Lessons With Margot: Notes on Dressage

by Karen McGoldrick

Author Karen McGoldrick found her first job at age twelve by answering an ad in her local newspaper. Now, forty-eight years later, with over thirty of those years dedicated to dressage, Karen has collected a wealth of knowledge and "in-the-saddle” practice in riding and training horses. Having been a voracious reader of fiction all her life, Karen understood the power of fiction to tell truths in a way that was just not available in most non-fiction riding books.

In hopes of filling that niche, she wrote a four-book series called The Dressage Chronicles. In her novels, the character of Margot came to represent all of the best Karen had experienced in her trainers and mentors. To the character of Margot she gave words of wisdom that had been given to her. When the wisdom delivered just wasn't right for the character of Margot, she invented other characters that were better suited to the lesson.

But storytelling limits how much of the actual training theory can be imparted. The plot carries the reader forward and demands movement rather than too much time spent on formal theory, and so the idea for this final book was born. And while this slim work is not intended to be a complete guide to training and riding dressage, it offers up a more cohesive presentation of the theory and practice, gleaned from the best of Karen's "Margots." Karen continues to write in a way that is both educational and light in tone, yet dead-on realistic. While the book can be read without having first read the series of novels, readers who enjoyed the novels will relish taking one more trip down centerline with Karen.

Genres: Horses

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2017

Reviews

[Belinda-Jane Thurman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a comprehensive and wonderful read. As a horse trainer myself and a dressage rider, I appreciated all the notes. It is very interesting to see the list of reading material for American citizens wanting to improve their knowledge and ability in this diverse Equine discipline.
Having lived in Africa and the UK and now in Australia WA, the reading material is all very much the same worldwide. Thank you so much, Karen McGoldrick, for your wonderful series (which I could not put down!) and now this. I will be using some of this content to pass on to my pupils as you have touched on some very important issues I see daily.
I no longer school young horses under saddle due to age but I still love the "groundwork"! It is so wonderful when your horse gives you willingly what you give them. Lessons never stop being learned I always say.

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful for any rider!

Dressage enthusiasts will benefit from in-depth study of this wonderful book; every horse lover should read at least the first and last chapters. So much truth and wisdom is distilled here, in plain and simple language, that I want to read it over and over. I only wish I had another 60 years of riding time to learn dressage thoroughly. I know my horses could excel, if I was able to ride them properly.

[Dana Probert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A stream of consciousness-type memoir / dressage tips book by the author of the Dressage Chronicles. Lots of good tidbits, recommended reading and ideas. Someone who is further along than I am would probably find it more engrossing.

[Lynn Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb lessons

I do n,t believe another writer could have taught or explained this subject more clearly. Thank you for all you have to me.