This book lives by my bed and I will soon have to buy another copy because there is no more room for marginal notes, comments, etc. If I could only recommend one book about riding this would be it. There is beautiful writing here about the goals, aims and principles of classical riding, but even more helpful to the rider are the detailed chapters on the basics. Ever wondered why those great classical riders make it all look so effortless, while everyone else is huffing and puffing and fighting with their horses? Everyone talks about how important basics are and how riders spend too little time mastering them before trying to do "the movements," but most dressage books spend perhaps a few pages on position and aids and then jump right into shoulder-in and it's off to the races. Herbermann puts his money where his mouth is and actually devotes an entire book to explaining all the tiny details that go into creating the basic foundation for classical, harmonious riding. Basics, basics, basics! Chapters on the seat and position, the aids, and the signs of correct and incorrect work. If you want to get away from "band-aid" riding --riding from correction to correction-- and find a guide into the realm of correct, harmonious, classical work, this book is the place to start. This is one of the most uncompromising -- and inspiring -- discussions of the principles of classical riding you will ever read.