The Quest for Balance

In harmony and balance with the horse - this is every rider's dream. Physical and mental balance are the fundamental prerequisites for a sound partnership of animal and human on any equestrian level.There is, however, also the opposite: Why do we see so many beautiless images of animals in Rollkur and with unclean gaits? Voices criticizing today's equestrian sport and training methods geared toward quick successes are getting increasingly loud. Is this criticism justi¿ ed? How can we turn the tide in the horse's favor?Let us start with ourselves! Christoph Ackermann explains how we can bring any horse - healthily and happily - to its respective top performance by schooling the correct balance, handling the horse with äection, and applying consistent, systematic training according to the Training Scale.Christoph Ackermann himself actively competes in equestrian sports. In this book, he presents a courageous and searingly honest critique of the established way the sport operates, which will give any horse lover food for thought.

ContentsPrefaceA student's recollectionsIntroductionLet us take the matter of Ethical Horsemanship seriously!CHAPTER 1Balance and Performance Ability: The Balanced SeatOut of Balance - Trend riders and their role models Or: Relying on "tips and tricks" instead of listeningCHAPTER 2The mental Balance of the horseWhat does the term "Losgelassenheit" really mean?What are the external indicators of suppleness?Out of Balance - does the nomenclature still hold true?A horse must be able to tolerate a more pronounced aidCHAPTER 3The Horizontal EquilibriumHow do we bring the horse's spine into the horizontal?Which training route is most suitable for this purpose?CHAPTER 4The Vertical EquilibriumPoll, mouth, and longitudinal bendMaximum longitudinal bendBend and flexionPermeating impulsion and throughnessCHAPTER 5Out of Balance - all those pretty horses! Eyes wide open at the horse showJudge, rider, and trainer or: Do ut des (I give so that you may give)But they still do exist! Independent judgesFinal RemarkLet us stay focused on what mattersBibliography"Auszug aus: Christoph Ackermann. "The Quest for Balance." Apple Books.