4 comments about Saddle Up, Colorado.

1. I have purchased other trail books for colorado, but Sherry's book is by far the best! I can plan for a local day ride, or plan for a weekend get away (including trails, lodging, etc.) Can't wait for Book Number 2!



2. Yee Haw! Saddle up Colorado is here! Finally, a book for trail riders that gives comprehensive, usable and easy to read detail and does not take a lot of time to figure out what, where and how to find the trail of your desire! Sherry Snead ropes in the finite details of trails, location, parking, places to stay and distances to landmarks. A must read for every rider interested in hitting Colorado Trails with their horse!
   Saddle Up, Colorado



3. This book is remarkable & beautiful, in it's presentation and detail, on how to access the trails of Colorado. You need not look any further for a trails book if you love to trail ride and spend time with your horse. This book gives you all the information you will need for lodging, camping, horse hotels, trail maps and overall trail descriptions with beautiful color photos.
   Whether you are a horseman, hiker, biker or anybody who enjoys the great outdoors will love this book. This trails book is state wide, so if you want to go for 1 day or 1 week this book has it all and you will never run out of trails to ride, bike or hike.



4. Great idea and very well done! This is a beautiful, comprehensive, and intelligent guide book that features about 100 of the best trail rides in Colorado. With clear and concise details about degree of difficulty, elevation, dogs, whether or not shoes are recommended, fees, directions, maps, best season to go, and color photos, this book will make a great gift for all the people on my list who have horses and love to take them on trails. The photos are so great that I can picture myself there, especially the ones of places in Colorado I have already been. I love this book!

2 comments about Unlock Your Horse’s Talent In 20 Minutes a Day.

1. If anyone is having trouble with their horse or wants to understand more about equine behavior I highly recommend all of Richard Maxwell's books. Everything he says is in plain english an really will unlock your horse's potential.



2. I have read this book from cover to cover and started to implement the exercises, it was easier to follow that I thought and I have started to see good changes in my young horse.
   
   Although it is similar to parelli it isn't as strict and I have found that my horses personlaity is still very much there, but it is working with me now and not against me.

No comments about Dump Him, Marry the Horse: Why a HOrse is a Better Match Than a Man.

No comments about The Truth According to Horses.

5 comments about The Classic Arabian Horse.

1. This book is written by a foremost authority of Egyptian Arabian horses, and a preservationist of the original Egyptian bloodlines, so you should assume she is going to discuss straight Egyptian arabians. Other reviewers seem to take this personally; simply know that background when you read. Having said that, her book is an excellent source of photos and information on the Egyptian arabian background. She includes many photos of horses which are rarely seen, including many foundation horses.
   
   Ms Forbis naturally believes her line of horses, based on *Ansata Ibn Halima, a horse she imported, are the finest and there is a bit of bias in this direction. It is hard to argue with her knowledge and she has bred and exported these horses worldwide, including back to the desert, so she is certainly successful and true to her original vision. However, she covers all the strains in considerable detail and there is a lot of knowledge to gain from this book. I read my copy dozens of time & still refer to it often. The classic arabian horse is a worthwhile addition to any horsemans library.



2. Judith Forbis offers a wealth of information on horses of Egyptian breeding, namely those bred by the RAS or EAO and supposedly "blue list". I bought the book due to my love of Arabians and the fact that many of my horses have a hefty dose of Egyptian blood. However, these horses, fine as they are, are no better than Polish, Crabbett/Kellogg (English), Spanish, French, Brazilian or any other lines of Arabians. They all go back to desertbreds from the same part of the world. Racial prejudice is alive and well in the Arabian horse world.



