5 comments about Simplify Your Riding: Step-by-Step Techniques to Improve Your Riding Skills.

1. This book has changed my life! I have been in search of clear, concise, and accurate information on the art of riding for 20 years! Wendy has written that book.
   
   Part three, Timing Your Aids, wowed me. Finally all my questions answerd of how and when to appy the aids. The rest of the book brought to light aspects of riding that I never realized existed. My horse did and he was telling me for years!
   
   This review can't clearly express the significant information in this book. One must read the material for one's self and finally find the missing pieces in their riding. I was so impressed with the book I bought Wendy's DVD set. You must check it out!



2. a booking that keeps on repeating and repeating a few thoery over and over again.
   Always ask you to pay attention at the photos and observe the posture of riders, but you can hardly tell the difference with such a small pic.



3. I want to recommend this book from my personal experience...I find that it explains why we get so little results from all those endlessly-repeated (often shouted) directions from riding instructors. No amount of straining, sweating, or praying on our part will make "heels down!" work until we understand how body alignment and balance come about and how they influence everything in us and in the horses we ride. This book SHOWS you how it all works--clear, scientific and above all fun reading. And, fun experimenting. Anyone who has carried a baby in a backpack knows how miserable and difficult it is when baby shifts the "load" trying to look over your shoulder or hang out to stare at the ground. That's how our horses feel if we aren't comfortable, secure and aware of what is happening in our own body and that of the horse under us. Does the book work? Each improvement in my riding was instantly reflected--and I mean INSTANTLY--in my horse's willingness and athletic ability. Suddenly he could do things he couldn't seem to manage before. (oh, dang, it was ME!) Try it! You'll love it.



4. The Elusive Obvious makes its way to riding. Using the small movements found in The Feldenkrais Method, Wendy has you find that subtle neutral where balance reigns and the sending of soft messages through your pelvis to your horse are found. Frustration turns to progress, progress turns to joy, joy turns to harmony.



5. Every time I go back and reread and review a part of this book and then take that information out onto the backs of my horses I swear they sigh a big sigh of relief! If my smartest gelding had his way, (yes, he is an Arabian) he would pick which chapters he would like me to work more on and then keep the book out in the arena until I get it right. Your horse wants you to be a better rider and this book doesn't just tell you how, it shows you how. If you are at all interested in an eloquent way of learning to communicate to your horse through riding use this book. Your horse will love it.

3 comments about Groundwork Training for your Horse: Develop a Deeper Bond with Your Horse Through a Range of Exercises and Games.

1. Groundwork Training For Your HorseI love this book! I first saw the book in the public library, but was so impressed that I decided to get it for my personal library. It provides simple groundwork ideas from many different trainers. All the trainers have the same basic philosophies in common. They all use gentle, behavioral methods. It is nice to see the best methods by the best trainers put together in one book. You can pick and choose which exercises will work the best with your horse.



2. It is a nice book, but not what I expected. This book covers mostly the ideas behind some of the prominent "Natural Horsemanship" methods and gives a few basic exercises you can do with your horse (which was pretty much the same one/idea just different method). But then that was it. The book never expanded on what else you can do besides get your horse to go in a circle in a round pen, or walk over/around some poles.
   
   If you want a book to explain the different "natural horsemanship" methods so you can decide which trainer(s) you would like to further learn from - this book will help you. If you are looking for a book which will give you exercises that you can do to get your horse thinking and moving with you, this book falls short.



3. Lot's of good information and great pictures. It lists the ideas of several trainers so you can try various methods and see what works well for your horse. I carry it to the barn all the time and try to do something everyday. So far I used some of the parelli stuff, join-up and TTEAM, all of which have been helpful in its own way.

No comments about The Circle of Trust: Reflections on the Essence of Horses and Horsemanship.

1 comments about Legends, Volume 5: Outstanding Quarter Horse Stallions and Mares (Legends).

1. For a book of this price, I was expecting the photos of the horses to be in color. There are plenty of photos, but the only color is on the front & back cover. It's ok, but for this price, Western Horseman could do better.
   
   The horses profiled in this book are:
   Bartender
   Bill Cody
   Chicado V
   Chubby
   Custus Rastus (TB)
   Hank H
   Leo San
   Little Joe
   Jackie Bee
   Jaguar
   Joe Cody
   Joe Moore
   Monita
   Mr Bar None
   Pat Star Jr
   Pretty Buck
   Skipa Star
   Topsail Cody

4 comments about Equine Science, 2E.

