1 comments about Yoga on Horseback: A Guide to Mounted Yoga Exercises for Riders.

1. Interest in yoga is growing nearly as fast as interest in horses: the melding of the two is logical culmination of two interests and YOGA ON HORSEBACK is a guide nearly alone in its survey of how to bring elements of balance and body awareness to the equestrian arena. The author is a yoga practitioner and owner of Saldare Therapy who has been riding with Marty Whittle for several years: YOGA ON HORSEBACK illustrates the basics of yoga exercises designed for horseback riders.

3 comments about Horse, Follow Closely: Native American Horsemanship.

1. Stepping Off the Edge: Learning & Living Spiritual Practice
   
   Sick of boring old dressage? Overdone eventing? Wacky Western riding? In this stunningly beautiful volume, GaWaNi Pony Boy describes the roots of Native American riding. When Europeans arrived in the Americas, horses had disappeared long before. GaWaNi shows how the first Americans took to horses-- and created an awe inspiring bond and culture. I have not met GaWaNi, but I knew my husband would love his horsemanship the minute I saw this book. GaWaNi doesn't clip his horse's faces-- something my husband totally approves.



2. All his books that I have read touch your soul - and make you smile, cry, and slap your hands and giggle - because you realize that your love for horses is as simple and as complex as another human's.
   Horse people - we're everywhere !



3. I had hoped for perhaps a somewhat unique, Native American perspective on horsemanship; something a little different from othe natural horsemanship trainers selling books & dvds. But, this is the same methodology used by most all of them. It makes a pretty coffee table book, but has nothing new to offer unless this is your first foray into natural horsemanship. Basically, establishing yourself as the "Alpha" or leader, based on the well-known fact that horses want to follow a leader they trust. It emphasizes not using force or abuse & demonstrates how to control the horse's actions once you have established the basic trust/respect level required. I also viewed the dvd & was disappointed that Pony Boy used a perfectly trained horse in all his demonstrations. BORING! It's more of a pretty picture book than a useful instruction you can apply to your untrained horse. Not a book worth keeping in my horse book library.

4 comments about Designing Speed in the Racehorse.

1. This book has a lot of good info in it, by the author's style is horribly rambling.
   As the other reviewer said, could have benefitted by tighter editing or a more outlining style.
   
   Really hard to read because of this!
   
   On one page he says Almahmoud was the source of speed in Horse A. Another page he says Horse A has speed because of Native Dancer.
   
   Thus, is it BOTH horses, or which had more influence? He does not say his opinion or explain why.



2. I was disappointed with this book. It is obvious that the author is very knowledgable but I found his style extremely rambling. The book could have done with much tighter editing with key points highlighted



3. I tried to take notes of the highlights but gave up after almost rewriting the book.



4. Absolutely excellent, detailed review of why pedigrees are important. Especially helpful were the sections on elite broodmares and why certain nicks work. Mating suggestions are not based on limited number of recent matings but true mating nicks that have been proven through many successful matings. Since buying this book two months ago I have read and studied it countless times. This book should be a connerstone in any one's library who is interested in breeding or racing thoroughbreds.

5 comments about Long Reining: The Saumur Method.

1. Such a simple and straight forward approach. I know that if I take a patient approach, these tools, as outlined by Phillipe Karl, will take myself and my horses far!
   Tres Bien!



2. This book does a great job of getting to the point and letting you know what you need to do and what you should expect form your horse. There isn't any fluff that you need to short through to know what to do, and Karl doesn't skirt around training issues. Since he wrote the book in a nice progression of exercises any level of horseman can use this book and learn from it. I would recommend this book for those who are wanting to learn this technique of training your horse.



3. If you're working with a young horse or are unable to ride and want to keep up with your dressage training, buy this book. Although the book is short, the pictures and text are very clear. Karl teaches basic lunging and driving all the way to passage and piaffe. His methods are gentle to the animal. Lots of diagrammed arena exercises. The troubleshooting was great. I taught my mare shoulder-in on 3 and 4 tracks in one hour. I had to stop riding due to pregnancy but I have been able to keep up with my training.



4. This book focuses exclusively on long-reining, and what a treat it is. Lavishly illustrated with color photographs throughout (all taken in France), beautiful, fit horses are worked through various exercises by Philippe Karl, impeccable in his uniform and coveted golden spurs (which have to be earned) of the Saumur, so the reader sees a master at work.
   
