A General System of Horsemanship by William Cavendish
|
 |
The perfect gift for horse-lover, art lover or bibliophile!
This classic work is not only one of the most beautiful books on horses ever published, but also a landmark in the development of equestrian technique.
William Cavendish's emphasis on systematic and humane training was revolutionary for its era, and his teaching has exerted a lasting and far-reaching influence on the art of riding.
A General System of Horsemanship was first published in a French edition in 1658, illustrated with 42 superb engravings, all of which accompany this edition. William Cavendish, the Earl, Marquis, and Duke of Newcastle, was one of the most accomplished men of his era.
(hardcover, photos, illustrations, 255 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
How to make him obey the Bridle
When you have made a horse's shoulders supple by the first division of lessons, and taught him by the second to obey the heel, this third division is intended to make him know the bridle, which is to be done in the following manner.
Let the rider put the rein of the caveson, fixed my way, which he holds in his right hand under the burr of the saddle, that is under his thigh, and fasten it well to the pommel; and so short, as to bend the horse's shoulders to such a degree, as to force his hind-leg within the volte out, but not so much as to force out the outward leg too; for that is a solecism in horsemanship, as you will see hereafter. When the horse's head is thus fastened to the pommel of the saddle, the caveson gives him the proper ply, and the rider should work him with the bridle upon a large circle. When he goes to the right, you must place your hand without the volte a little towards the left shoulder, helping him at the same time with the leg within, which is leg and rein of a side, and that always works both the shoulder, and not his croupe.
This lesson is the same as the first, excepting only, that in this you work more with the bridle. |
|
|
|
A Horseman's Notes by Erik Herbermann
|
 |
Inspiration for the rider, balm for the horse!
In his uniquely philosophical, poetic style, the author presents the inner workings of classical riding, based on notes he made while answering the daily, practical needs of his pupils during many years of teaching. Readers are therefore sure to find the contents of this volume to be highly relevant to their own experiences and challenges — providing solutions which are refreshingly easy to read and understand, and above all genuinely helpful when applied.
Not only does A Horseman's Notes guide us toward better riding — again and again the reader's sensibilities are directed to things of higher value, bringing a spirit of renewed reverence for the horse, and fresh life into commonplace technique — but also, the concepts go to the core of the matter, enabling us to see more clearly our interaction with the horse as a delightful catalyst, through which we are able to experience our own humanity more fully.
(hardcover, photos and illustrations, 113 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
What could possibly be more sublime — intoxicating, really — than experiencing those exquisite moments of harmony with the horse, when we feel effortlessly buoyed-up o the full, elastic waves of his carrying back, and sense the awesome power, the delightful eagerness of this sensitive creature beneath us.
Here a little, there a little, serendipitously at first, glimpses of such fine experiences begin to occur to us, usually changing forever our view of what a true partnership with the horse could be like. In fact, the momentousness of those apparently small happenings seems to leave us with an irrational, bone-dry thirst form experiencing those extraordinary moments again. It is as though some irresistible force were compelling us inexorably to search for that elusive sanctuary of oneness — beckoning like the serene beauty of an emerald lake hidden somewhere deep within the mountains of our being.
In truth, the emerald lakes represent s a state of being whole, a merging with the deepest essence of the horse. When we are there, however briefly, we are it, and it is us. Likewise, when we are not there, that too, at that particular tie, is us. |
|
|
|
Believe: A Horseman's Journey by Buck Brannaman
|
 |
Continuing the noted horseman's quest to help and heal. In his best-selling The Faraway Horses, Buck Brannaman, extraordinary trainer and acknowledged inspiration for The Horse Whisperer, described how he found his calling and honed his art and craft. In the year since the book's publication and following its widespread acclaim, the universal application of Brannaman's approach to interpersonal relationships has struck a responsive chord in the equestrian community and with the public at large.
Believe continues to chronicle the man's efforts as a catalyst and a mentor as we meet thirteen people with whom he has worked. Through their own words and through Brannaman's perceptive introductions to each essay, we experience first-hand the hope and confidence that he has instilled in these individuals and in their horses. Among them are:
• Sherry, who learned to replace fear of the unknown with knowledge of reality;
• Theresa, who, through teaching her horse to accept the saddle and bridle, acquired patience and a sense of timing;
• Sissy, who credits her ability to cope with a life-threatening illness to Brannaman's inspiring words and deeds;
• Nicole, who developed confidence and a sense of teamwork while her horse learned not to fear independence;
• Diane, who discovered the value of releasing life's past traumas;
• Shane, who saw horses forge a bond between himself and the son he thought he had lost forever.
Hardcover, 178 pages |
|
|
|
Believe: A Horseman's Journey by Buck Brannaman
|
 |
Continuing the noted horseman's quest to help and heal. In his best-selling The Faraway Horses, Buck Brannaman, extraordinary trainer and acknowledged inspiration for The Horse Whisperer, described how he found his calling and honed his art and craft. In the year since the book's publication and following its widespread acclaim, the universal application of Brannaman's approach to interpersonal relationships has struck a responsive chord in the equestrian community and with the public at large.
Believe continues to chronicle the man's efforts as a catalyst and a mentor as we meet thirteen people with whom he has worked. Through their own words and through Brannaman's perceptive introductions to each essay, we experience first-hand the hope and confidence that he has instilled in these individuals and in their horses. Among them are:
• Sherry, who learned to replace fear of the unknown with knowledge of reality;
• Theresa, who, through teaching her horse to accept the saddle and bridle, acquired patience and a sense of timing;
• Sissy, who credits her ability to cope with a life-threatening illness to Brannaman's inspiring words and deeds;
• Nicole, who developed confidence and a sense of teamwork while her horse learned not to fear independence;
• Diane, who discovered the value of releasing life's past traumas;
• Shane, who saw horses forge a bond between himself and the son he thought he had lost forever.
Softcover, 178 pages |
|
|
|
Cowboy Logic by Ray Hunt
|
 |
This is a must have book for those who have love and respect for the horse, and the man behind the legend.
If you have ever stepped into the corral, or spent time corral side with the legendary Ray Hunt, the contents of this 6 by 6 book, Ray Hunt - Cowboy Logic is going to be as familiar to you as the legend himself. Ray has been saying the same thing to different people in clinics around the world for the last 40 years. Ray's quotations have been compiled along with photos of Ray at the Gang Ranch clinic in Canada during July 2003 (photos by WT Bruce). |
|
|
|
Discovering Natural Horsemanship by Tom Moates
|
 |
Discovering Natural Horsemanship— A Beginner's Odyssey chronicles one man's obsession to get better with horses in a gentle way. Author Tom Moates' life and work were on a horseless path until serendipity brought Niji, a sorrel gelding, into his life. Nothing has been the same since.
In his candid and plain-speaking style, Moates shares the honest highs and lows that come with the territory of starting out in the Better Way with horses. Along the road, many well known clinicians - including Harry Whitney, Bryan Neubert, Linda Parelli, John Lyons, and Ray Hunt - generously tolerate his thirst for helpful information on getting better with horses, and Moates works hard to share their wise words in this book, alongside his personal experiences attempting to implement them.
Sometimes humorous, often inspiring, and always resonating with authenticity, Discovering Natural Horsemanship is an awesome read for anyone who loves a great true story, whether horses have knocked you from the regular orbit of your life, or not . . . yet.
Excerpt from the book:
"The sun on their fuzzy winter coats warmed them that morning to complete tranquility. All three stood, each with a rear leg cocked, in a sun coma when I got up there around eleven. Saddling up Soke went with ease, and I rode her down the farm road and over to the house just fine. Soke and I had been going for rides away from the other two for several weeks now in preparation. Even the still-nursing colt was fine when the mare was absent for an hour at a time, perhaps a testament to Niji¡'s babysitting skills. "Just as the house came into sight, we saw Terrie's green F-250 pick-up and gray two-horse trailer driving down another farm road toward the house from the other side. Sokeri changed. I "felt" the change. The sensation was not just in her body - which did stiffen, her head raised with ears focusing on the trailer - but was also in the energy field around her, which included me. She became electric, like the air just before a storm." |
|
|
|
Dressage by Henry Wynmalen
|
 |
A Study of the Finer Points of Riding
This book takes the reader from the correct elementary training to the heights of classical equitation. This is a great book based on sound principles proved by practical experience. It describes in graphic detail what you should really understand before even thinking about mounting a horse, plus tips and guidelines on what you should know when you do mount a horse.
