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| Preface | |
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| Acknowledgments | |
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| What Is Dressage? | |
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| Dressage Defined | |
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| A Training Method | |
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| A Riding Foundation | |
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| A Competitive Sport | |
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| An Equestrian Art | |
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| A Personal Journey | |
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| A Common-Sense Science | |
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| A Brief History of Dressage | |
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| Ancient Origins | |
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| Combined Training | |
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| Cavalry Competition | |
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| American Dressage | |
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| How Dressage Competitions Are Governed | |
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| The U.S. Dressage Federation | |
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| Types of Dressage Shows | |
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| Recognized Shows | |
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| Schooling Shows | |
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| Ride-a-Tests | |
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| Eventing or Combined Training Competitions | |
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| The National Governing Body | |
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| The Federation Equestre Internationale | |
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| The Discipline of Dressage | |
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| An Overview of the Rider's Aids | |
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| Your Hands | |
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| Contact | |
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| Control | |
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| The Rein Effects | |
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| The Opening or Leading Rein | |
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| The Neck Rein | |
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| The Reins of Opposition | |
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| The Leg Aids | |
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| The Seat | |
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| The Classical Seat | |
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| Three Points of the Seat | |
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| Developing an Independent Seat | |
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| The Forward Seat | |
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| Cross Training | |
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| The Back and Abdominal Muscles | |
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| The Whip | |
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| Spurs | |
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| Your Voice | |
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| Dressage Training Principles | |
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| Training Objectives | |
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| The Training Pyramid | |
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| Overview of the Gaits | |
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| The Walk | |
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| Collected, Medium, and Extended Walk | |
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| Free Walk | |
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| The Trot | |
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| Rising Trot | |
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| Sitting Trot | |
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| Working versus Collected Trot | |
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| Extended Trot | |
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| Passage and Piaffe | |
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| The Canter | |
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| The Aids for the Canter | |
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| Change of Lead | |
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| Flying and Tempi Changes | |
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| Counter-Canter | |
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| Overview of the Levels | |
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| Introductory Level | |
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| Training Level | |
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| First Level | |
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| Second Level | |
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| Third Level | |
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| Fourth Level | |
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| The FEI Levels of International Competition | |
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| Additional Movements and Figures | |
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| The Dressage Arena | |
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| Voltes and Circles | |
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| Figure Eights and Serpentines | |
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| The Halt | |
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| The Half-Halt | |
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| The Rein-Back | |
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| The Lateral Movements Defined | |
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| Your Dressage Education | |
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| The Importance of Dressage Instruction | |
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| Reasons for Taking Dressage Lessons | |
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| Signs That You Need an Instructor's Help | |
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| Arranging Dressage Lessons | |
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| What to Expect in the Beginning | |
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| How Long Will You Need Lessons? | |
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| How Long Will You Spend at Each Level? | |
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| Finding a Dressage Instructor | |
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| Starting with Instructor Certification | |
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| Extending Your Search | |
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| Arranging Lessons for Children | |
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| Arranging Lessons for Your Horse | |
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| Discerning Teaching Styles | |
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| Appraising a Training Facility | |
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| Preparing for Your Lessons | |
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| Donning Safety Gear | |
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| Helmet | |
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| Boots | |
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| Riding Pants | |
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| Shirt | |
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| Gloves | |
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| Coat and Vest | |
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| Being Fit for Riding | |
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| Becoming a Thinking Rider | |
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| The Mind Game | |
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| Dispelling Some Riding Myths | |
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| The Thinking Rider versus a Joy Rider | |
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| The Thinking Rider Understands the Horse's Senses | |
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| Eyesight | |
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| Hearing | |
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| Smell | |
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| Touch | |
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| The Thinking Rider Is a Safer Rider | |
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| The Thinking Rider As Trainer | |
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| Facing the Fear Factor | |
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| Thinking through Problems | |
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| The Learning Process | |
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| Self-Education | |
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| The Thinking Rider as Communicator | |
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| Communicating Leadership | |
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| Communicating Trust | |
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| Choosing a Suitable Dressage Horse | |
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| What about Breed? | |
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| Why It's Best to Learn from a Schoolmaster | |
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| Searching for a Horse | |
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| Knowing What to Look for in a Dressage Horse | |
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| Assessing Gaits and Movement | |
