I've owned and enjoyed Jane Savoie's book, "Cross Train Your Horse", for years, and it's one of my favorites. (I also have a couple of others - all good.) This past weekend, I splurged and both sets of the "Train With Jane" DVDs, Volume 1 and Volume 2. Each set has four DVD lessons, about 20-30 minutes in each. I've almost finished the first set, and I really am enjoying them. Each set is $69 and includes about two hours more or less of instruction. I've had lessons in the material covered in set one many times, but I sure can use a refresher, and Jane is a very clear and expressive instructor. I feel like I got my money's worth.
Best of all, she isn't pushing any "frame" for the horse, as it should be for introductory level dressage horses. The riders have contact with the bit, but not heavy contact - and the horses most certainly are not over bent or behind the vertical. Many of the demonstrations are either at the walk, or are gait-neutral - for instance, the lessons on "forward" and "straight", and "making your horse supple" apply to all gaits, all disciplines, and all environments - in the ring or on the trail. One thing I really like about her instruction and these tapes is that she demonstrates (or has a student) the exercises both correctly, and incorrectly. Sometimes it's simply not easy to grasp all the subtle innuendos of an exercise unless you see it both correctly done and incorrectly. If you're interested, see the two "Train with Jane" sets at http://www.janesavoie.com/shop I haven't started on Volume 2 yet. Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