Wynmalen's irreplaceable contribution is in the respect he shows the horse and thus leading to understanding. His focus is on better communication and performance, not show success (although he had that too). He is a gentle, understanding, master at work. This book should be read by every horseman and is a must-read for everyone who professes to be a student or instructor in the Art of Dressage.
(softcover, photos, illustrations, 281 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
It is often thought that dressage - or the high-school rider - employs some complicated and mysterious system of his own, which no ordinary horseman could hope to understand and which would be useless for ordinary riding purposes at any rate.
That, of course, is not so.
The principles involved are extremely simple in themselves and apply just as much to the most elementary as to the most difficult work; there is not, basically, any difference of method between handling a new born foal and riding a Grand Prix Horse; it is merely a matter of degree. It is only the correct application of simple principles that becomes more complicated as the difficulty of the work increase.
Every horse must start from the bottom; so much is obvious to everyone. It is a great pity that so few horsemen appreciate that no one will ever go really far in the Art of Riding unless he has acquired an understanding of the basic elements involved. This can only be done by taking one's horses through all stages of breaking, making and schooling oneself. |
|
|
|
Ecole De Cavalerie by François Robichon de La Guérinière
|
 |
La Gurinire\'s book, Ecole de Cavalerie was published first in 1731 and again under differnt titles between 1733 and 1802. It consists of three parts; Knowledge of the Horse In and Out of the Stable, Training, and Treatment of Illness. This volume comprises only the pertinenet chapters of the second part, entitled \"The method of training horses according to the different ways in which they will be used.\"
(softcover, illustrations, 125 pgs.) |
|
|
|
Hackamore Reinsman by Ed Connell
|
 |
The secrets of the California hackamore men are made public in this book. The knowledge of this almost vanished art is made available to every horseman! Heretofore jealously guarded as a trade secret of a handful of skilled descendants of the old California vaqueros. Ed Connell, one of the most skilled of hackamore experts, hands the horse world its rarest gift in history. The complete hackamore training method has been set down in writing.
Hackamore Reinsmanis a valuable reference manual for the professional horse trainer as well as the amateur. Complete coverage of handling the reins ... both snaffle bit and hackamore methods; the turn on the hind feet; the set and turn; the sliding stop; starting the colt on cattle; the spin; foot position; riding a balance; correcting bad habits; keeping the horse light; and every other phase of making the finished, flashy-reined cow horse.
Profusely illustrated with more than fifty accurate line drawings by Randy Steffen.
This is a book no horseman can afford to be without!
(softcover, illustrations, 105 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
The fine points of handling the hackamore have been handed down from generation to generation by the early Spanish Californians, who took great pride in their horses. They maintained the art in the business of breaking horses on the American continent. It is fast dying out except in a few places that still keep up the old traditions and system of handling horses.
Today's old timers who learned the business from the early Californians are about all one, or are too feeble to ride anymore, and young people coming up who are working with horses have not had the opportunity to learn first hand from the people who have the knowledge.
If horses were in use today as they were a few years ago, there would be many good horses and many good horsemen, but now the topnotch horsemen are few and far between.
In recent yeas, due to the influx of people from other states, the methods of handling hoses have been changed all over the country. Where a few years ago the hackamore and snaffle bit were used in different states and localities, the grazer bit and new devices have replaced them, and vice versa.
Considering all the fast methods and new equipment used at the present time and comparing the new with the old, the best all-around horses for rein and cow work are still being made with the old time methods. Although it requires extra time and patience on the part of both riders and management the results are worth it.
The secret of making this kind of a finished stock horse lies in the way the reins are handled. |
|
|
|
If I Were To Train A Horse Jack Brainard
|
 |
Legendary trainer, breeder, and teacher Jack Brainard is a master storyteller. He will open your mind to the challenges, enjoyments, and fulfillment of training young horses. I know of no horse trainer who is a greater student of horsemanship than Jack. He has continued to improve his own skills and knowledge through his associations with master horseman like Tom Dorance and Ray Hunt, and by his intensive reading of classical horsemanship. This coupled with 50 years of training horses and producing some of the world¡¯s greatest reining horses has given him the vast wisdom that he shares here with you. You will be amazed at how he takes complex training procedures and simplifies them through his understanding of the horse¡¯s mind and movements.
This book reads like Jack is having a conversation with you. Without realizing it you will be getting lessons in equine history, anatomy, psychology and a touch of philosophy but most importantly, he conveys to you in easy to understand language how to develop the following attitudes and/or maneuvers in your horse:
Impulsion, Collection, Circles
Relaxation, Forequarter Control, Lead Changes
Willingness, Hindquarter Control, Stops
Bit Acceptance, Straightness, Spins
You will also appreciate the original drawings of noted western artist, Justin Wells and Jack¡¯s reflections on living his life as a horse trainer. Jack has been a friend, mentor, and inspiration to me. I am so glad that he wrote this much needed book and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
Larry Kasten
Professor and Equine Program Director
University of Wisconsin ¡© River Falls |
|
|
|
In Service to the Horse by Susan Nusser
|
 |
Behind every winning horse is a groom, the person responsible for every nuance of the horse's care, health, and spirit. In Service to the Horse explores a year in the life of three grooms, all working with champion Thoroughbreds.
The profession is largely dominated by highly trained, expert horse people who work not for glory but for their love of horses. Author Nusser, herself a former groom, tells three stories : of a stud groom in the most storied stable of Kentucky racehorse, home to the most sigh-strung and dangerous stallions in the world; of a show jumping groom struggling to square her desire to compete with the exacting demands of the rider she works for; and, at the books heart, of Samantha Burton, a groom at the stables of an Olympic gold medalist in the controversial and rarefied sport of Three-Day
Eventing.
In gripping detail, Nusser describes these horses, their owners and riders, and the multi-billion-dollar industry of equestrian sport. Through the major competitions that define their year, Nusser interweaves stable lore, horse mythology, animal behavior, and meditations on the precise nature of the intense bond between young women and horses. A breathtaking, awe-inspiring story of a life of serve to one of nature's most majestic creatures, In Service to the Horse is an insider's look at a life of passion and devotion, pride and determination.
hardcover, 273 pages.
Excerpt from the book:
AT seven a.m., the barns of Stonehall Farm, in The Plains, Virginia, are shrouded in a cold, discouraging November mist. Samantha Burton and her fellow grooms arrive and scatter among the stalls. They feed their horses hay and grain, and change their stable rugs for the rugs they wear outside. After the horses eat, they cheerfully follow their grooms out to their individual paddocks in front of the barn. Sam is the head groom from David O'Connor, Olympic gold medalist in the Three-Day Event. Stonehall is where he and his wife, fellow medalist Karen O'Connor, train their horses.
If Samantha had been born a horse, she would have been a plain bay. She is medium height, with brown eyes and brown hair that she wears in a sensible ponytail. Her broad forehead is surprisingly smooth for someone who focuses so intensely on her work. At twenty-five, she is strong limbed and athletic, the human counterpart to the hardworking Irish Thoroughbreds she grooms. She is quick to smile and quick to laugh. Economical in her speech, she frequently brings conversations to an abrupt end by nodding and saying, "Exactly." |
|
|
|
Kinship with All Life by J. Allen Boone
|
 |
Is there a universal language of love, a "kinship with all life" that can open new horizons of experience?
Example after example in this unique classic - from "Strongheart" the actor-dog to "Freddie" the fly - resounds with entertaining and inspiring proof that communication with animals is a wonderful, indisputable fact. All that is required is an attitude of openness, friendliness, humility, and a sense of humor to part the curtain and form bonds of real friendship.
