Rare 1932 Ltd Ed DERRYDALE Cavalry/Caprilli Forward Seat/Foxhunting Horse Book

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

RIDING REFLECTIONS, by Piero Santini, Captain, ItalianCavalry Reserve, foreword by Lida L. Fleitmann (Mrs. J. Van S. Bloodgood, ex. M.F.H.), illustrations by Vincent Fane Handly, published by The Derrydale Press, New York, 1932, this is one of 850 copies printed by Eugene V. Connett at the Derrydale Press, hardback, dust jacket appropriately preserved under a quality vintage plastic sleeve, 118 cream-colored, quality grade, heavier paper stock pages. This is a very well preserved copy of this rare and wonderful limited first edition of 850 copies. The plastic dust jacket protector is not perfect, as it appears to have b een carefully constructed of two halves that meet and overlap horizontally in the middle (which can be seen in the photos as odd reflections), but the dust jacket and the book underneath are in very nice condition. According to the inside flap of the dust jacket, “This book contains the first authentic written description of the forward seat as developed by Lieutenant Caprilli of the Italian Army. Thus far this world famous method of riding has been passed on, not only in the Italian Army, but to most other countries, by word of mouth. Although several English writers have described the system, they have had to rely on hearsay rather than first hand experience. Captain Santini’s book thus takes its place as one of the most important works on riding ever published in any country. The application of the Italian forward seat to hunting, steeplechasing, horse show and bridle path riding is discussed most interestingly. The author does not write from the point of view of a ‘trick” or exhibition rider, but rather with a view to developing and teaching a safe, sane and successful method of crossing the open country on horseback. This book is of great interest and value to experienced riders of all kinds as well as to beginners. It belongs in every sportsman’s library.” According to Lita Fleitmann’s foreword, “During the past decade we have almost been surfeited with books by horsemen of various nationalities, but the country which has contributed a world-wide revolutionizing principle of equitation has hitherto unfortunately remained silent. Like most Americans I was brought up to believe that from a horsey point of view everything Anglo-Saxon was the best. From England and Ireland came the finest horses, saddles, rooms, and above all, riders—while these countries were also the Mecca of all hunting people. Foreign officers competing at Olympia and Madison Square Garden won our reluctant-but patronizing,--admiration, and we felt convinced that they were mere “trick” riders on ”trick” horses. It was not until I had spent many winters in Europe that I realized that the Italians have little to learn in things equestrian; that the methods, moreover, which enabled them to take any kind of animal—thoroughbred, Sardinian pony or ex-dray horse—and make it jump phenomenal obstacles to perfection, were equally applicable to the hunting field, and that these same men and horses crossed a country as fast and as stiff as any in the British Isles or America. Captain Santini’s book gives us for the first time some of these principles in print. Seldom put into black and white even in Italian, they have never been accurately expressed in English. This book is therefore outstanding in what it has to contribute. The author is unusually well qualified for the work: in addition to his thorough command of the English language, which has rendered a translation, with all its attendant misconceptions—unnecessary, his cosmopolitan experience gives him a viewpoint of breadth and impartiality. He has approached the subject and written about it with much originality, and even to those of us who have read almost everything that has appeared in print about horses this book will stand out as refreshingly new both in its content and its treatment. In wishing it the success it deserves I cannot say more than that personally—as one who has had a wide and varied experience of hunting, showing and judging both hors... read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.