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| Tracking Up | |
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| Straightness | |
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| The Prepurchase Exam | |
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| Evaluating Conformation | |
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| Evaluating Temperament | |
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| Caring for Your Dressage Horse | |
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| What You Need to Know | |
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| Boarding Your Dressage Horse | |
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| Benefits of Boarding | |
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| Selecting a Boarding Facility | |
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| The Riding Arena | |
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| Looking at an Arena's Features | |
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| Evaluating a Riding Arena's Footing | |
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| Safety First | |
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| Practical Considerations | |
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| Secure and Safe Containment | |
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| Fencing | |
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| Stalls | |
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| Manure Management | |
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| Protecting You and Your Horse with Equine Insurance | |
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| Keeping Your Horse Healthy | |
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| Selecting a Veterinarian | |
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| Keeping Up with a Vaccination Program | |
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| Understanding Equine Diseases | |
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| Equine Encephalomyelitis | |
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| Equine Infectious Anemia | |
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| Equine Influenza | |
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| Rhinopneumonitis | |
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| Tetanus | |
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| Rabies | |
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| Potomac Horse Fever | |
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| Strangles | |
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| West Nile Virus | |
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| Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis | |
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| Disorders of Dietary Origin | |
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| Colic | |
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| Laminitis (Founder) | |
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| Ulcers | |
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| Avoiding Internal Parasites | |
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| Common Types of Internal Parasites | |
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| Parasite Control | |
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| Keeping Up with Hoof Care | |
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| Selecting a Farrier | |
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| Routine Hoof Care | |
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| Common Foot Problems | |
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| Dental Care | |
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| Feeding Your Dressage Horse | |
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| Forage and Commercial Feeds | |
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| Supplements | |
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| Buying Tack and Riding Apparel | |
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| Dressing for Dressage | |
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| Saddles | |
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| Saddle Fit | |
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| Saddle Pads | |
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| Girths | |
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| Stirrups and Stirrup Leathers | |
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| Bridles and Bits | |
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| The Snaffle Bridle | |
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| The Double Bridle | |
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| Riding Apparel | |
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| Show-Ring Attire | |
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| Dress Boots | |
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| Riding Pants | |
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| Gloves | |
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| Caring for Your Tack and Riding Apparel | |
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| Preparing for Your First Competition | |
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| To Show or Not to Show | |
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| Choosing a Show | |
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| Ride-a-Tests | |
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| Schooling Shows | |
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| Recognized or Rated Shows | |
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| Selecting Your Tests | |
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| Participation Requirements | |
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| Entering a Show | |
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| Who Does What at a Show | |
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| Volunteers | |
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| Scribes | |
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| Runners and Scorers | |
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| Gatekeepers | |
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| Ring Stewards and Show Managers | |
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| Technical Delegates | |
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| Judges | |
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| Grooming Your Horse for a Show | |
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| Clipping | |
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| Giving Your Horse a Bath | |
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| Pulling and Braiding Manes | |
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| Tails | |
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| Cleaning Tack | |
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| Packing for a Show | |
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| The Night Before | |
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| Riding a Dressage Test | |
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| Preparing for the Test at Home | |
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| Memorizing the Test | |
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| Visualization | |
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| Riding the Halt | |
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| The Salute | |
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| Understanding a Dressage Test | |
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| How a Dressage Test Is Scored | |
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| Elimination | |
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| Scratches | |
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| Warming Up at a Show | |
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| When It's Time to Ride Your Test | |
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| Enter at A | |
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| Ride Flawless Figures | |
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| Stay Calm, Even If Things Go Wrong | |
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| The Final Halt and Salute | |
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| Check Your Score | |
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| Moving Up and Learning More | |
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| Moving up the Levels | |
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| Training Level | |
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| First Level | |
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| Second Level | |
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| Third Level | |
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| Fourth Level | |
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| Riding to Music | |
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| The Quadrille | |
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| The Learner-Judge Program | |
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| When Sport Becomes Art | |
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| Glossary of Common Horse Terms | |
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| References | |
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| Books | |
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| Horse Magazines | |
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| National Dressage Organizations | |
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| Local Dressage Organizations | |
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| Other Equine Organizations | |
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| Breed Associations and Registries | |
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| Horse Equipment Catalogs | |
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| Index | |