For anyone who loves animals, for those who have ever experienced the special devotion only a pet can bring, this book is an unqualified delight. Sample these pages and you'll never encounter "just a dog" again, but rather a fellow member of nature's own family.
(softcover, 157 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
Whenever I think of the great lessons that animals have taught me, I feel special gratitude to a wise little philosopher who for some time was my clandestine companion and tutor. Our friendship was clandestine because this particular fellow adventurer happened to be a skunk. Not a "home-broken" specimen but one who lived a bold and independent life of his own with great skill and success considering the general disapproval of him.
His name was Zephyr. Somewhere in the hills near by he had an undiscovered hideaway where he could safely spend his days without being shot at. Nearly everyone in the neighborhood hated him for his nocturnal visits and feared him for the things he did to the surrounding atmosphere when they violated what he regarded as his rights as an American citizen.
Zephyr specialized in prowling around in back yards, cellars and garages in quest of food and adventure. This naturally brought him into frequent conflict with the neighbors. They often mistook him for a big cat in the darkness and used indiscreet methods in trying to evict him, thereby reaping dire results. They used almost every known method to end his career, but none of them had ever been successful. He was too smart for them with his defense and offence techniques. |
|
|
|
Mindful Horsemanship
|
 |
Increasing Your Awareness One Day at a Time
by Cheryl Kimball
Mindfulness doesn't seem to be innate for humans. It is our unique ability to self-analyze and project into the future that interferes with our ability to be totally in the present. It may be a lifelong process, but if we can start with being mindful while we are riding and working with horses, we may get a head start on being mindful in the rest of our lives and we certainly will find working with our horses greatly affected.
Mindful Horsemanship is a perpetual calendar of thought-provoking quotes that Cheryl has collected over the years in her quest for better horsemanship. Quotes are drawn from various sources ranging from practicing horsemen and horsewomen, to
psychiatrists such as Viktor Frankl, sports figures like Tiger Woods, characters in novels and even jokes and word puzzles.
Cheryl accompanies each quote with thoughts on how the quote relates to working with horses, including anecdotes from her own horse life as well as insights gleaned from horse clinics around the country. Keep Mindful Horsemanship by your bedside or next to the place where you have your morning coffee for a daily dose of inspiration.
Hardcover
Excerpt from the book:
March 8
Of course, we could force-break him to everything, but he wouldn't be as good a horse if we did. He'd always be a bit afraid, and he wouldn't mind because he wanted to.
--from The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
The operative phrase here is "because he wanted to." Even back in 1945 when The Red Pony was published, the idea of "making the right thing easy" was alive. There's no question you can get most horses to do what you want them to by intimidating them and making them fearful. But who really wants to have a relationship with a horse that is built on fear? That doesn't feel right to the horse or the human. |
|
|
|
Natural Horsemanship Explained by Dr. Robert Miller
|
 |
In his previous book, REVOLUTION IN HORSEMANSHIP, which he co-authored with Rick Lamb, Dr. Miller targeted the horse person who was unfamiliar with Natural Horsemanship, those who were familiar with it but disinterested, and those who were opposed to it. In this latest book he is targeting the convert - the believer in Natural Horsemanship, the student, and the clinician who teaches it. He wants them to know exactly why and how it works. Understanding its efficacy, according to Miller will reinforce and refine the users' methodology. The horse is a highly intelligent species capable of exceptional communication with the human being, but only if the human has learned HOW to communicate. This book begins explaining why Natural Horsemanship works, including some concepts never before published. Next he examines attitudes within the horse world and finally the significance of horses in the 21st century.
Review
I first observed Dr. Miller in Texas in the early 80’s while I was a veterinary student. He would travel the country, giving demonstrations of “tube worming” (passing a long plastic tube through a horse’s nose into the stomach) in less than cooperative horses. He would take any horse presented to him, rearing, striking, and/or biting, and patiently and methodically demonstrate the procedure using desensitization and counter-conditioning. That was in the days before Karen Parelli Hagen coined the term “natural horsemanship” and during a time when instruction of equine behavior was lacking, or only minimally covered in veterinary curricula. Dr. Miller has been a life-long student of animal (and human) behavior, and his passion for horses is palpable. “Natural Horsemanship Explained” is an easy and entertaining read that elucidates the behavioral science behind the effective training methods popular today. With his keen sense of observation, decades of experience riding and working with horses in his veterinary practice, his wonderful sense of humor, and his obsession with understanding how horses behave, Dr. Miller’s book will be a useful addition to the library of anyone who is a horse lover, professional or student, working to improve their skills at reading behavior, communicating, riding or simply enjoying horses.
Sharon J. Spier, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM
Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California, Davis
|
|
|
|
Nine Secrets of Perfect Horsemanship by Don Blazer
|
 |
Book Description
This is a training how-to book which concentrates on the mental aspects of horsemanship regardless of style of discipline. Understand the Nine Secrets empowers the trainer to solve any training or riding problem, and reveals the ways the six elements of horse training combine to bring about a perfect partnership between horse and rider for a perfect performance.
From the Publisher
This book is for the more advanced horseman who is ready to find perfect horsemanship by giving up the use of force, gimmicks and specialized equipment. Don Blazer has been a successful show horse trainer and a successful race horse trainer for more than 30 years. His horses have won at jumping, dressage, reining, racing, western pleasure and English pleasure, and he explains how the style of riding or performance is only the result of successful communication between two equal partners--the horse, the rider.
About the Author
Don Blazer has been writing about horses for more than 35 years. Thousands of fans look to him for information and training tips (he has written several training books, teaches training techniques for Scottsdale Community College, Scottsdale, Arizona) in his nationally syndicated column, A Horse, Of Course.
In addition to writing, Don Blazer has traveled from Alaska to Australia giving hands-on how-to training clinics. When time permits, he shares his training philosophy (See Nine Secrets of Perfect Horsemanship) with clubs and associations. |
|
|
|
Principles of Conformation Analysis Volume 1 by Dr. Deb Bennett
|
 |
Dr. Deb Bennett helps you take a more informed and educated look at the conformation of a horse. This book:
*Provides new insights into equine structure and its effects on movement, soundness and performance
*Offers guidelines to examine the suitability of horses for various activities
*Explores the relationship of various body parts and how they work together
*Provides the foundation for minimizing conformational limitations and maximizing your horse's performance, whatever his breed or sport.
Whether you are looking for an international dressage horse or a comfortable pleasure mount, this book will enrich your equestrian experience. And no matter how you're involved in the horse industry - as buyer, trainer, rider or breeder - this book will improve your performance and harmony with your horse. It is a must read!
(softcover, photos, illustrations, 94 pgs.)
Excerpt from book:
Do you remember the last time you fell from your horse? "How can I forget," you may think in reply, as your mind goes back to that slow-motion time, to feel again the frantic grip for the mane, to see again the upside-down picture of hooves passing over your head, looking up at the little glimmer of light reflected from your horse's eye that seemed to say, "I see you, I see you, I will avoid hitting you if I can." Then, the sound rushing back over you like a wave, the jump timbers splintered down, the jarring crash as your shoulder hits pay dirt, the mouthful of dust, the cries of your companions: "Hey! Are you all right?"
As you picked yourself up, dusted yourself off and began trudging after your mount, you were probably thanking your hard had and your lucky stars that you weren't seriously hurt. Then, if you're like many riders, you began to puzzle out why you fell and hat you could do to keep the same scenario from repeating itself.
Perhaps not too surprisingly, riders who are just beginning their equestrian careers are the best folks to ask about what if feels like to take a tumble since most novices are in the process of falling off their horses most of the time. This isn't snide criticism: it's a simple matter of physics. Do you remember your very first riding lesson or your first hour riding "free" upon the back of a horse? For most people, that happy memory is mixed with the memory of stiff, sore legs. A beginner's leg muscles get sore because he or she feels the need to grip the horse in order to stay on. A panicky premonition that you are about to fall off is another version of the same thing; it induces you to grip strongly. As a rider is falling off, he first clutches with his legs, then in a last-ditch effort, he bends forward at the waist and grabs the horse's mane or neck with his arms.
