, although it's always best to have a (true classical) dressage teacher for 'eyes on' when you are riding or learning. I plan on using The Balanced Horse as my lesson textbook. There are a lot of photos of what the author is explaining in text, highlighted tips, and classical quotes from past and present masters. When I finish this book, I will start it again. The information is invaluable and can't be gone over enough. If there were 10 stars I would give it a 10! Thank you Sylvia Loch for this gift to horsemanship!

I bought this book while at an intensive dressage course. It was very helpful to read before and after each lesson. I thought it was very easy to read and understand.

I probably have over 100 horse books...and this is one of my very favorites! Between the very thorough descriptions and the great photos, it is one of the most helpful books I have encountered, as an "adult onset equestrian"! As a special note, the incredible setting within which most of these photos were taken make this visually appealing as well as functionally helpful. I keep this by my bedside and refer to it often!

The photographs are spectacular and the text is clear and easily understandable. I own several Sylvia Plath books and videos--all of which I've benefitted from as have my horses. Her training techniques are clear, honest and careful of both rider and horse.

A great book that really gets to the point about that the rider needs to do in order to make your horse more successful. Almost all problems with riding come from the rider and the lack of clear communication with the horse. In this book you are given a better view about what you need to do as you simply do not just sit there like non-equestrians believe. Many of the suggestions are simple but when put into practice make an enormous positive difference in your horse. I definitely recommend this book.

A very well written book, filled with clear instructions, down to the tiniest details. I recommend it to all who would like to take riding to a level where perfecting the partnership between horse and rider is the ultimate goal. While there would be plenty to quote from the book I would like to highlight the following which in my opinion gives the essence of this book and should be applied not only in the art of riding, but in life in general: "Once an insight is understood and confirmed through practice, they may then go on to use it with all their horses, remembering to apologize to the older ones for the fact it has taken so long."

I liked this book a lot. I have about 10 dressage books but this is in my equal top 2. I liked the way the author discussed the riding aides in a clear and distinct way. Same with rider and horse balance and posture. It is particularly helpful in clearly explaining the small details which end up making a huge difference as we go on to higher level riding.

If you are interested in learning more than the basics...to fine tune your riding you might be very interested in this book. Sylvia Loch has taught and ridden for many years. She has ridden at the Portuguese school I'd Equestrian Art; she is associated with the Spanish Riding School through Kurt Albrecht (former SRS director), Eva Podhajsky (wife of Alois Podhajsky), and trained with Arthur Lotta's (former First Chief Rider) Her training is classical. The photographs and quotes make the book even more interesting.

A very nice book. I enjoyed it.

This book is for anyone who wants to be the best rider they possible can be but I didn't find it an easy read and I had to adopt a method of studying where I read it through once and then read it through again made notes and then went back again read a section over and over again until I understood and then applied it to my riding. It is quite technical and could make you feel that achieving high standard of riding is beyond you but take it in small bites and apply it to your every day practical riding whether hacking or schooling and you will begin to see results.