1. the book that i received was the exact book that i ordered. it was in perfect condition and nothing was wrong with it.



2. I found this book very informative. Although it is not extremely detailed, I thought that the author provided sufficient detail to make it worth the time to read, especially as a reference book.



3. I chose this book for an introduction to equine science class I teach at the university level. I think that it is an excellent book for those students with little background with horses; however, I hear from more advanced horse-people that they enjoy the book, READ IT (!), and they are glad to have it as a reference book on their bookshelves. In my opinion, any college text that isn't destined to be sold back to the bookstore is a good choice.



4. I had this book for a college class and it is terrible. I found it to be very, very vague on it's topics and just barely skims the surface. The diagrams are drawings, and they are not very good for the representation. If you want to learn about equine science, this is not the book.

2 comments about One With the Herd.

1. Excellently written, beautiful photographs, a look into the world of a herd of horses. This is what "natural horsemanship" is based on, being one with your horse and understanding their very different psychology. A must-read if you're exploring a deeper bond with your horse(s).



2. In the pages of "One With The Herd: A Spiritual Journey", author, artist, and horse breeder Liz Mitten Ryan draws upon her years of experience with her herd of eleven horses to share her reflections on our relationship to the planet upon which we live, the animals we share our planet with, and how we can best achieve peace, freedom, joy, and an appreciation for life and for living. Her engaging and thoughtful text is nicely illustrated with her own paintings, as well as occasional color photographs. "One With The Herd" is the deeply personal story of a woman who lives with a heard of 'wild' horses with whom she communicates, plays with, and rides without the use of tack on a remote 320-acre ranch in the high country of Canada. Within the context of a natural setting, Liz Mitten Ryan discovered profound spiritual truths rich in emotional texture and intellectual acumen through her interactions of her horses roaming freely over the grasslands, forests, meadows, and lakes of her ranch, only to return on their own to her barn where they benefit from a loving, open, supportive interaction with humans. "One With The Herd" is highly recommended for community library collections and will prove of very special interest to non-specialist general readers with an interest in horses, wildlife, spirituality, and metaphysical meditation.

1 comments about Gymnastics (Compass Equestrian Points for Riders).

1. This book is my bible, i have 3 or 4 copies: one for the barn, one for my house, and spares in case i leave one out in the rain (I have done so already). It is the best method ever, simple, straight forward, progressive. This method really works. It eliminated having to think about what i should do when i want to jump... I LOVE IT

5 comments about Hold Your Horses: Nuggets of Truth for People Who Love Horses...No Matter What.

1. I've been riding horses since I was tiny, a definite horse lover. I bought this book for myself and a fellow horse lover for Christmas. This book is adorable. So many of the illustrations reminded me of my childhood. It made me chuckle many times. A cute and fun book!



2. Every horse lover should own a copy of this book!!! It is packed with hilarious drawings and statements that any horse lover can relate to!! Such a fantastic gift for anyone that likes horses!! I ordered several copies for my friends for Christmas. Enough said!!!



3. Anyone that deals with horses on a daily basis will enjoy this little book of quips. I don't think I read one thing in it that is not true. However, it will take a good reader only 30-45 min to read. I have passed it to all my horse friends and all have enjoyed it equally.



4. It is a fun read but more geared to children.



5. I didn't realize it was like a cartoon type book. I was very disappointed in it. Would recommened it for the younger horse lovers in your family who enjoy reading cartoons but who can learn something from it also.

5 comments about From Birth to Backing: The Complete Handling of the Young Horse.

1. Coming from a person that has been riding and training horses for 21 years, I think this book was very well written. He explained exactly how to do things, the rationale for doing them, and then recapped key points at the end of each chapter. It keeps your attention and makes you want to continue reading. This is a great book for people who are raising and training their own horses. I highly recommend it.



2. I was searching for a book which would follow the same principles as Monty Roberts (author of "The Man Who Listens to Horses") and Cesar Millan (whose television show is the "Dog Whisperer"). I didn't expect to find another book on horse training so quickly which matches their psychological techniques as precisely as this book does!
   