One of the reason advanced riders of any discipline don't look like beginners is that they don¡¯t feel a need to continuously grip a horse with their legs. Think of how easily the Olympic dressage rider sits through a flying change of leads: her torso is erect, her chest is open, her breathing is slow and regular; her face, hands, arms and back are relaxed, and her legs just caress the horse's sides. A good stock horse and reining trainer show the same degree of "bodily composure" despite the fact that this horse is running flat out for the slide. And competition isn't the only place where such equestrian ease, grace and enjoyment are to be found. How about the little girl down the block - the own who can jump her 12-hand pony over a three-high stack of hay bales - bareback? |
|
|
|
Principles of Conformation Analysis Volume 2 by Dr. Deb Bennett
|
 |
This, the second volume in a three-volume set, focuses on the horse's back, neck and forelimbs. In it, you'll find:
*More than 100 photographs of horses of many different breeds, making this one of the most densely informative books on horse conformation every published
*"Lab Exercises" drawn form Dr. Deb's files which offer practical help in evaluation your own horse
*New insights into neck and back structure and function
*Simple methods for detecting horses with "lame" backs
*Comprehensive, easy-to-use methods for analyzing front legs.
Whether you are looking for an international dressage horse, a reining prospect or a comfortable pleasure mount, this book will improve your "eye" for conformation. And no matter how you're involved in the horse industry - as buyer, trainer, rider or breeder - this book will enhance your performance and increase your harmony with your horse. It's a must read!
(softcover, photos, illustrations, 94 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
By beginning with the horse's back, we have literally chosen to start studying conformation from the horse's "center." Branching outward from the horse's trunk are five parts which function as major appendages: the four limbs and the neck.
Anatomically speaking, the neck is the forward continuation of the vertebral column which also structures the horse's back. Unlike the bones of the back, however, the neck bones are unencumbered by ribs. Because of this and because of the unique designs of the individual neck bones, the neck is the most flexible of the horse's appendages.
Almost all species of mammals have the same number of bones (seven) in their neck. It may come as a surprise to discover that the very long neck of the giraffe and the camel, and the long neck of the horse, as well as the shorter necks of cattle, dogs, pigs, cats and people are all supported by the same number of neck bones. Whether in nature or in the context of selective breeding under domestication, to make a longer neck means to make the individual neck ones longer, not more numerous.
This fact leads to insight as to the true functional capabilities of long vs. short necks. Horses with very short necks rarely have thin ones, but contrary to popular mythology, despite their bulk, such necks usually remain flexible: just think of the average 4-H or Pony Club "games" pony, who has no trouble zipping around flags, poles or barrels. Close-up photos of gymkhana horses and ponies show that even short-necked specimens curve their necks as they pass at speed around obstacles. At the opposite extreme are horses with very long necks which are often thin, poorly muscled and stiff. Lon-necked horses have several physical "strategies" at their disposal to resist curving the necks in the direction of the desired turn under saddle. At first glance it would appear that the long-necked horse, who is more attractive to look at, would have the more flexible neck, but this is not so. Why? |
|
|
|
Principles of Conformation Analysis Volume 3 by Deb Bennett
|
 |
In this third volume in her best selling conformation series, Dr. Deb Bennett discusses the horse at both ends - hindquarters and head. Here you'll find:
*More than 100 photographs of horses of many different breeds, making this one of the most densely informative books on horse conformation every published
*"Lab exercises" drawn from Dr. Deb's files which offer practical help in evaluation your own horse
*The secrets - and the special requirements - of the horse's unique hind-limb "stay" system
*The interior architecture of beautiful equine heads
*Comprehensive, easy-to-use methods for analyzing hind legs.
Whether you are looking for an international dressage horse, a reining prospect or a comfortable pleasure mount, this book will improve your "eye" for conformation. And no matter how you're involved in the horse industry - as buyer, trainer, rider or breeder - this book will enhance your performance and increase your harmony with your horse. It's a must read!
(softcover, photos, illustrations, 96 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
Although last in a "cook's tour" of the horse's body, in reality the hind quarter stands first in functional importance. The hindquarter, which begins at the lumbosacral joint, continues rearward over the croup to the tip of the tail and extends downward from the croup to the hooves, supplies the power for all of a horse's forward and upward movements. The particular structure of this area also serves to determine how a horse is "geared" — for high revs with a short stroke, as in sprint racing, or for lower revs with a long stroke, as in dressage. To asses the conformation of this body region, it's necessary to look at the horse from the side as well as from the rear.
Over and over again in this series of three booklets on conformation principles, I have emphasized the vital role of the vertebral column in determining a horse's athletic potential, and when it comes to discussing the hindquarters, the importance of the back certainly does not come to an end. The horse's hindquarters are joined to the rest of its body where its loins meet its croup. This point, called the lumbosacral joint, comprises about a six-square-inch surface of attachment. Consider the consequences of such and arraignment:
*The whole of the horse's massive hindquarters are attached to its rib cage - and the rest of its body - by a bony surface smaller than the palm of your hand
*All the thrust generated by the horse's hindquarter flows forward through this small junction
*The uppermost joint of the horse's hind limb is not the hip socked, but rather this, the lumbosacral joint. |
|
|
|
Reflections on Riding and Jumping by William Steinkraus
|
 |
Winning techniques for serious riders.
Reflections on Riding and Jumping presents a wealth of entirely new material on riding and horsemanship and a section of instructional photographs and sequences. This newest edition includes an invaluable chapter on how to put everything together and win, plus a collection of the author's own favorite riding aphorisms — two dozen maxims about horses and riding that are expressed so concisely and so pointedly that they are sure to stick in your mind and help your riding for years to come.
William Steinkraus is one of the most successful and most acclaimed riders in show jumping history. A member of the United States Equestrian Team (USET) for over twenty years, and its riding captain for sixteen, he rode in five Olympics and won four gold medals, including the coveted 1968 gold at Mexico City ¡ªthe first individual equestrian gold medal ever won by and American rider. He also rode on thirty-nine winning Nations Cup teams (invariably as anchor) and won over one hundred individual international competitions, including many of the world's most celebrated trophies. He has been elected to four Halls of Fame. Following his retirement as an active competitor, he served for two decades as President and then Chairman of the USET; he is now its Chairman Emeritus. He still keeps horses at his home in Connecticut and rides every chance he gets.
(softcover, photos, 214 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
If riding is basically a matter of communication between a hors and rider, one might regard the aids as the vocabulary of the rider's body language. (I have long regarded the archaic terms "helps and corrections" as more precise than "aids, " but let's not stick to modern usage.)
There are two different kinds of aids that the rider can use in controlling the movement of the horse: natural and artificial. Five aids are usually considered to be natural (the hands, leg, back, weight and voice), while two more (the whip and spur) are artificial. Generally speaking, the aids can be used actively (when they are eliciting a response), passively (when they are merely supporting or sustaining) or not at all. Their absence or removal may sometimes be interpreted by the horse as a reward.
The rider must have enough control of the aids to be able to employ them judiciously, on a graduated scale from 0 to 100. This requires them to be completely independent of the business of staying on! Let's consider them in turn:
The Hands
The rider's hands can do so much good and so much harm in so many different ways that there's a constant danger of using them excessively. The old axiom is as true as ever: the rider's hands are usually used too much, and his legs not enough. Nevertheless, hands are vitally important. You may have defects elsewhere in your riding technique and still be a good rider if you've got good hands; but you can't have bad hands and still be a good rider. After all, the horse's tongue and lips are as sensitive as your own; just imagine how it would feel to have someone's hands connected to your own mouth by some metal and leather apparatus! |
|
|
|
Reinsman of the West: Bridles and Bits by Ed Connell
|
 |
Illustrated by Ernest Morris
Ed Connell's book gives the why and the how of making a spade bit horse out of the hackamore horse, using the methods of the old California Vaqueros. This book takes the mystery out of the spade bit and shows, among other things, that the spade in the hands of a man trained to use it is easier on a horse than even the common
grazer or snaffle bits. This book tells how to choose the right bit and how to use the bit to get the most out of a horse. The use of other bits is covered as well.
