5 comments about Carriage Driving, Updated Edition (Classic Edition): A Logical Approach Through Dressage Training.

1. This book is easy to understand for the beginner yet is full of quality classical driving and training principles. It also incorporates natural horsemanship(so old it's new again!) principles. Highly detailed but not overwhelming. Excellent book. This should be the bible of Carriage Driving.



2. I have only read portions of the book at this point but plan to read all of it. I am completly ignorant of harness driving but recently purchased a miniature horse that I plan to finish in carting. This book has been an excellant resource. It is very detailed, but easy to understand. It mentions things to keep in mind that might not be obvious (like if you're new to harness or your horse is, you should have a bucking strap on your harness to save you a lot of frustration). I also like her approach to working with the horse - it is definately working WITH the horse and not BREAKING the horse. I have not read any other driving books yet to compare, but I am happy that I started with this one.



3. This is the book for anyone who is serious about training their horses for driving with no corner-cutting. It is obvious that this book was written by a true horse trainer for true horse trainers, people who love horses and are dedicated to making the training experience a joyful and life-long experience. Heike Bean's book covers everything you need to know starting with the very basics, horse anatomy, hoof structure and shoeing, conformation, collection, bits, harness, carts and carriages.



4. This is truly the best book on carriage driving ever written. It is the bible for people who know the sport. This is the one book you truly need if you want to learn carriage driving. You can tell from the first page you are in the hands of an expert.
   The only thing wrong with this book is you can hardly ever find a copy. If you find one, grab it. ( I don't know what's going on but there were about 10 reviews of this book here, all of them glowing, and they seem to have been erased. Everyone in Driving knows how great this book is.)



5. This is the best book on driving ever written. Extremely well organized and easy to follow. Answers all your questions just as you think of them. There is only one problem with this book -- it is very hard to find. People never resell their copies so if you can find one, grab it.

5 comments about Horses, Hitches and Rocky Trails.

1. This charming book is sure to please anyone interested in good old-fashioned prose created around the subject of packing into the wilderness. Not only is the writing and story-telling fascinating, the artwork that accompanies each of the pieces is wonderful. Joe Back is not only a writer, but an artist, wildlife sculptor, a rustic poet, back woodsman, and most of all, a humorist.
   
   The book covers the method of packing into the wilderness for both the amateur and the professional. Most of the information in the book has never been written down before. Western Horseman magazine reviewed it as the "greatest little book ever written on packing into the back country." For my money, just looking at the detail drawings is worth the price of admission.



2. Horses, Hitches and Rocky Trails has been called the Packer's Bible. Joe's humor and insight make this an entertaining read. His cowboy vernacular fits the subject and keeps the prose lively. This is especially true in the early chapters when he covers the development of packing through the ages; from Genghis Khan to the Spanish invaders of the New World. This is mostly a how too book though, covering everything from selection of gear and livestock, to packing it all up on the back of a critter and heading off into the hills. There is a wealth of information here, along with Joe's art work depicting what he is talking about, whether tying a hitch or training your pony. You might want two copies, one clean copy for your library and another-that you don't mind getting dirty-for your saddle bag.
   
   You might want to be careful with some of his advice though, especially if you care about your old mountain pony. For instance, in the book he demonstrates how to picket a horse to an old log. I have no doubt that this method will work as far as keeping your charge from leaving the country, but you will also lose a certain percentage of animals to injury this way (some would claim those are the animals you don't want anyway!). In Joe's defense, he lived in the first half of the 20th century when horses were cheap. Just remember there are many ways to skin a cat, and the country you are traveling through will dictate the best methods.
   
   One aside, Joe did not like mules which he readily admits in the book; in my opinion though the average horse does not measure up to even a fair mule when it comes to traveling through the mountains. If you want to read an account of packing in the second half of the 20th Century do check out my book "Across the High Lonesome!"Across the High Lonesome



3. This is a repurchase of an old friend. Years ago my career and life took me to Wyoming. Like many, I fell in love with the high country and soon realized that the only way to get to the best of it was with horses. As a relative greenhorn, however, I had a lot to learn about getting to and living in the high country, with or without horses. A friend gave me Joe Back's book Horses, Hitches and Rocky Trails. Somewhere along the way, I misplaced it. I'm glad to have it back.

   This book is more than informative. It delivers all its name suggests, telling all I needed to know about the tack, rigging and techniques of handling horses in a pack string. By simply following his advice, I found myself not only able to do it, but do it without embarassing myself in the company of real mountain men.

