We deliberately chose to place our association under the name of Xenophon who in 365 BC wrote down all his knowledge, his skills and his lifelong expertise in handling riding horses for his native town of Athens. His book On Horsemanship has survived for almost two and a half thousand years on account of its quality and is rightly regarded as the most important source of occidental horsemanship and classical riding. He advocates a horse-friendly, sympathetic and gentle manner in dealing with the horse and strongly opposes the erroneous ways of dressage training that were common even then. Xenophon’s Principles are still valid today and form the basis of the philosophy of our society.

"Classical Riding" is the term used to describe the execution of the equestrian sport following the principles of the Classical School developed by the old masters.

However demanding their requests, they still prioritise the health and welfare of the horse. The training takes the horse's varying development of the mental and physical ability to willingly cooperate into consideration, and hence also acts towards the aspired "harmony between the rider and the horse" - the maxim of Classical Riding.

The highly athletic and ethical demands on the trainer, as well as fairness and respect for the integrity of the horse, prohibit the use of any forceful measures as well as any manipulation that contradicts the horse's nature. For: "Where force sets in the path to art will end."

The objective of schooling is to enable the horse, by using systematically structured, progressive and gymnastic exercise, to effortlessly carry the weight of the rider in all paces whilst moving with controlled suppleness exuding a natural cadence. With increased collection the horse's balance becomes refined, it becomes lighter in the forehand, 'carries itself' and adopts "the charisma of an impressive character." (Xenophon, approx. 400 BC)

During all efforts to introduce the horse to the movements required in the dressage arena, the basic elements of its education such as suppleness, regularity of the paces, acceptance of the bit and elastic impulsion must never be impaired. In their meaning and value they rank high above any sort of mechanical perfection.

Harmonic transitions from highest concentration to complete relaxation - and vice versa - are proof of the horse's dedication and trust in the rider's sportsmanship. Only once this 'skill', as specified by the Classical School, is firmly established, can civilised riding become an 'art'.

Colonel Kurd Albrecht von Ziegner

Until just one lifetime ago – and for millennia before that - it was not possible to live in our part of the world without horses. Nowadays, however, horses are no longer required to support human life. Although the age of the horse has now passed, the bond of affection between man and horse is as young as when the story began many eras ago. It cannot grow old. Because the human being and horse have been created, the one for the other. And this fundamental truth still applies today despite the fact that horses have since become exclusively leisure partners.

Nevertheless, our love and passion for horses stem from that era when human beings could not exist without horses, and these powerful emotions still continue now in an age when we do not wish to sacrifice such ancient, infinitely valuable cultural treasure. It is a sad fact, however, that the knowledge which once ensued from the living and working relationship between human beings and horses is increasingly sinking into oblivion. This is why a bridge must now be constructed to link past and present, because it is a question of special values which do not enjoy the protection of any kind of preservation order.

Yet it is so very necessary to re-establish these ethical basic concepts of the past in our present day thoughts and behaviour. What used to be a natural matter of course must now be taught and learned consciously and specifically: qualities and abilities which are indeed as important in our dealings with people as in our dealings with horses.Horses require distance, throughout their entire history of service they have never been on a common level with the human being. Only a person who recognises horses as free, live partners and God's creatures will experience the horses as free, live partners and God's creatures will experience the rewards to be gained extend far beyond skills in the saddle: a proud servant – instead of a subjugated, obstreperous slave. And only such persons will experience what it really means to be a human being: to enjoy the full blessings of nature and yet not be closely attached,but rather its master.

This is why riding is – and remains – an education in humanity.