Reinsman of the West — Bridles and Bits, the second half of the training process, covers:
* About Bits
* Fundamental Principle of the Bit
* Summary of Bridling
* Purpose of the Double Rein
* The Importance of a Good Start and Finish
* Worn Bits
* Santa Barbara Spade Bit
* Half Breed
* Chileno
* Grazer
* Snaffle Bits
* Training Marks of Distinction
* Carrying the Bit
* Start of Using the Double Rein
* High Nosed Horse
* Misuse of the Romal
* Straight Up in the Bridle
* Knowledge and Know-How
* Horse Sense
* And much more
A must have for anyone interested in the Vaquero tradition!
(softcover, illustrations, 119 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
Carrying the Bit
This is the first, and most important step in bridling a horse. He has to learn to carry the bit in his mouth and at the same time to hold it in place. The horse hast to learn this himself. He ha to learn to carry the Spade, Half Breed, and Chileno bits. These bits should all weigh about the same, somewhere around a pound and a half. A little more, or a little less than a pound and one half will not make any difference.
This is very important to remember: it is through the weight of these bits that the horse learns to carry and hold them in the right manner. He learns to hold his head in the same position as the bridle hangs in his mouth. At the same time he is learning that while he carries his head in this position, there is no pressure against the bars of his mouth from the mouthpiece of the bit.
This is the start of the Spade bit head set and the bridle head set for the Half Breed and Chileno bits. It is also the start for putting a light-working mouth on a horse. The bridle head set is what puts the arch in his neck either when worked fast or slow, and it will be there permanently if handled correctly all the ay through the bridling process. |
|
|
|
Riding Between the Worlds by Linda Kohanov
|
 |
Many people who love horses describe them as having a subtle, intuitive knowing — what writer and equine pioneer Linda Kohanov calls black horse wisdom, " wisdom shrouded in mystery, wisdom that's felt more deeply than can ever be explained."
In this powerful follow-up to her ground-breaking work The Tao of Equus, Kohanov introduces new, proactive theories about the human-horse connection, theories supported by in-depth evidence from the round pen. "Horses model an embodied spirituality, one that is both fully present in this world and deeply connected to the soul's diving origins." Kohanov explores how these animals support us on both levels, leading us to the unexpected realizations about ear, intuition, awareness, empowerment, and above all authenticity.
This book not only continues Kohanov's amazing personal journey of transformation with her herd, it also relates numerous anecdotes of equine-facilitated healing, coupled with lucid explanations of the processes behind them. These stories demonstrate the undeniable connections that people and horses around the world are increasingly recognizing. They document the profound changes that emerge as taboos against treating animals as equals break down.
(hardcover, 250 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
I met Rocky's new owner moments before she rode him in a natural horsemanship clinic. Though I hadn't seen him in almost a year, the little bay Arabian stepped forward and nuzzled my shoulder as Lyndsey and I shook hands. A few moments later, the two entered the round pen and began to demonstrate the various moves they'd learned from their trainer, Jerry Petersen. At one point, Rocky nearly unseated Lyndsey as he turned suddenly and trotted away from the audience. Yet I could see this was only a mild case of stage freight, not the quivering sense of primal fear he once wore like a second skin. Lyndsey was relatively new to the saddle, as was her horse, but their modest performance that day seemed more miraculous to me that nay number of famous steeds winning the Triple Crown. Rocky had once been considered psychotic, unsalvageable. The night I met him in the winter of 2000 was supposed to be his last.
Rocky's brush with death is on of those stories that has the power to change lives just by telling it, which I did in my first book, The Tao of Equus, and have done many times since in workshops around the country. My encounter with this horse elucidated some profound emotional dynamics that affected not only my equine-facilitated therapy practice at the Epona Center in Tucson, but my relationships with people outside the riding arena. It was Rocky who finally convinced me, once and for all, that the transformative feelings and intuitions I had experience with my own herd years earlier were not special, not supernatural, and certainly not "just my imagination." Rather, emotion itself was a resonant, multidimensional force that connected all sentient beings. Whether or not humans were ready to acknowledge this consciously, it affected them. |
|
|
|
She Flies Without Wings by Mary D. Midkiff
|
 |
How Horses Touch A Woman's Soul
Women have always ridden to be free. They doffed their skirts and straddled horses to ride into the Crusades. They masqueraded as men to explore and tame the Old West. Women have been riding horses into myth and fable for as long has they have sought physical and spiritual and physical liberation.
She Flies Without Wings explores and exalts the magical and timeless kinship between women and horses. Written by an internationally recognized horsewoman, examining all stages of a woman's life, this book draws from myth and literature, the author's personal experiences and interviews with countless women, to celebrate this unique, powerful and joyous relationship.
Filled with moving lessons — about sensuality, commitment, power, nurturance, and spirituality — women riders have known for centuries. This book is an eloquent paean to a pairing that enlivened history, inspired literature and continues to enchant us all.
(hardcover, illustrations, 270 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
On a Kentucky breeding farm, a pasture full of Thoroughbred mares and foal is the equine equivalent of Tiffany's display window at the peak of the holiday season. Each horse represents a small fortune, and a gathering of them is easily worth a mint. Many of my young days were spent fondly gazing at the jewels of Hartland. At eight years old, the economic realities of the herd counted for little compared to the way my heart raced at the sight of horses running free.
On one memorable day, for reasons I still can't completely fathom, I found myself suddenly gripped by a conviction that the mares grazing so peaceably in the pasture were asking me to set them free. Conviction and action blended in an instant. With little thought of consequences, I jumped down from my fence rail and opened the gate.
it took the herd a few minutes to realize their opportunity. At first the horses merely continued grazing, nursing, and napping. Then one and now another swung a great head in the direction of the opening, back toward each other as if to confirm they were all seeing the same thing, then back toward the gate. I don't remember for sure, but it's quite possible I even called to them, encouraging them to leave. Certainly that would have been consistent with my wishes.
I must have shivered when they first stirred toward my invitation. An entire herd of horses in motion is a marvelous thing, and I would have been thrilled to have created such a marvel with my own hands and will. Then they were moving — at first walking, then trotting, and finally, lifting their hooves into full flight, mares and foals alike, surging into the breech I had made. |
|
|
|
The Complete Training of Horse and Rider by Alois Podhajsky
|
 |
For over a quarter of a century, Colonel Alois Podhajsky was the director of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, home of the famous white Lipizzaner stallions whose remarkable performances have thrilled audiences throughout the world. Now, for the first time, Col. Podhajsky has set forth explicitly and in practical, instructive fashion the step-by-step methods of training both horse and rider that are used at the School and that are applicable foundations of all good horsemanship, for their purpose is to develop the natural abilities of the horse and to make riding a graceful, pleasurable experience.
From the very beginning - from the moment that the young horse is led from the stable - the book follows the stages of training on the longe and mounted. The walk, trot, canter, the halt and half-halt, lateral work, and at the more advanced levels, the piaffe, passage, pirouette, and other figures are clearly, precisely described and the methods for obtaining best results given in simple, exact terms. Contact with the bit, collection, bending, position of the head, straightening, prevention of bad habits - all are discussed with relation to the development and improvement of every phase of accomplishment.
Similarly, the training of the rider is meticulously programmed, with full attention to the use of the aids at every stage and in all the exercises. Equipment, too, is analyzed in detail. And finally, there is a unique revelation of just how the spectacular "airs above the ground" are achieved and correctly performed.
The result is a definitive book on classical horsemanship from first introduction to the ultimate in haute ecole - a record and a manual of the fundamental principles, the techniques, and the practice of the art of riding.
This is a book that belongs in every horseman's library!