   Beyond that, Joe's earthy narrative and humorous, but informative, illustrations make the book a joy to read. Even after you read it cover to cover, you'll want to spend some time looking at the illustrations and re-reading the tidbits of wisdom. If you have an interest or plan to go into the primitive areas of the mountain West, I encourage you to read this even if you never intend to pack a horse yourself.




4. This is probably the single best work I've ever seen on the "science" of packing. Joe Back lived and worked in N.W. Wyoming, and was a legend in the area. His humorous annecdotes, and extremely accurate hand drawn diagrams, combined with his obvious knowledge of the subject, make this a "must have" for anyone seriously interested in learning how to pack horses or mules, and survive. This little work deserves a place in any packer's library.



5. I have had a copy of Horses, Hitches, & Rocky Trails for eighteen years. It has been taken to the field many times and read in total and in part many times. For the past eighteen years I have been alert for books that would provide new information or expend on Joe's presentation. If there are better ideas out there they need a literate, artistic, and humorous champion like Joe Back.

5 comments about The Body Language of Horses: Revealing the Nature of Equine Needs, Wishes and Emotions and How Horses Communicate Them - For Owners, Breeders, Trainers, Riders and All Other Horse Lovers - Including Handicappers.

1. Wow! There are 45 horses who are personal friends of mine, and after reading this book, I feel that I know them so much better now! I had already figured out many of their quirks and cute personality traits, and now I have a whole new insight. For example, now I understand that the reason Image is "attitudinal" is because his mama was lead mare when he was born, and he's not about to let anyone forget it. And Casanova is the "class clown" who, if he likes you, will entertain you for hours with his (sometimes annoying) antics like knocking the hat off my head, over and over again -- and if he doesn't like you, don't turn your back on him, or he'll nip you in the butt (but never hard), and by the time you turn around, he's looking the other way, as if to say, "Who did that? Not me!" There are stories in the book to match and top any I have to tell, including a senior horse who liked to play jokes on cows. It's a terrific read and very educational as well. If you are looking to buy a horse, there are tips for selecting one. And for those who enjoy horse racing, there are tips for betting on horses, based on observing their behavior before the race. There's something for everyone in this book.



2. I personally felt that this book is an awesome introduction to horses and their behavior. No, it does not go into great detail of body language, and it is not for the experienced horseman (I only bought this book because it was required for a class), BUT the book is worth your time. I think that this book offered an excellent perspective on undertanding the horse and why they do what they do. For example, just because the horse isn't doing what you want, doesn't necessarily mean that it's being a "bad" horse- there is an incredible array of things that could be the 'problem'; even though as I said this book will offer no new insights to experienced horsemen and women, it can be a very good reminder of why our horses do what they do. All in all, if you are a beginner to the horse world, pick this book up, and take a few hours to read it, it'll be worth the time and money.



3. I'm a young horse lover and I spend much more time reading and studying horses in books, magazines, and other sources of trustworthy media than I do actually experiencing these beautiful animals up close. Nor am I lucky enough to be able to regularly work with them. I recently received "The Body Language of Horses" and I have blazed through this small book and found that it is very informative, observant, and suitable towards an aspiring horsewoman or horseman. It gives out clear, though thick, digestible pieces of horse psychology and body language offering ways to understand and `connect' with the equine. I give it a rating of four stars out of five because there is further searching in different books about horse language I have yet to discover and the horses themselves.
   Thanks!
   Sarah



4. This is an excellent resource for a person who hasn't had much exposure to horses or has trouble interpreting the meaning of equine body language and sounds. Although, it was well written, and made some excellent points, it seemed quite basic and I didn't come to any new revalations about horses that would help or change my relationships with them.



5. I was rather disappointed with this book for several reasons. First and foremost, the bulk of the book does not, as the title would have us believe, focus on the body language of horses. A couple of chapters devote themselves to brief descriptions of horse behavior under different circumstances (when happy, angry, frightened, bored, tired, hot, cold, hungry, thirsty, etc.), but the largest sections of the book concern curing problem horses and training foals. At the end there is a chapter on observing the body language of racehorses in order to pick winners, and two appendices on how to buy a horse.

