All books are of use to the very advanced rider who has had great practice in riding, so that he can pick out the good advice, using it profitably, while knowing which parts to discard.
Above all, it is necessary to ride often, while not entirely allowing the books to gather dust on the shelves.
Nuno Oliveira, Reflections on Equestrian Art
I was raised with a love of books. To this day, I can’t resist adding to my library, even as the internet has exploded with vast amounts of knowledge. I frequently see people on social media asking for recommendations on books to add to their library. On this page I will list some of the books from my library that I think are worth owning. As I have time I will add write-ups of those books, to give more insight into their value.
If you have any favorite texts on horses that I have missed, please share them in the comments below. I might have missed adding it, or I might not have it yet. Always happy to add to my library!
My Favorites
- A Horseman’s Notes, Erik Herbermann
- Balancing Act: The Horse in Sport, an Irreconcilable Conflict?, Dr. Gerd Heuschmann
- Dressage in Harmony, Walter Zettl
- Horse Brain, Human Brain: The Neuroscience of Horsemanship, Janet L. Jones
- Principles of Dressage, Kurt Albrecht
- Riding Logic, W. Museler
- Ridden: Dressage from the Horse’s Point of View, Ulrike Thiel
- Sport Horse Conformation, Christian Schacht
- The Compassionate Equestrian, Allen Schoen and Susan Gordan
- The Rider Forms the Horse, Udo Burger and Otto Zietzschmann
- The Way to Perfect Horsemanship, Udo Burger
Other Notable Titles
- Academic Dressage, General Decarpentry
- Anatomy of Dressage, Heinrich and Volker Schusdziarra
- Advanced Techniques of Riding, German National Equestrian Federation (try to get an older version, 1990s or earlier)
- Dressage, Henry Wynmalen
- Dressage for the 21st Century, Paul Belasik
- Horsemanship, A Comprehensive Book on Training the Horse and Its Rider, Waldemar Seunig
- Practical Dressage Manual, Bengt Lungquist
- The Art of Classical Horsemanship, Egon von Neindorff
- The Complete Training of Horse and Rider, Alois Podhajsky
- The Gymnasium of the Horse, Gustav Steinbrecht
- The Principles of Riding, German National Equestrian Federation
- The Riding Teacher, Alois Podhajsky
- The Truth About Horses, Andrew McLean
- Tug of War: Classical Vs. Modern Dressage, Dr. Gerd Heuschmann
The Literate Equine 
Just found your blog while searching the internet for other’s thoughts on Gymnasium of the Horse which I am digging into. Definitely a study! Horse Brain Human Brain is fantastic as well; have read several of the books you listed.
I wanted to mention two books not listed that I love (and you probably know of them as well). 30 Years With Master Nuno Oliveira by Michel Henriquet. It is written through notes and letters with lots of photos. The trouble shooting by Oliveira on various training challenges is really interesting.
I have just finished The Dressage Seat: Achieving a Beautiful, Effective Position in Every Gait and Movement by Anja Beran. I tried to find a print copy in English but no luck, so I had to resort to the Kindle edition. I love her clear, to the point descriptions about the rider’s position, and how important our mental state and breathing are to the development of the seat. Most importantly, I especially appreciated her immense respect and love for the horses. A really great book!
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