(softcover, photos, illustrations, 283 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
No book of instruction can explain riding by generalities alone. If it is to be of value, a method must be laid down. Every detail must be explained, even at the risk of being long-winded, if the method is to be described with absolute clarity.
Ideas with regard to the importance of theory over practice will always differ, but they will agree on one point, namely, that the one is not complete without the other. Theory without practice is of little value, whereas practice is the proof of theory. It is the theoretical knowledge that will show the way to perfection. Theory is the knowledge, practice the ability. Knowledge must always take precedence over action. This thesis is especially true of the art of riding. In spite of initial success, the self-taught person can never become more than a workman; only on a foundation of theory can riding develop to the realm of art.
Equestrian art, perhaps more than any other, is closely related to the wisdom of life. Many of the same principles may be applied as a line of conduct to follow. The horse teaches us self-control, constancy, and the ability to understand what goes on in the mind and the feelings of another creature, qualities that are important throughout our lives. Moreover, from this relationship with his horse the rider will learn that only kindness and mutual understanding will bring about achievements of highest perfection. Many roads lead to Rome. The question is which is the best and shortest. With riding, only theoretical knowledge and practical ability will help the student to select the best road to success. Once selected, it must be followed to the end; changes of direction will lead to confusion and failure to reach the goal.
To be successful, the rider must be able to distinguish between cause and effect. The effect will be easy to see, but the cause will be recognized only through knowledge, which is supplied by theory. |
|
|
|
The Faraway Horses (Soft Cover) by Buck Brannaman
|
 |
The Adventures and Wisdom of One of America's Most Renowned Horsemen
Nearly every week of the year, Buck Brannaman can be found conducting his horsemanship clinics all around the country. His method of training is one based on communicating with horses, on reading their body language and making them feel safe so that horse and rider can achieve a true union. In The Faraway Horses, he shares the knowledge he has cultivates over a lifetime.
This moving, inspiring, and often humorous book gives horse owners the keys to understanding their horses, giving them a good start, and solving such problems as trailer loading, leading and aggression. Along with instruction, Buck provides illustrative stories from his own experience. He tells of his abusive childhood, which led him to take solace in horses and helped him to see the horse's point of view. He speaks of the owners and horses whose relationships he has changed.
Buck Brannaman is a horse "gentler" who has started thousands of young horses in his clinics over the past twenty years. When not traveling on his busy clinic schedule, he lives with his wife Mary and their daughters in Sheridan, Wyoming.
(softcover, color photos, 256 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
I try to give the horses I work with a safe place to be and a sense of peace. Sometimes this means their just standing near me for a quiet moment. The feeling may not hold long because trust doesn't just happen, but I know the horses feel the peacefulness. I felt it hat night in the backyard when I was crammed into the barrel with my dog Duke. For a little while I was in a safe place for the first time since my mom died — a little cold, but safe.
I can't help remembering this time spent with Duke when it's time to wean our young colts. We wean them when they're six months old, and no matter how many years I work with horses, I still feel sympathy for the youngsters. I know the terror that must well up in them when we separate them from their mothers, and I try to make being weaned as easy for them as I can.
The colts make a clean break from the mares. I like to take the colts out of earshot, so the mares don't hear their cries and become frantic. Mothers love their babies, and its hard on them, too.
The first few months of life are a very precious time for the foal and the mare. The mare's instincts have evolved over thousands of years, and she know more about her baby's needs and comfort level than I do. My colts end up being comfortable with my presence and handling after I wean them.
The first few days of separation are a troubling time for these young horses. It's therefore necessary that they have the chance to work things out for themselves. Quite often the colts take support from one another because we leave them together as a heard. To further help the process along, I always put a "baby-sitters" in with the newly weaned colts, usually an older retired gelding whose stability is reassuring to the little ones. This isn't an idea I came up with on my own — people have been doing it for years, but because of what I went through as a kid, I know what it feels like to have my mother taken away. I understand the reassurance and comfort that can come from a stabilizing factor. |
|
|
|
The Quotable Cowboy
|
 |
Edited by Kathy Etling
The Age of the Cowboy, according to historians, lasted a mere fourteen years, yet everywhere today we can see the mark that he made upon this land.
Cowboys remind us of a time when life was simple, when everything was black and white, and when hope lay upon the horizon like a pale rising sun. We are the heirs to their myth and to their legacy. We do something because it is "the cowboy way", we "cowboy up" to adversity, we "cowboy through" a difficult task. Popular culture has immortalized the Old West through novels, radio, TV, and films, and in this volume, you will find more than four hundred of the best quotations that capture its spirit. You'll marvel at the cowboy's courage and perseverance and come to know him like you've never known him before through the words that he has uttered or cared about enough that he wrote them down for posterity, as well as the words of scores of novelists, journalists and historians, including:
*Rex Allen Texas
*Bix Bender
*Buck Brannaman
*Calamity Jane
*J. Frank Dobie
*John Ford
*Lane Frost
*Wild Bill Hickok
*Bruce Kiskaddon
*Lois L'Amour
*Thomas McGuane
*Annie Oakley
*Theodore Roosevelt
*Owen Wistrand
*And many more
(hardcover, illustrations, 225 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
You know a cowboy by the way he stands and walks and talks. E.C. "Teddy Blue" Abbott
There are friends and faces that may be forgotten, but there are horses that never will be. Andy Adams
Being wild, being free, being crazy is critical to rodeo. Bernie Smith
I credit my success to the fact that I was never content or satisfied. Fred Whitfield
The bulls will let me know when it's time to retire. Steve Tomac
Maybe the American cowboy represents the last of the free men. Casey Tibbs |
|
|
|
The Quotable Horse Lover
|
 |
The Quotable Horse Lover gathers the most memorable quotes about horses ever written, recorded, or brought down through the ages. Horses bring out the best in our kind; they inspire adoration and compassion. They have served as both muse and catharsis for artists and writers of all centuries and genres. For all those in love with this magnificent beast, The Quotable Horse Lover will reside close to the heart and never be far from hand.
Quotes gathered from hundreds of artists, authors, philosophers, politicians, comedians, and more, including:
* Homer
* Aesop
* Steinbeck
* Yeats
* The Bible
* Dante's Inferno
* West with the Night
* Groucho Marx
* Henny Youngman
* Shakespeare
* Winston Churchill
(hardcover, 380 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
"When in doubt, ride with your instincts." - Pamela C. Biddle and Joel E. Fishman, All I Need to Know I Learned From My Horse
"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people." - W.C. Fields
"Want to end up with a million bucks in the horse business? Start out with five million." - Anonymous
"The substitution of the internal combustion engine for the horse marked a very gloomy milestone in the progress of mankind." - Sir Winston Churchill |
|
|
|
The Revolution in Horsemanship
|
 |
The Revolution in Horsemanship: And What It Means to Mankind
by Robert M. Miller, D.V.M and Rick Lamb with a foreward by Hugh Downs
FROM THE PUBLISHER
There has been a change in how we treat our horses: We no longer "break" them to harness or saddle; we "gentle" them, so they become our partners, their natural grace and athleticism restored and enhanced through humane and thoughtful methods.
Beginning with equine evolution and domestication, Dr. Miller and Rick Lamb focus on the contributions of such classical horsemen as Xenophon, Pluvinel, nineteenth-century "whisperers, tamers, and professors," and modern masters like the Dorrances, Buck Brannaman, Pat Parelli, John Lyons, and their disciples, and the connection between rodeo and natural horsemanship.
The authors describe how the horse's mind works, how horses learn, and how the revolution has used those principles, especially with regard to a training regimen for newborn foals developed by Dr. Miller that produces positive results to last a lifetime.
These training methods include new techniques in riding, such as preliminary groundwork and the independent seat, as well as visualization and other aspects of sport psychology, yoga, and allied disciplines. The role of tack and equipment is also discussed and evaluated in depth. And because the modern attitudes are reflected in equine care, appendices assess innovations in hoof care, nutrition, and veterinary treatment, including so-called "alternative therapies."