   Not only does the book stray from it's purported topic, but the information that IS given about equine body language is so basic and obvious that any true horseperson would already know it, and any aspiring horseperson could learn it all in a matter of a few weeks spent around the creatures. Of course a nervous horse will work up a sweat, a bored horse will get mouthy, and a horse that is irritated by a fly will swish its tail and twitch its skin. There are really only two forseeable uses, in my mind, for this book. The first is as a reference for those who know next to nothing about horses and wish to learn. The second, a slightly different version of the first, is as a guide to non-equestrian racegoers in order to pick winning horses on which to place their bets (and this is not surefire or guaranteed in any way, since pre-race behavior is only one of many factors that determines the outcome of a race).

   The book is also considerably old, and a bit dated. It was written and first published in 1980, more than two decades ago. While the basic behavior of horses hasn't changed in that time, much else in the horse world has, including attitudes toward the care and training of horses. There are now many more effecting training methods than those presented here, and one passage in the book even alarmed me. Though they pronounce it a "dubious last resort," the authors nevertheless included the following method for "[teaching] manners to a resistant horse":

   ". . . dramatic effects are obtained by striking the animal over the poll bone with a fragile wine bottle filled with a slush of sand and warm water. When the bottle breaks and the warm, moist substance dribbles down its head, the savage horse becomes a trembling wreck. A gestured threat to repeat the treatment is usually enough to terminate subsequent misbehavior" (pg. 49).

   While this is the only place in the book where the authors propose such blatantly inappropriate methods, I nevertheless cannot give a vote of confidence to anyone that would condone striking an animal with a wine bottle to elicit compliance. In addition, the authors make a great many generalizations about equine behavior and do not allow much leeway for differences in personality. As any person who spends much time around horses knows, one can be vastly different from the next. I said earlier that this book had two conceivable uses, but even for those I would not recommend purchasing this book. There are other books out there on the behavior and training of horses that are more current, more accurate, and more effective.

4 comments about The Complete Equine Veterinary Manual.

1. To me this book covered all aspects of the equine in an easily understood format; the pictures were informative; the written word simple.



2. I really liked the first 2 sections, Keeping your horse healthy and the Anatomical Index of Diseases. I wish the A-z sections describing different disease was a little more in-depth. Its a little more general than I wanted but still a very very knowledgable book.



3. This book is very detailed with diseases, illnesses, cut, fractures, snake bites and more. I like to take care of my horse when I can and not take her to the vet except after she foals. I like to give the shots and do what I can. This book is very detailed and very helpful.



4. This is a great book. Its packed with information to help you with basic horse care and to identify and treat numerous injuries and ailments. It has lots of pictures color pictures and it organizes the information in an easy to read format. I would recommend it.

5 comments about Straight from the Horse's Mouth: How to Talk to Animals and Get Answers.

1. Interesting book. I think it was a good overview of what the author does and a good attempt at describing how she does it. I wonder if it would be possible to commmunicate with animals without involving all the spirit guides, goddesses and guided imagery she deems necessary? Sometimes I questioned whom she was communicating with: the animal or the contacted spirit guide talking for the animal . I'm truly not sure communication with animals is something you can learn from a book. I appreciated the lists in the back on recommended foods and products that are not tested on animals.



2. I loved this book because the author clearly loves what she is able to do, takes us step-by-step through her processes and is a personable writer. Concepts like these can go "airy-fairy" pretty quickly but Ms. Kinkade's humor keeps us rooted to an earthy plane as our hearts and minds soar into the quantum possibilities beyond the realm of our 5 senses.
   
   I highly recommend this book for it easy to put into use methods and optimistic musings of its upbeat author.



3. This was a very informative book - Amelia Kinkade did a very good job at explaining how to talk with animals. A lot of what she said I could relate to, and with her style of writing, easy to put in focus. Her chapter on "crossing over" was especially well written and informative. This is one of the only books on this subject I've read from cover to cover, and I would recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding and trying to "talk" with your pet. I have not been able to "talk" with my animals, but that's my problem - I have difficulty finding "quite" time in my life. After reading this book, I would be very interested in attending one of her training sessions, if she comes to a town nearby.



4. This book is well written, concise, easy to follow, a good guide for anyone who wants a better understanding of how animals and people can and do communicate.



5. I loved this book and have read a lot of them on animal communication. Amelia Kinkade explains thoroughly how she communicates and then gives specific instructions and meditations on how you can do it, too. I admit I love her methods and have tried them myself and they work!!!

5 comments about Riding into Your Mythic Life: Transformational Adventures with the Horse.

1. This book was interesting . I just felt it got a little to unatached in the mythic life areas. Great to have some ideas for session time. This book took helping people to a different level. The sharing of the different tribes beliefs was fascinating. A lot of Mythology history shared from a new perspective.If you want a book grounded in reality for EAP work this is probably not what you are looking for, but if you are looking to make your EAP program more creative this book has that. The title is what this book is all about.



