Guest Author - Susan Hopf
This is a trilogy of Paul Belasik’s books – "Riding Towards the Light", "Exploring Dressage Technique", and "The Songs of Horses". After devouring each of the three on their own I could not have been more pleased that they were brought together in this compilation.
Each book does stand on its own merit but together they are a treasure and a must have for anyone that loves horses, Classical Riding and for those, like Mr. Belasik and myself, that are in earnest pursuit of a clearer understanding of our four-legged companions and how to better serve their needs in our (human) world.
Beautifully written in a witty yet humble approach the journey is a philosophically personal path – a path full of angst and enlightenment and the struggle between. Mr. Belasik explores the many questions compassionate equine riders and stewards often ask of themselves. Mr. Belasik’s insight is quite thought provoking and since the horses cannot answer for themselves it is necessary for those that can to do so – in this regard Paul Belasik is one of very few who does so with such care and understanding.
In "Riding Towards the Light" the art of riding is compared to the mysteries of Zen and the intricacies of martial arts. Those that study and strive for balanced thinking as well as the pursuit of art understand you cannot separate the mind from the body. Bringing this into the riding arena Mr. Belasik states, “The most eloquent dressage masters have a common thread: their complete disdain for force. It is as if out of the roots of violence, subjugation and war, these few people seek harmony with nature. They try to create something ephemeral. It is art they can never finish. It is art that can’t stand still. It is art that is alive. Art that must be watered and fed. In the last analysis it is really the art of living.”
Despite the lofty nature of the above quote the following chapters (of this first book in the series of three) explores, in great depth, the varying influences riders have upon their mounts. The hands, seat, back, legs and yes even the breathing of those that sit upon a horse are discussed and the historical styles and uses of all are explained. In his own words this book travels thousands of miles and serves as our personal glimpse into Mr. Belasik’s apprenticeship into classical riding.
"Exploring Dressage Technique" explores the gaits, lateral positions, collection and all the subtleties therein. Chapters such as "A Fog of Walks", "Rockin’ and Rollin’ in the Passage" and "Confucius and the Canter Pirouette" explains with humility and wit all that is well done and all that is done badly in the pursuit of Classical Riding.
"The Songs of Horses" recounts, through seven stories, Mr. Belasik’s desire to help others who want to teach, train and ride in order to best serve the horse and the art of riding. These are told with great aplomb and will take you worlds away. There are great lessons to be learned within each story but you will need to read them more than once for the first time through you will read them too fast – too intrigued to see how each ends to take in all that they have to give.