With its exploration and analysis of modern attitudes and approaches, The Revolution In Horsemanship is one of the most important equestrian publishing events of this decade, and ensures its position as a classic in the field.
Softcover, photos, 343 pages. |
|
|
|
The Tao of Equus by Linda Kohanov
|
 |
The Tao of Equus considers the mystical nature of horses and the magical connection between horses and humans. Equine therapist Linda Kohanov tells of an extraordinary spiritual awakening she experienced with her black mare, Rasa. This incident led her to investigate the apparent metaphysical as well as scientific aspects of the human-horse bond. Using neurological research, cultural history, mythology, and firsthand anecdotes from years of teaching and facilitating equine therapy, Kohanov examines the profound communion that people, and women in particular, often experience with horses. Some of the areas Kohanov explores are how the equine mind compares with the human mind, and what horses can teach humanity.
Blending her provocative story of prescient dreams and ancestral communication with a wide-ranging exploration of equine-facilitated therapy practices, Kohanov delivers an extraordinary work sure to interest both longtime riders and readers interested in exploring the deepest reaches of the bonds between species.
(hardcover, 350 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
Do horses make choices? Do they have strong wills of their own? How do they seem to know what people are thinking and feeling? Are they psychic, or do they simply read the body language of their owners at a highly sophisticated level?
Are horses spiritual beings with a destiny all their own? If so, how is this destiny intertwined with humanity's future, especially now that machines have taken over most of the functions these animal previously fulfilled?
What would the history of civilization look like through the eyes of a horse? How does the equine mind compare with the human mind? What aspects of horse behavior might people benefit from adopting? What do all great equestrians have in common, regardless of riding style or nationality?
Why are women so attracted to horses?
These are some of the questions The Tao of Equus attempts to answer. Because equestrian pursuits have long been identified with conquest, nobility, and competition, much of the horse's innate wisdom remains untapped. These sensitive, nonpredatory beings respond to the world in ways that are traditionally associated with feminine values, yet many amateur horse owners and a surprising number of professional trainers have trouble grasping these subtler facets of equine behavior. A spirited stallion ten times the size of the average human being inspires feelings of awe and even fear in observers, but first impressions can be deceiving. This kind of horsepower is not effectively tames through intimidation or coercion. A hundred-pound woman can successfully train an unruly mustang with methods that aren't nearly as flamboyant or forceful as those a burly, six-foot-tall cowboy might employ, yet the horse will respect her more, not less, for her gentle, collaborative spirit. |
|
|
|
Think Harmony with Horses by Ray Hunt
|
 |
"When you ask your horse to do something it should be his idea... he wants to do it, he understands how to do it, and he does it. " These words are typical of the way Ray Hunt expresses his philosophy of the ideal relationship between horse and man. That philosophy is discussed in this book, in a manner that makes the reader feel as if he is listening to Ray talk. It is persuasive talk — gently persuasive; this man's ideas make a lot of sense, and the success he has achieved with those ideas is impressive.
Ray Hunt travels around the country working with groups of riders who are interested in his philosophy of harmony with horses. As Gene Lewis says in his forward to the book, Ray's theory is "to unite the horse and rider into one working unit of both mind and body. He has developed a language and has become a wonderful teacher and demonstrator. "
Included in this book is an interpretation of the "Ray Hunt method of schooling a horse" written by Vincent W. Carpenter, who attended one of Ray's clinics. He tells amazing stories that Ray might not tell about himself and summarizes the whole philosophy in a clear and objective way.
Also included is a question and answer section, in which a number of the most commonly asked questions are answered in detail. And throughout the entire book runs the simple, basic idea: think harmony.
(hardcover, 87 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
My belief in life is that we can all get along together if we try to understand one another. If you find a friend in life before somebody else finds him you're real lucky. You'll meet a lot of people and have a lot of acquaintances, but as far as having friends — they are very rare and very precious. But every horse you ride can be your friend because you ask this of them. This is real important to me. You can ask the horse to do your thing, but you ask him; you offer it to him in a good way. You fix it up and let him find it. You do not make anything happen, no more than you can make a friendship begin.
My goal with the horse is not to beat someone; it's to win within myself. To do the best job I can do and tomorrow try to do it better. You will be working on yourself to accomplish this, not on your horse. You will work to recognize how you feel toward your horse and how your horse answers you back; how he understands you, and how he takes it. There shouldn't be any hassle; there shouldn't be a big flareup. Mentally, your horse should not weight anything. When you ask your horse to do something it should be his idea. This is the goal. In the end, when you ask your horse to do something, he wants to do it, he likes to do it, he understands how to do it, and he does it. |
|
|
|
True Horsemanship Through Feel by Bill Dorrance
|
 |
Written with Leslie Desmond, expert horseman Bill Dorrance chose the name True Horsemanship Through Feel because feel is the language of horses. Learning that language can expand any horseman's knowledge and abilities - whether they are learning to rope, ride, or start horses.In language that is generously detailed and packed with meaning, Dorrance directs our attention to the many subtle things there are to notice about the ways that horses and humans operate.
In these pages, he urges us to reach toward a deeper level of insight into horses and ourselves, as he ladles out a wealth of helpful information. With hundreds of illustrations, True Horsemanship Through takes you step-by-step through the basic struggles that have characterized horse-human relations for centuries. Drawing on his years of experience, Bill Dorrance crafted a book that imparts the knowledge only previously available by word of mouth. (paperback, 400 pages, photos) |
|
|
|
True Unity by Tom Dorrance
|
 |
Tom Dorrance has been referred to as the "horse's lawyer. "Tom gives the horse credit for his knowledge of a horse's feelings and problems. He says, "What I know about the horse I learned from the horse."
Now, in True Unity, Tom shares some of these ideas to help achieve a true unity for human and horse.
In talking about the horse Tom mentions often the horse's need for self-preservation. The self Tom approaches in the horse is a total entity. True Unity allows the reader to feel and see the horse in the way Tom sees and feels the horse. It allows the reader to approach the horse with Tom — to approach the horse with a feeling of acceptance for the value of the whole horse — physical, mental and an innermost horse.
A unique bonus feature of True Unity is a chapter presenting some of Tom's student s as the share how Tom's help with their horses changed their horses' and their lives.
(hardcover, photos, 151 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
People often ask me how I have gotten it together for myself and the horse. I'll make an attempt to answer. I was born on May 11, 1910, near Joseph, Oregon. As I look backward through the years of my life there have been hundreds of people and horse that have helped me develop my understanding of the True Unity and Wiling Communication Between Horse and Human.
Our father and mother were good people with good standards that they tried to pass on to their children. The family was always good to me. I always felt freedom. By that I don't mean that I could do as I pleased about everything or anything. There were guidelines, standards and responsibilities for me to operate within. I had the freedom to explore and experiment so I could develop my own character. I believe that could have been the foundation for me to find, as I worked with animals, that this was as important to the animals as it had been to me.
It would be very difficult for me to talk about working with people and their horses without Ray Hunt becoming involved.
It will soon be twenty-seven years since I first met Ray Hunt — that has been another fortunate experience of my life. I have never experienced anyone who could pick up on the slightest clue and build on it in the right direction in such a short time — it is as if he has been doing it all his life. |
|
|
|
Understanding the Ancient Secrets of the Horse's Mind
|
 |
by Robert Miller, DVM
If you understand the way a hosre thinks you can control its behavior. Successful horepeople know the secrets of the horse's mind. All horses share common character traits that affect every move they make. These traits are embedded deep within the horse's DNA and shared, without exception, by every horse that was ever born.
(softcover, photos, 134 pgs.) |
|
|
|
A General System of Horsemanship by William Cavendish
|
|
|
The perfect gift for horse-lover, art lover or bibliophile!
This classic work is not only one of the most beautiful books on horses ever published, but also a landmark in the development of equestrian technique.
William Cavendish's emphasis on systematic and humane training was revolutionary for its era, and his teaching has exerted a lasting and far-reaching influence on the art of riding.