   The first major chapter sets the stage for all work in dealing with the gymnastics of the horse, how he moves, his anatomy, sequence of footfalls, balance, bio-mechanics, all of which are well-diagrammed with line drawings. It is supported with quotes from many well-known masters of the past (de la Gueriniere, Raabe, Licart, Kerbrech, D'Auvergne, L'Hotte).
   
   Equipment is dealt with in the opening chapters, and one thing the Europeans have over there which we don't are surcingles with the rings further down the side of the horse for a lower placing of the lines. Everything is clean, simple, and workmanlike, of quality.
   
   Not only do we see basic work on the long reins, but also innovative exercises as well, with clear line drawings illustrating the movements described to break the monotony of the work and to develop the horse's agility and sharpen his response to the aids.
   
   The Europeans believe in introducing horses to jumping as well, feeling that it produces a more all-around athlete, and in this book as well, a section covers work over fences fully illustrated with those beautiful photographs.
   
   While the main focus of the book is the long reining, there are many photographs of mounted work with which to compare to the photographs of ground work so that the reader sees how each enhances the other and how the pieces fit together.
   
   The piece de resistance is the end of the book, the dessert of the work, the piaffe(r) and passage in hand, as well as pesade. With Philippe Karl's detailed description of how to execute the exercises, I feel that I could teach my horse to do them, too.
   
   While this book is a unique and valuable training tool, it is pretty enough to be a coffee table book as well. The photographs alone are enough to make the reader salivate, and I would go so far as to say some are works of art in themselves.
   
   This book came out in 1992 and did not remain in print very long, but fortunately it has been reprinted.



5. Every lover of horses should read this book if they want to understand the art of perfect equine fitness. I am using it to help me train a mare recovering from a long illness. She cannot bear the weight of a rider on her back yet, but she can benefit greatly from the exercises shown in this book. The author is clear and direct; a very talented author and teacher. The photos are excellent. I have purchased many books on long reining, and this is by far the best.

5 comments about Dressage in Lightness: Speaking the Horse's Language.

1. This book is a "must have" in every dressage enthusiasts library. Another outstanding book by Ms. Loch.



2. I selected this book based on the reviews that have been posted. I was not disappointed in the least.



3. Finally a book on classical dressage that really tells you HOW to do it. Sylvia Loch is fantastic. I recommend this book to those who sometime feel like the real detail of how to apply the aids is missing from other dressage texts.



4. I cannot adequately describe the beauty and accuracy with which she writes. Clarifying the aids, and the horse's biomechanics and perceptions with a truly classical constructive approach.
   
   A truly helpful, different perspective with easy to understand content for all riders.



5. I've had this book for over a year and I didn't pick it out to read until recently. I had been focused on books directed at training young horses and I thought this book would be better suited for a future stage when my mare had at least mastered the basics under saddle. Boy, do I wish I had started this book sooner!
   I found this book to be the perfect companion book to others I have on starting young horses. Primarily because it makes you think about what you, as a rider, are doing. It is all too easy to focus on the young horse, instead of yourself. But if you have picked up bad habits along the way, you'll be hindering your progress and frustrating your horse.
   What I like most about this book, is that it gives you the horses perspective, how he feels about each movement and how you deliver the aids. It encourages you to breakdown each movement and think about what you are doing as a rider - are you asking correctly and using the aids effectively.
   The first few chapters (literally the first half of the book) are excellent for training a young horse, or re-schooling an older one. The subsequent chapters build up through the levels, from Training Level to Grand Prix. I know this book will be well used.

3 comments about Let's Ride! With Linda Tellington-Jones: Fun and Teamwork with Your Horse or Pony.

1. What a wonderful book! I can't wait to use these techniques in my summer camp program! The kids will really enjoy doing these activities.



2. These techniques are AMAZING! They go against most conventional methods, but what a way to empower not only the rider/handler/owner but also the horse. You don't need to read the book cover to cover in order to start the work. Some of it seems a bit odd at first, but they truly work. I tried some Ttouches a few years ago, on a whim, and THEY WORKED! Since then I have tried more and more. I even attended a seminar with Linda Tellington-Jones. "Let's Ride" is the best of all her horse books. It covers just about everything. It is written for kids, but it is just as valuable to handlers of all ages. This method of training and this book in particular is a must have for anyone dealing directly with horses...from the saddle or from the ground. Just have someone do the seemingly odd touches on one of your legs, and feel the difference.



