COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS

Schooling Your Horse
by Vladimir Littauer
Princeton: D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., 1956.

nb: The NSL received Vladimir Littauer's extraordinary collection of 230 books in 2006. It includes books on equitation dating from the 16th to 20th centuries as well as those authored by Littauer himself.

Though written nearly a half-century ago, Vladimir Littauer's Schooling Your Horse describes a method of schooling a green horse to finished field hunter or show horse that still works. He writes: "This book is written for the average rider. It describes in words and pictures a practical, simplified system of schooling which the average rider can successfully accomplish with an average horse."

Littauer himself donated the NSL's first edition copy in 1956 (the Library was founded in 1954) making it one of the earliest books in the collection.

Born in Russia in 1892, he grew up in St. Petersburg and graduated as an officer from the Nicholas Cavalry School. His training was based on French dressage as taught by James Fillis, but he later turned away from such methods as being only for the best of horsemen. After studying Federico Caprilli's new system of the forward seat, the Russian officers were victorious in the 1912 and 1913 London Nation's Cup.

Littauer emigrated to the United States following the Russian Revolution and in 1927 met two other former officers in New York City. With his partners, they founded a riding school, Boots and Saddles. Within three years, he was recognized as one of the most important intructors and authors in the U.S. and was in great demand around the country. He taught at many schools, hunt clubs and colleges, including a long relationship with Virginia's Sweet Briar College.

Littauer presents a logical progressive training system for schooling the green horse over fences. He begins with flat work to establish "stabilized gaits." This teaches the horse steadiness while moving forward. Next, Littauer describes work over cavaletti, jumping grids, gymnastic exercises and more advanced work to produce a safe, steady mount for the field or show ring.

On your next visit to the Library, look for Schooling Your Horse in the lobby showcase along with a select number of Littauer's other books.