New equestrians are handed the keys to a deeper level of communication and harmony with their horses in this great starter guide to dressage. With her lighthearted style, Jane Savoie takes the mystery out of training and shows how dressage techniques can be used to improve every horse's athleticism, performance, and well-being, regardless of the rider's chosen sport. Starting from the building blocks of dressage--forward, straight, rhythm, gait, and contact--this handbook delivers an excellent starting point for neophytes. Simple details for flatwork, explanations of the process of suppling, a sample schooling session, and chapters on troubleshooting pesky problems are all clearly presented for the rider with little or no dressage experience. Hundreds of photos, diagrams, and drawings are also included to enliven the text.