   It appears that the reviews on this book are determined by what the reader is expecting from it. I personally will rate a book as being great when it instructs in a logical manner, contains good sense, and works when put to the test. Rare is the book that can tell you everything there is to know. This book seems to cover the basics to help one to understand the mindset of horses and that is very important, especially for younger horses since they're in their highly influential years.
   
   One word of caution: If someone appears to be copying another's ideas, don't forget how possible it is for more than one person to be capable of coming to the same conclusions on their own.



3. Young horses can be scary when you have only dealt with trained horses - even green ones and problem horses are easier to work with because you already have a common point of reference.
   Young untrained horses don't react the way you always think they should and they have different development stages just as young humans do - their behavior will change in each stage and you need to expect this. This book prepares you with telling you what is "normal" at what ages and how to deal with these everyday behavioral changes and problems that will crop up when raising your own horse. Books covering 6months - 3 years are hard to find and this was the best I found at covering the usual challenges you would face and showing you how to be a firm, kind and confident leader. This book is short and easy to read in one day, easy to use as a reference but I don't think its meant to be a one complete source - just a good starting point to get you on your way. Yes you can find bits of this information from other trainers, yes this book is not big or complete - but it is a good introduction and I still go back to it again and again.
   
   Young horses are a blank slate and as close as you will come to the wild horse mind without adopting a Mustang. Once you have reared a baby or two, you will never relate to any horse in the same way again - and it's a good thing.
   
   Combine with "Imprint Training", "Bringing up Baby" and "Right from the Start" for a complete reference collection on raising foals to young horses to be good and happy citizens.



4. While no longer a fan of Monty Roberts, I found this book very interesting. It is written for people who don't have access to a round pen. Richard did an experiment & made sure he was the only one that ever handled his 2 foals. He started them on a lunge line, and I think it was quite a few months later before he backed them & found that they were carrying themselves on a loose rein from the beginning of riding, which really impressed me. Lots of great photos. Sorry if this sounds infantile but it's late & I read this quite a while ago & couldn't believe there wasn't a review. I am definitely going to read this book again.



5. At first i was slightly put off by the review that was entitled "not worth a penny" as it was the most recent, however i carried on and read all other reviews and how glad i am. It was fantastic, a real bible, my horse and i have benefited hugely from the information given. I can only think that "Not worth a penny" was having a bad day.

   i can't wait to read richards new book, unlock your horses talents.

5 comments about Dressage From A to X: The Definitive Guide to Riding and Competing (New, Revised Edition).

1. Deserves more than five stars! It covers everything that will benefit everyone from the new rider to the avid dressage competitor. Excellent!!! No horse lover's bookshelf should be without it, in my opinion! You definately get the bang for your buck on this one!



2. A wonderful book for the newcomer to dressage. Everything you always wondered about is covered in detail. A great way to get started.



3. I have been a Western rider for over 20 years. I recently decided to try English riding, and have purchased many books regarding the subject. This is the first book that has been clear and easy to understand for a beginner. Topics include proper attire, English saddle fit, dressage scoring, proper grooming, mental and physical preparation, and the basics the horse and rider need to know to compete. This book explained a lot of the terms (like half-halt) that were not familiar to me. It even addressed the similarities between Western and Dressage rider position. After reading this book, other books I have purchased on English riding and Dressage make a lot more sense! Highly recommended for the "new to English" folks out there.



4. This book really covers a lot of topics that new dressage riders and potential showers want to know about. It is aimed at the training level rider who is considering competition or has perhaps done a little showing. It has a very common sense approach and deals with topics such as how to memorize tests, how to come up with warmup routines, how to handle nerves, etc. The author seems to have thought of all the little questions that new riders would come up with, but more advanced riders would have forgotten that they didn't know (if that makes sense!) The book is not totally about showing though, and has good advice on schooling, and what the horse's frame should be at different levels. It also deals with more advanced topics such as confirmation of dressage horses (for those people considering purchasing a more advanced horse than the one they start with) and quadrille, musical freestyle programs etc. A worthwhile book with a wealth of information for the novice rider.



5. I am an adult rider who is new to the art of dressage and found this book to be a valuable resource. Not only does it discuss the basics of dressage tests and levels, but great tips on getting ready for the show--for both the rider and the horse. I would recommend this book the any beginner who wants a broader picture of dressage.