A General System of Horsemanship was first published in a French edition in 1658, illustrated with 42 superb engravings, all of which accompany this edition. William Cavendish, the Earl, Marquis, and Duke of Newcastle, was one of the most accomplished men of his era.
(hardcover, photos, illustrations, 255 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
How to make him obey the Bridle
When you have made a horse's shoulders supple by the first division of lessons, and taught him by the second to obey the heel, this third division is intended to make him know the bridle, which is to be done in the following manner.
Let the rider put the rein of the caveson, fixed my way, which he holds in his right hand under the burr of the saddle, that is under his thigh, and fasten it well to the pommel; and so short, as to bend the horse's shoulders to such a degree, as to force his hind-leg within the volte out, but not so much as to force out the outward leg too; for that is a solecism in horsemanship, as you will see hereafter. When the horse's head is thus fastened to the pommel of the saddle, the caveson gives him the proper ply, and the rider should work him with the bridle upon a large circle. When he goes to the right, you must place your hand without the volte a little towards the left shoulder, helping him at the same time with the leg within, which is leg and rein of a side, and that always works both the shoulder, and not his croupe.
This lesson is the same as the first, excepting only, that in this you work more with the bridle. |
|
|
|
Academic Equitation by General Decarpentry
|
 |
A Training System Based on the Methods of D'Aure, Baucher, and L'Hotte
Originally written and published in 1949, Academic Equitation is considered by many dressage experts to be the most important contribution to classical training in the twentieth century.
This book was intended as a preparation for international dressage competitions but is far more than this. It discusses the subjects of academic equitation, the riding master, and the choice of horse before introducing the reader to the author's systematic program, covering the very early training right up to the most advanced movements. The appendix deals with longeing, work in hand, long reins, and pillar work.
General Decarpentry was not only a distinguished scholar of artistic equitation but also equally versed in putting the theories into practice. He deals with the education of the young horse and the complications and details for advanced schooling with the hand of a master.
Although he claims that nothing in the book is his — his training system is based on the methods of D'Aure, Baucher and L'Hotte — the General's wisdom and deep knowledge are manifest throughout. It was the General's great wish that traditional teachings on the art of equitation should not be lost to those who wished to study equitation. In this most important work he has succeeded in presenting these teachings in such a way that allows both layman and expert to obtain a deeper insight into this fascinating subject.
(hardcover, photos, illustrations, 282 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
The first aim of academic equitation is to restore to the mounted horse the gracefulness of attitudes and movement which he possessed when he was free, but which becomes marred by the weight and interference of the rider.
To the solely utilitarian education which he has received in order to become serviceable, it adds, in the first place, in the exercises of the "low school", gymnastics intended to re-establish the regularity of his gaits and the straightness of his deportment.
It claims, thereafter, in the words of Newcastle, "to improve on Nature by the subtlety of Art."
It then subjects the horse to the progressive lessons of an aesthetic education destined to develop the rhythm and harmony of his movements, so that they are brought to a degree of "stylized" perfection which will gradually transform them into the "airs" of the high school, though their essential characteristics are scrupulously respected.
Equestrian art thus, is akin to choreographic art, and the high school to classical dancing. |
|
|
|
Anatomy of the Horse by George Stubbs
|
 |
George Stubbs (1724-1806), an English artist famous for his portraits of thoroughbred race horses and for other animal paintings was also the author of the illustrations and text of The Anatomy of the Horse, one of the truly remarkable anatomical studies of its subject. First published in 1766, Stubbs' work was based on numerous dissections, a practice far from generally accepted in his century. Stubbs' horses, shown in this edition on 36 large plates, are memorable for their uncanny life-like quality, nobility and extreme anatomical precision.
(softcover, photos, illustrations, 121 pgs.) |
|
|
|
California Cowboy by David Stoecklein
|
 |
Stunning photography that portrays the modern-day legacy of the Vaquero found in California. Catch a glimpse of history before it is lost forever.
Here to represent today's prosperous California cattleman are the Tejon, Corralitos, Five Dot, Walking R, Ranan Creek, Rancho Mission Viejo, Harris Feeding Company, Hearst, Yokohl, Flying U Rodeo Company, Cojo-Jalama, San Emigdio, Lacey Livestock, and Salinas Rodeo, among others. Insightful essays from Henry Schacht, Shril Woodson, and Ernest Morris complement David's photographs, offering historical and geographical context.
(hardcover, coffee table photo book, 250 pgs.) |
|
|
|
California Cowboy Inventions by Ernest Morris
|
 |
California Cowboy Inventions is an interesting combination of handy "cowboy" inventions and ideas, horsemanship information, and picture creation thoughts and techniques from vaquero artist Ernie Morris. Like all of Ernie's books, it includes numerous pen & ink drawings of horses, cattle, and cowboys involved in several types of cowboy action. This book is interesting and informative for everyone from seasoned cowboys to aspiring artists.
Approx. 8-1/2" x 11" softcover, 76 pages. |
|
|
|
Conquerors by Dr. Deb Bennett
|
 |
Yearning for a horse book rich with delicious tales? Looking for a solidly-researched volume on the history of horsemanship? Whether you rein a Quarter Horse, travel on a Tennessee Walker, breed for color, ride a smooth Paso, or admire the Andalusian, Dr. Deb Bennett's new book is certain to engage your interest. Truly a feast of little-known facts, "Conquerors— The Roots of New World Horsemanship" cogently links the traditions of the ancients with the cattle-handling methods of the conquistadors, gauchos, vaqueros, and cowboys of the New World.
No matter how you ride, you have probably heard of the hackamore as a piece of training equipment. But did you know that its history threads back through California to Mexico, Spain, and North Africa to the ancient kingdom of Persia? Or that once upon a time, before Mexican craftsmen discovered how to manufacture a working saddle horn, vaqueros tied their ropes hard and fast to their cinches— or to their horses' stout tails?
Lest you think that Spanish horsemanship involves only the "Western" rider, there are important chapters exploring the links between hunting, gaited riding, dressage, reining, cutting— and mounted bullfighting. Beginning with Columbus' second voyage in 1493, the seeds of all of these were ferried across the Atlantic to the Americas. Bennett surveys Old World riding styles, saddle making traditions, arms and armor not as isolated "phases" in the development of modern horsemanship, but to uncover the roots of the Spanish and Portuguese attitudes, beliefs, and technology which gave rise to current American practices. Linking the knights of old with the knights of the plains, Bennett provides convincing proof that "communicating with horses" is as old as the first attempt to bring this magnificent animal into domestication.
Necks arched, manes flying, eyes flashing, the horses occupy center stage throughout. Of great interest to the horse breeder, Bennett charts the natural origin of major world bloodlines, following up with hundreds of photographs showcasing more than 40 living and antique types of horse. Both "gaited" and trotting lines are represented— and not merely Andalusians, Pasos, and Appaloosas, but the rarely mentioned Azteca, Criollo, Mangalarga, Campolina, Corallero, Mustangs, and Baguales. With an extensive index and bibliography, here is an invaluable reference to the places and dates of first importation for every country in the Western Hemisphere that has ever bred horses of Iberian ancestry. Easy to read yet packed with pictures, maps, and information, this much-needed volume is a classic which for many years to come will continue to feed horsemens' hunger to know.
About the Author
In pursuing a lifelong fascination with horses, Deb Bennett's Ph.D. in Paleontology has carried her through time from prehistory to study of living breeds. A former staff member of the Smithsonian Institution, she acted as researcher for the prestigious Columbus Quincentenary exhibition Seeds of Change. Author of the three-volume Principles of Conformation Analysis, "Dr. Deb" is a long-time consulting editor for Equus and Conquistador magazines, and maintains a busy international schedule of horsemanship seminars and clinics. Current Director of the Equine Studies Institute, she owns, rides, and trains horses in California.
(hardcover, photos, illustrations, 410 pgs.)
Excerpt from the book:
Pedro Romero, the most renowned Spanish matador of all time, held out for his pupils three guiding principles: parar, mandar, and templar — which trans | | |
