Author: Warren C Matha

Publisher:

Published: 2020-06

Total Pages: 406

ISBN-13: 9781948717236

Filled with equestrian insights, Harry Chamberlin's biography is the story of a preeminent equestrian theorist and teacher, an adoring father and husband, a brilliant military officer and a genius in the saddle.His career spanned 34 years of accomplishment. He trained the 1st Cavalry Division to become "the best trained division in the Army" and one of its most decorated combat divisions during World War II. He earns the highest respect of generals and sergeants. At the Olympics of 1932, the US Cavalry's greatest horseman, Major Harry Chamberlin faces a problem: His prized jumper goes lame. Rather than scratch, Chamberlin mounts a gray mare on which he has never competed before, rides into the stadium as 105,000 spectators look on and surmounts the most difficult jumping course in Olympic history. His performance astounds to this day. A horseman of uncanny abilities, Chamberlin devised a unique combination of techniques to ride and train. His system enables novice riders to begin on a solid foundation and seasoned Olympians to further hone their skills. He combined French, Italian, German, and American methods to fashion a revolutionary new riding "seat" which remains standard for many equestrians today. "Beyond his horsemanship, in an era that produced the greatest crop of outstanding soldiers in America's history, Harry Chamberlin was a soldier's soldier?He represents the model military professional?" - Historian Lt. Col. Louis DiMarco, Ph.D.Years earlier, the Commandant of the famous Italian Cavalry School at Tor di Quinto, says of Chamberlin: "the pupil has surpassed his master." Years later, George H. Morris calls Chamberlin the "founding father of equestrian sport in the United States."James Wofford ranks him "second only to Caprilli in international influence" and writes: "Chamberlin is to horsemanship as Mozart is to music."