3. I was very dissapointed in this book. When I ordered it, I was expecting a well-informed and objective discussion of the arabian breed in general. What came in the mail was a vindictive, biased, insulting diatribe that could be called "The Gospel of Judith Forbis".
   If you are a straight egyptian enthusiast, this may be an enjoyable book, because the author is extremely prejudiced towards this group of bloodlines. There is an implicit, haughty assumption throughout the book that the only "true" arabian horse is a straight egyptian, and a considerable amount of time is spent bashing people who throughout modern history have deviated from this idea. For example, it seems that the author virtually worships Anne Blunt, and makes assertions such as that Lady Wentworth whored out her mother's stud by buying and using Skowronek, who was "impure" because he came from polish bloodlines (an assumption she contradicts at a later point). She also suggests that Lady Wentworth destroyed the Crabbet Stud by not becoming a preservation breeder of Ali Pasha Sherif bloodlines and was ill-informed about the breed or outright lied to say that true arabian greatness was no longer procurable in Egypt as it once had been.
   Okay, let me see. Horses descending from Skowronek and other non-egyptian lines have formed the foundation of Al-Marah, Varian Arabians, and etc., etc, etc. It is hard to see how one can respect this idea. For example: Bay El Bey, Witez II, Raffles, Indraff, Xenophonn, Khemosabi, GS Khocise, Magnum, Sanacht, and so on ad infinitum. Egyptians are not the only horses out there.
   Judith Forbis also makes predictions such as that all arabian breeders are rushing to recreate the original bedouin horse and that we are on the threshold of seeing straight egyptians dominating every aspect of show and performance at every level. 27 years later, what has come of these prognostications? There are very good straight egyptians, but who could say that they are totally, or even mostly dominating the arabian horse world?
   Some other problems: Why is Nazeer so much more valuable than virtually every other modern sire? Was it ony because he was a direct progrenitor of Ansata Ibn Halima, Ansata Bint Mabrouka, and so on? Why are Lady Wentworths ideas so wrong? is it because if they are taken in a certain way, it means that the Ansata horses are not what Mrs. Forbis wants them to be?
   The strength of this book lies in that it is good historically regarding the development of the breed and that its author does have some valid ideas about correct conformation. But even this aspect is dissapointing because Mrs. Forbis is not a very good writer, and the words are overblown, sickly, and purplish prose. And once she gets to the period of the 18 century on, when the breed begins to diversify in earnest, the book is so narrow in scope and consideration of other ideas that it becomes effectually worthless.
   I would not reccomend this, as it is not represented in very good context. I have nothing against straight egyptians, but I think it also important to give fair consideration to other bloodlines and ideas. This cannot be considered to be what ist is represented as, which is a comprehensive history and discourse on the purebred arabian horse.



4. This book presents the basics of the historical background of the modern arabian horse. It is slanted a bit towards the Egyptian Arabian but that is ok, as it does mention other sources. It has some excellent photos and is a stepping stone to hte next Forbis book, Authentic Arabian Bloodstock.



5. I really enjoyed reading this book. I own Egyptian Arabians which are very closely realted to many of the ones mentioned in this book. However, even if I didn't, the book contains many historical facts, is written in a wonderful, easy-to-read style, and is interesting. This book comes very close to the ultimate book of Arabian history. I did not find all the Arabian lines researched in this book (which was not its sole purpose), and that is the only thing keeping it from "the best" in my library. Great book! I loved every moment.

5 comments about Monte Foreman's Horse-Training Science.

1. Monte Foreman's Horse-Training Science gives you the basics for training a horse. It is well illustrated, and easy to read.



2. Monte Forman should be recognized as the Father of Clinics. He started it all and, along with the wisdom and knowledge of Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt, gave us the foundation today that has sprouted so many well-known clinicians. Twenty-five years ago, all I heard about was Monte Forman from my "old friend" and a true horseman, Cliff Fisher. This book is a definite addition to any serious horse person's library. It is well written with simple directions and photos to achieve many tasks one would like to successfully complete. Highly recommended for all breeds and disciplines as horse talk is horse talk.



3. I bought this book way back in 1983. I still have it today.When I bought a green horse,it was like a bible to me. I still have the same horse too, so that should tell you this book helped me immensely. I believe in the methods that they teach in it because they really work. I also believe that the methods are timeless. I'm an East-coast backyard horse owner.



4. Monte Foreman's Horse Training Science, was written by Monte Foreman and Patrick Wyse, his long time student and his first certified insrutuctor, who has also been my instructor and mentor for nearly 30 years.