3. I bought the book as an instructor, and I feel this book is EXCELLENT! Easy enough for younger riders to read, yet the information is rich enough for even ADULTS to enjoy and learn from! Lots of color photographs.

   A must for any instructor and every young rider!!!

1 comments about Horse Breeds: 65 Popular Horse, Pony & Draft Horse Breeds.

1. Beautiful photography, well written breed descriptions. Even if you are a seasoned horse lover you will enjoy looking at all the wonderful photos! A fabulous coffee table book for when your "horsey friends" are over for a visit.

5 comments about Making Your Own Jumps (Step By Step Picture Guides).

1. The books in this series are usually quite good, however, this particular title is misleading. There is no actual construction of jumps, but a collection of types of jumps for a course. This book seems nearly a duplicate of designing a jump course. I was disappointed.



2. It shows several examples of different jumps but no detailed directions. It does provide some helpful tips for constucting cross country jumps but not much. Check out "Jumps, etc." by Lisa Campbell or "Building Show Jumps" by Andy Radford.
   Good Luck...



3. does not really tell how to make them-- only some pictures-- save the money and go to some horse trial facility websites for similar or better pictures.



4. This is not a "book", this is barely even a "pamphlet". Complete waste of money!



5. I was shocked when this "book" arrived. 24 pages hardly constitues a "Book". It is a brief pamphlet that gives a 101 of (mostly cross country) jump design. No instructions on how to "make your own jumps" here. Don't waste your money on this one.

No comments about The Book of Mules: Selecting, Breeding, and Caring for Equine Hybrids.

5 comments about Horse Owners Field Guide to Toxic Plants.

1. I've had horses all my life, but recently relocated from the dry Southwest to moist Northwest. Thanks to my new neighbors, I discovered an extremely toxic weed growing in one of my pastures - tansy ragwort. I bought this book hoping to educate myself on what else I didn't know that might be growing in my pastures. Believe it or not, tansy, which kills livestock if consumed in very small amounts, was not listed in the book. Things like apples (the seed), castor bean, foxglove, etc. were listed... but these were items that most experienced horse people know about already. I found the information to be too simplistic for my needs, and I would suggest that anyone who keeps horses on their property needs to purchase a more comprehensive book such as "A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America". I have given the book only 1 star because I believe it could give a horse owner false assurance that they have adequately checked their pastures for poisonous/toxic plants.



2. This is a nice guide for any horse owner. The pictures are clear and the descriptions are detailed.



3. ... and knowledge is necessary for prevention. This book is an absolute necessity for anyone who owns a horse, even if your horse doesn't go out on pasture. Did you know that clover is toxic to horses?? As are many other common pasture plants. I also found out that the main ingredient of a supplement for sale at the feed store is toxic to horses. This book should be required for horse ownership. Since it's not, I gave this to all of my horse friends for Christmas.



4. A good resource, though I found the information overwhelming. Also in some cases not complete. I think this book in conjnction with the county extension office and your vet is the best.



5. I purchased this book after having attended a horse clinic where toxic plants were mentioned in passing and it seemed my property might contain a few species of which to be wary. I chose this book as I had read that it had nice photos, which is important to me as I have no real knowledge of plants. However, after receiving this book and immediately looking up Red Maple, one of the trees I thought I needed to learn about, I realized this book was a mistake. It has a desrciption that does not compare it to any other maples. I know I have a few maples, but which one is it. This one mentions some characteristics, but I do not know if it is the only maple to have those characteristics.
   
   I quote, "What to do- Call your veternarian. Fluids, oxygen, and blood transfusions may be helpful if administered early. Do not plant red maple trees in horse pastures. Always provide a nutricious diet and remove fallen maple branches and leaves from horse pens."
   
   Gee... ya think I really shouldn't plant red maples in the horse pasture? But, golly, they're so pretty! The rest of the book is about as useful; with terminology such as "a lot" or "a good quantity", meaningless without some value expressed. If you already have a great deal of knowledge about toxic plants and this is just a refresher or reference, then it might have some value, thus the single star rating. However, if I could not get my money back from Amazon on this purchase, I would be using it as a doorstop.