2. Horses are here defined as mythic creatures, and RIDING INTO YOUR MYTHIC LIFE comes from a therapeutic riding instructor who has developed her theories in over twenty years of working with horses and children with special needs, developing horse camps for teens and adults alike. RIDING INTO YOUR MYTHIC LIFE is for horse enthusiasts and therapists alike, and will appeal to any collection strong in new age theory or equestrian interests.



3. The author of Riding into Your Mythic Life, Patricia Broersma, is a therapeutic riding instructor who founded Saddle Light Center. She is also an instructor with the North American Riding for the Handicapped and president of the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association. In her work, this author has seen the healing connection that can occur between horse and human being. It's truly a magical transformation, not unlike that of the hero and his allies in Joseph Campbell's Journey of the Hero.
   
   Riding into Your Mythic Life is an interesting work. The book is part philosophy, part self help, and part horse training guide. The author equates the bonding between a person and their horse in terms of a journey of self-knowledge. The resulting connection further serves to facilitate deep healing within both individuals.
   
   The text itself is filled with touching stories showing the potential of such equine-human relationships. Chapters are organized by topic with each subject building upon the knowledge attained in the previous section. Each of these sections includes practical exercises that serve as a guide to the reader's own hero's quest and the strengthening of the connection between them and their ally.



4. I've always felt a deep connection with horses, even during the times in my life when none lived with me. 'Riding into Your Mythic Life' takes its readers on a hero's journey to explore that connection. I love the blend of myth, science, poetry and personal stories. It seems that if you open your heart and let in the message that Broersma and the horses have to share, it could truly change your life. I keep this book on the kitchen table and read it with my morning coffee. I am finding that I go back to it and reread chapters after working with my horses.



5. I would recommend this new book by Patricia Broersma to anyone who has an appreciation for horses and a desire to befriend themselves at a deeper level.
   If, in addition, you happen to own or have access to a horse, this therapeudic riding instructor can lead you into a profoundly deep relationship, heightening your sensitivity to your horse and teaching you new ways to communicate and learn from each interaction. Reading this book, I felt I was being gently guided on an experiential journey through my own life, discovering it from a much larger perspective and learning how to appreciate the magic and wonder of it. With Broersma's guidance, I found it easy and very empowering to see the events of my life in the framework of a personal mythic journey, as the great adventure it is. What a gift!

5 comments about Straightening the Crooked Horse.

1. Way too intense for me to read straight through. Reading the book only convinced me that IF I thought I had a crooked horse, I'd have to find local professional help that I could afford. A little intimidating if you don't have the funds to ship a horse around.



2. After thousands of dollors spent on vets my horse still wasn't sound and there was no idea why after reading this book and using it my horse is now sound. this is a great book.



3. This book is more than a little difficult to read and understand, at times. However, making the effort is worth it, because it explains the background reasons for so many problems owners have with their horses. Whatever your horseriding background, learning to spot and rectify a horse's natural crookedness will improve his athleticism, obedience and working life. Scattered throughout the book are lunging and ridden exercises which will help to achieve that goal.
   
   Especially valuable in the book is a description of crookedness based on a description of the horse's "dominant leg", which I found much easier to get a grip on than standard terms such as "right-bend horse", "hollow left", etc, which can occasionally mean a different thing depending on who is using them!



4. This book took 85 pages to tell you over and over that horses are crooked and need to be straightened. Then when you FINALLY get to the part that's supposed to tell you how, they say that every horse is different so they can't really tell you how! It never delivers on actually telling you what to try. The only two tips I gleened were "tip his head to the inside" and "poke his shoulder until it moves out". The photos were not helpful either. Clinton Anderson says the same thing in his groundwork videos, but actually shows you what to do. I ride dressage and read extensively, and this book seems nothing more than a promotional effort for the authors' stables in Germany. Save money and buy something else!



5. I have spent thousands of dollars trying to figure out what was wrong with my horse. The best lameness vets just said it was a neurological problem and there was nothing I could do. No one could explain why my horse was doing what he was doing or what it was I was feeling. This book described my horse exactly from being left or right sided, to dragging his rear toes. I only wish they would have gone into more detail how to work with your horse on your own since I can't travel to Germany. Before you give up on your horse you have to read this book. I had my horses teeth done at an equine dental school and that was a big part of his problem causing neck pain. Best money I've spent on a book in a long time.