   To really appreciate this book, a little background is helpful. Monte Foreman pioneered the use of video analysis in the study of how and why horses and riders interact.

   Back in the days when almost everybody just leaned back and jerked the bit to stop a horse, Monte Foreman started taking home movies of good riders in various situations. He taped the same horse/rider combinations stopping while roping a calf, and stopping in a reining class. The differences in the horses and riders were astounding! Because of this, Monte started developing his own method of stopping horses, based on the calf roping stop. Horses trained in this method would stop balanced and relaxed from the rider's subtle signal, instead of getting suddenly yanked into the ground, as was commonly done.

   Foreman also used video analysis to develope more effective methods for lead changes, roll maneuvers, and other elements of his training system, dubbed the BASIC HANDLE.

   This method has been proven with thousands of students of Foreman and co-author Patrick Wyse. They focus in the book on practical and humane training methods, that have stood the test of time. Although this book is dated, the information is and always will be relevant.

   In this age of "Horse Whisperers" who all seem to have some kind of hidden secret, Foreman and Wyse teach that all the elements of horse training can be learned by any student with enough time and desire to achieve it.

   Monte Foreman's passing on was a tremensous loss to the equestrian world, but co-author Patrick Wyse is still teaching and training in clinics all over the North America, and at his home in Townsend, Montana. More about Patrick Wyse can be learned from his website, www.HorseWyse.com.




5. I am so pleased that this classic has been resurrected. It offers instruction that is clear and logical. This book made a lasting impression on me 25 years ago, and I heartily recommend it. Its techniques helped me to achieve many blue ribbons with my horses.

No comments about Deciphering Dressage (Howell Equestrian Library).

2 comments about Practical Dressage Manual.

1. This book is very concise, clear and helpful with explinations of basic and advanced dressage movements. It inculdes extremly articulate definitions of the gaits, aids and basic riding terms. The diagrams of aids are very useful. The photos help to give the reader a clearer picture of the concepts beign described.This book would be good for any rider to read. Written by one of the top dressage riders, it can be a bit tedious at times, since the authour's native tounge is not english.



2. A condensed but informative book covering the basic gaits through upper level movements, also covers the riders aids and position, and a brief chapter on competition. This book doesn't go into great detail but has good information in it for anyone interested in dressage. It outlines several exercises to develop the horse, and riders aids for movements are illustrated as if you are looking down on the horse. Written by a very experienced rider emphasizing the "art" of dressage. A good addition to any dressage library.

No comments about 101 Drill Team Exercises for Horse and Rider.

3 comments about Great Breeders and Their Methods: The Hancocks.

1. Wow! this is one of the best books that I have read in a long while, as a horsemen I really enjoyed and got a lot out of this book. Do yourself a favour and read if your into thoroughbreds!



2. Great Breeders like the Hancocks are truly legendary men, whose impact on Thoroughbred racing and breeding will continue to be felt well into this millenium. The insights into their selection of breeding stock and successful development of continuing sire lines should be studied by all breeders and horse owners. Their firm beliefs in how to breed classic winning horses has stood the tests of time. If more people studied their priorities and methods, the days of a trend toward more 2YO and sprint racing could be reversed. Their ability to breed horses that could run distances at 10f and up at 3, remain sound, and pass their excellence to later generations. There is a tradition at Claiborne to put each new stallion in the stall of his sire(upon the sire's death), with the brass nameplates of former occupants. I will never forget visiting Secretariat only 2 years from his death and looking at his stall. Above his name was Nasrullah, Bold Ruler, and Secretariat(Risen Star followed). Horses whose influence, along with another Claiborne stallion, Mr. Prospector, are still infuencing racing through the excellence of their grandsons and granddaughters. This book is full of history, theory, practices, family issues, and fully defines the title of Great Breeders.



3. We continue to be completely satisfied with the excellent service we receive through Amazon.com and its affiliates. Everything is sent quickly (usually ahead of the estimated delivery date), cleanly, in excellent condition, and exactly as advertised. Thank all those involved with this process.