The Soul of a Horse: Life Lessons from the Herd
by Joe Camp
from Harmony
A surprise birthday gift plunged Joe Camp and his wife, Kathleen, into the world of horses as complete neophytes without a clue as to what horses needed or wanted. The Camps went searching for logic and sense in the rule books of traditional horse care and what they found was not what they had expected. Written for everyone who has ever loved a horse or even loved the idea of having a horse in their lives, this memoir leads us on a riveting voyage of discovery as Joe and Kathleen navigate uncharted, often politically incorrect territory on their way to achieving a true relationship with their horses.
As the creator of the beloved Benji series, Joe has spent most of his life luring us into the heart and soul of a famous dog, but now in this engaging, emotional, and often humorous story, he deftly lures us into the heart and soul of a horse. In doing so, he exposes astonishing truths and unlocks the mystery of a majestic creature who has survived on Earth, without assistance, for fifty-five million years. In a single emotionally charged moment, Camp communes with his first horse, Cash, in a way that changes him and his relationship with horses forever. In his own words, as he stood alone with his back to this horse: The collar of my jacket was tickling the hairs on the back of my neck. And my heart was pounding. Then a puff of warm, moist air brushed my ear. My heart skipped a beat. He was really close. Then I felt his nose on my shoulder . . . I couldn’t believe it. Tears came out of nowhere and streamed down my cheeks. I had spoken to him in his own language, and he had listened . . . and he had chosen to be with me. He had said, I trust you.
Ingeniously alternating between the stories of two people thrust into an unfamiliar, enigmatic realm and a fabled herd of wild horses brought to the New World centuries ago, Joe Camp’s valuable and inspiring book teaches us that the lessons he was learning apply not only to his horses but to life and to people as well–to all of us.
Chosen by a Horse
by Susan Richards
from Harvest Books
The horse Susan Richards chose for rescue wouldn’t be corralled into her waiting trailer. Instead Lay Me Down, a former racehorse with a foal close on her heels, walked right up that ramp and into Susan’s life. This gentle creature—malnourished, plagued by pneumonia and an eye infection—had endured a rough road, but somehow her heart was still open and generous. It seemed fated that she would come into Susan’s paddock and teach her how to embrace the joys of life despite the dangers of living.
An elegant and often heartbreaking tale filled with animal characters as complicated and lively as their human counterparts, this is an inspiring story of courage and hope and the ways in which all love—even an animal’s—has the power to heal.
Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship: Establishing Respect and Control for English and Western Riders
by Clinton Anderson
from Trafalgar Square Books
How to Think Like A Horse: The Essential Handbook for Understanding Why Horses Do What They Do
by Cherry Hill
from Storey Publishing, LLC
Ask someone who works with horses how best to communicate with a balky colt and she will tell you that horses do not respond to human cajoling. To be successful the human must understand and work with, not against, the horse’s instincts, needs, and fears. When a trainer resorts to human teaching methods — reasoning, begging, bribing, even hugging and kissing — the horse will become confused and unable to respond appropriately. But if horses are treated respectfully with methods they understand, everyone involved — animal and human — will be happier, safer, and more productive.
Horse trainer and instructor Cherry Hill believes that every human/horse relationship benefits from a greater human understanding of what motivates horses, how they experience the world, what makes them happy, and what worries them. Journey through the equine mind with Hill as she explores all that makes a horse tick. How do his basic needs dictate his behavior and mood? What touches and tastes appeal to his senses? How does his “flight or fight” instinct dictate his response to sudden movements?
Hill offers interactive experiments — fun for both horse and human — that bear out her findings on horse behavior. And her final chapter presents simple training methods that draw from the insights and information presented throughout the book.
Tug of War: Classical Versus "Modern" Dressage: Why Classical Training Works and How Incorrect Riding Negatively Affects Horses' Health
by Gerd Heuschmann
from Trafalgar Square Books
What Your Horse Wants You to Know: What Horses' "Bad" Behavior Means, and How to Correct It
by Gincy Self Bucklin
from Howell Book House
Listen to and communicate with your horse-successfully
"This is a book for everyone who has ever looked at the constantly increasing list of methods and systems marketed as `horsemanship' and wondered which of the many possible approaches would be most suitable for a particular behavior problem. Gincy Bucklin has distilled her many years of experience with horses and riders into a very useful, step-by-step, hands-on book. Bucklin's writing is smooth and easy to read, and no matter where you open this book, you'll find that her deep respect and affection for both equines and humans shines through."
-Dr. Jessica Jahiel, author of Riding for the Rest of Us
"Gincy Bucklin uses her decades-long experience with horses to answer that most frequently asked question: `Why did my horse do that?' And she comes up with creative solutions that weave together traditional horse handling with the best of modern horse training, including my own personal favorite, clicker training."
-Alexandra Kurland, author of Clicker Training for Your Horse and The Click That Teaches video lesson series
It takes time for a horse to learn everything we want him to know. If we don't make our intentions clear to him in ways that he can understand, or if we don't listen to what he wants, problems may result. Featuring easy-to-follow, step-by-step advice, What Your Horse Wants You to Know reveals how to communicate effectively with your horse to create an atmosphere of mutual cooperation.
What Your Horse Wants You to Know focuses on improving your horse's behavior on the ground, so you can develop relationship and communications skills without the more challenging problems that arise once you're on his back.
- Use your entire body to communicate with your horse
- Show your horse that you respect his needs and feelings
- Be patient and consistent with your horse while having fun
- Understand your horse's fears and overcome them
- Respond appropriately to physiological or nutritional problems
- Use praise to make your horse feel confident and successful
Natural Horse-Man-Ship: Six Keys to a Natural Horse-Human Relationship
by Pat Parelli
from Western Horseman
Horses For Dummies (For Dummies (Pets))
by Audrey Pavia
from For Dummies
Features new full-color photos and online resources
Train, care for, and have fun with your horse
If you're crazy about horses, this hands-on guide is all you need to giddy up and go. Featuring updates on breeds, boarding, nutrition, equipment, training, and riding, as well as new information on various equine conditions, this resource shows you how to keep your horse happy - and take your riding skills to the next level.
Discover how to
* Select the right horse for you
* Feed, groom, and handle your horse
* Recognize common horse ailments
* Have fun in the saddle
* Get involved in equestrian competitions
The ever-popular guide to horse ownership over 100,000 copies sold now fully revised and updated 4.3 million Americans ride recreationally and 1.9 million own horses. For those who love to ride and want to own, this is the perfect guide. It explains what's entailed in ownership from choosing a horse and tack to feeding, grooming, stabling, and health care and gives people the know-how they need to have more fun on the trail and in the ring. For this new edition, the authors have revised and updated information throughout on how to select and care for a horse. They've brought information on equine illnesses and treatments up to date, gathered together the best online resources for horse enthusiasts, added new safety tips, included more advice on children and horses, and updated the illustrations and 16 pages of color photos. Audrey Pavia (Santa Ana, CA) edited Horse Illustrated magazine, has written for all other major equine periodicals, and is the author of several other books about horses. Janice Posnikoff, DVM (Tustin, CA), is a veterinarian in private practice specializing in horses and also writes the Vet on Call" column in Horse Illustrated.
Centered Riding (A Trafalgar Square Farm Book)
by Sally Swift
from St. Martin's Press
+++