5 comments about Common Sense Dressage: An Illustrated Guide.

1. I love this book and it's no non-sense common sense approach to training dressage horses. This book starts out teaching the basics from the ground up. This book is a must for any rider, and not just the dressage rider, although I agree that some concepts are a tad too advanced for beginners. Common Sense Dressage will bring your overall riding skills to the next level.



2. Although the material was useful, I found the organization and presentation a bit confusing for the novice.



3. This book is an excellent one for any student of dressage. It might be a wee bit complicated for the absolute beginner to riding, but for most who have had some training it's appropriate. The book has a ton of excellent diagrams and illustrations, many showing the view from above so that the desired position of the horse is clearly shown. There are a number of exercises in each chapter which allow the rider to work on various elements on their own as well as with a trainer.

   Chapters include: The Horse - How it Functions; Lungeing; The Work in Hand; The Basic Work in All Three Gaits; Activating the Hindquarters; Competition; Special Exercises for Problems; Canter Work; Collection, Extension and In-Between; Piaffe; and Passage. There is also an index which allows you to refer to specific topics.

   All in all this is a valuable addition to the library of any equestrian interested in this branch of the discipline, and one I will be sharing with my trainer. Don't hesitate to buy it!




4. This is an excellent book for individuals with some basis in dressage as well as a basic understanding of horses and their movement. The many diagrams included with the text are clear, concise and explain how to apply leg, seat and rein aides correctly for most dressage movements. There is also a chapter explaining the timing of the rider's movements for transitions between gaits as well as information to help understand how to move with the horse at the various gaits, including sitting trot. Even with a regular trainer I find this book invaluable and have bought it for several friends as gifts. They also have appreciated the detailed yet simple to understand descriptions of the movements. I especially like the multiple drills that are offered with each movement to help learn the proper execution of the exercises.



5. I found some of the information in this book to be very helpful. However, I did find her to be a bit snobbish. I also ride and train in Vienna, Austria, but I do not feel that makes me any better than any other rider in the world. It also does not give Ms. O'Connor the right to tell people to use words like "brav" when working with a horse (especially if they don't know what it means). What is important is that people are comfortable and speak with words and in tones that are comfortable for them.

No comments about The Complete Equine Legal and Business Handbook: Legal Insights and Practical Tips for a Successful Horse Business.

5 comments about The Revolution in Horsemanship: And What It Means to Mankind.

1. This is a book that is superbly written. Dr. Miller has really put it all together in this one book. I LOVED this book so much; I bought the paperback, read it then gave it to my friend & bought me the hardcover one. This is a book to always have on the shelf ready to read again & again!



2. I became interested in this book because it was recommended by an Olympic gold medalist. Not a bad recommendation, since it is a Western oriented book.



3. While this book contains plenty of useful and interesting facts concerning
   natural horsemanship, for someone who's already into it, it can be somewhat tedious reading. Not something I couldn't put down until I
   was done. I'm going to think twice about purchasing the followup book.
   
   Jim L



4. This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It really covers ground. It is educational, very well researched and written with such knowledge and passion that even the chapters that from the title seemed like "the same old stuff" , were interesting. I could not put it down!!
   I bought extra ones to give as holiday gifts for my friends and they too loved it, whether they were interested in horses or not.
   This book is an interesting and refreshing new point of view, that will help people to understand the prey/ predator relationship between horse and a human seeing it though the horses eyes. It is a journey through the history of the horse and a human as partners which offers hope for horses today, but more so makes the reader realise how much hope the horse today offers people all over the world.
   A book you can go back to and read over and over, each time getting more out of it.



5. A very interesting history of the Natural Horsemanship 'movement'. The books works it's way through an overview and then looks at a large number of the most well known proponents.
   
   I think that the title was much grander than the content. The content of course only looked at NH or perhaps what should be more correctly called cowboy horsemanship. Although, this has indeed been a very significant change in horse training in recent times, there was no effort in the book to look outside of the US.
   
   For instance, no information on positive reinforcement, the re-emergence of 'classical dressage' or the european contributions to horsemanship. There was also no real discussion about how the general increase in availability of knowledge has made people more aware of issues and training techniques nor information on the scientific research into animal intelligence and learning that is making changes to our views on animals and horses and driving this search for 'new' methods.
   
   The most interesting aspect of the book was perhaps the history of the trainers themselves vs their 'marketing'. Fascinating to see how so many people with little or no horse knowledge can suddenly invent themselves as gurus...