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QUOTES BY DOROTHEE FALTEJSEK (page one)
on the philosophical aspects of training
"For true equestrian art there are no recipes and no tricks, regardless of what saddle we ride in. One has to learn that the greatest attention must be paid to the seemingly easiest things and that that is often the most difficult thing. One of the most important principles for a rider is always to put the horse first, in other words, to look out for his wellbeing in his stabling, care, and training. The moment the human starts working with the horse determines whether he will become a great athlete and artist who will be able to look back on a long, healthy life, or whether his path ends all too soon due to poor handling and incorrect work. With knowledge, time, discipline, and body control it is possible to bring the horse almost without training aids into a relaxed position by honest work. You don't have to reach the highest level, but you must always have the feeling that whatever you have accomplished was accomplished well and with honest work. Then you and your horse will always be content."
(Im Damensattel: Eine Reitlehre für die Frau, Olms Press - 1997;
translation: T. Ritter)
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"Always close the door to the high-tech world firmly behind you and walk through a corridor of relaxation and collection, before you enter the space that is occupied by creatures who are closer to nature than many people of this day and age."
(Im Damensattel: Eine Reitlehre für die Frau, Olms Press - 1997;
translation: T. Ritter)
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"A good riding teacher teaches not only how to handle a horse, as well as equestrian technique with the necessary corrections, but he will point out to his students over and over that the best teachers for gaining equestrian tact are only the horse. Listening to them, learning to understand their language is the most important and also the longest part in the training of the rider.
"However, the best teachers, human or equine, are powerless if the students do not possess a certain mental attitude, especially the necessary understanding to recognize and correct their own mistakes quickly, in other words to learn self monitoring, self criticism, and self control. Consistent, diligent practice and the acquisition of equestrian tact on the one hand, and perseverence on the other hand, are of the utmost importance. False ambition at the horse's expense, however, must never arise."
(Im Damensattel: Eine Reitlehre für die Frau, Olms Press - 1997;
translation: T. Ritter)
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"My horse will work with me willingly only:
If... I am good to him,
If... his stall, feed, and care meet his individual requirements,
If... I observe certain natural laws in his training,
If... I restrain myself and practice self discipline and body control,
If... I have respect for the horse and if I am able to be responsible for the animal,
If... I accomplish smaller, and over time, bigger, successes by consistent, systematic work in my own riding, and thus my horse's training,
And If... I recognize that successes in sport are always merely partial, as long as I follow the path leading to the perfect art of riding. Only if I fulfill all these prerequisites, will I be considered a good rider by those who know.
...If I have always worked honestly, my horse will carry me to the end of the world."
(Im Damensattel: Eine Reitlehre für die Frau, Olms Press - 1997;
translation: T. Ritter)
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Last Update: January 13, 2007