1 comments about Competing in Western Shows & Events.

1. So this book would be fine if you are going to do a horseless horse project for 4h or something like that, but if you are interested in trying to determine a carrier path for your western prospects like I was, don't waste your money. I was hoping they would talk about what qualities it takes to compete so I could figure out if my colts would fit that market, not just what they do at shows. This book was more descriptive than instructive. Judging by the simplistic nature in which they "explained" the events I currently compete in, I felt like everything in it could have been determined by commonsense and observation.

1 comments about War Horse: Mounting the Cavalry with America's Finest Horses.

1. As the director of an history museum I am often asked to review books and such was the case of War Horse. I was amazed at the scholarship that went into this wonderful book. Its told as a story of the U S Army Remount service which supplied a standard mount for the Cavalry but much more it tells the story of the development of a "using" kind of horse. One of the best parts of the book are the wonderful side bar stories and photos about everyone from George Patton to Francis the talking mule! The complete data on almost every aspect of breading the war horse will make this book a valuable reference. If you like horses or if you just want to know how one of our country's first mass produced war machines was developed this needs to be in your hands. Ted Peters, Director, Heritage Farmstead Museum.

1 comments about Simple Steps to Riding Success: Feel the Power of Positive Riding With Nlp Sports Psychology Techniques : Includes Exercises & Case Studies.

1. Even if you don't ride horses, this is a fantastically useful book. The book is exquisitely designed to provide you with easy, powerful, and practical tools for achieving your most ambitious and exciting life dreams.

   If you are a coach, you can easily apply the multitude of strategies and techniques in your work with clients.

   For added value and interest, the book contains inspiring stories of individuals who have used the tools to successfully achieve their own goals.

   It is brilliantly organized with excellent visuals to help you understand and apply the tools and concepts easily.

   The tools are NLP-based (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), so the book will appeal to those of you who want to learn about NLP as well as those of you who are familiar with NLP and want to develop your expertise further.

1 comments about Care and Management of the Older Horse.

1. Amazingly helpful and easy to read. Sound and practical applications for managing mature horses of all ages.

No comments about Business Management for the Equine Industry.

5 comments about Zen and Horses: Lessons from a Year of Riding.

1. This is an excellent book! People who ride horses would be missing out by not reading it. For those who don't ride, it's still a wonderful and beautifully written story. It's not only about horses, it's about life.



2. I bought this book for my girlfriend to read on the plane travelling back from Canada, only, I read it before ariving home. It opens your eyes to both the fear and joy of riding horses to the learning process itself. It has made me more aware of how to teach people as well as what I should expect learning new things, something I hate doing, but must. Buy this book to help you learn to ride, buy it to help you learn, buy it.



3. I bought this book to read about another person's journey learning to ride horse. I closed this book knowing and understanding myself and my riding much better. I would never have thought of me and my horse becoming like one skin. It is amazing how Ingred after such a short time riding, could feel her horse tense under her and even predict what her horse's next move would be...I've been riding for 2 years, and I still feel like I don't have a clue what's going on in my horses' minds. But, I know a lot more now, and I know how to improve my riding. It starts with letting the horse be itself. And "opening the tunnel"!



4. Ingrid Sorens' touching recount of her first years of riding is intelligent and insightful. I think it is fabulous that someone riding for such a relativley short period of time was able to come to the realization of allowing the horse to just be and not get in their way, the path to truly harmonious riding.
   To read her descriptions is to be there. She is a vibrant writer who brings you into her space with masterful skill. You do not have to be searching for a book on riding(although all riders should read it) to find this one intriguing. It is a fabulous journey about living life, overcoming fears and an intimate exploraton of Zen philosophy. It has helped me refocus in my life. THANK YOU.
   Horses or no, I will be looking forward greatly to her next release. Can't wait.



5. The cover photo and the title is what caught my eye. And we are a horse loving, horse riding family going back generations. And the book is small. A tad bigger than 5X7 but it is so full of wisdom. And until I read it I never had thought of the Zen aspect of horses. Their stillness and power and the way they just "are".

   The way she speaks of Ducie and the other horses she rode, the reader feels like they are there almost as an eavesdropper or horse voyeur. In chapter four A Portion Of Genius I could almost smell the stables when she writes "several girls were mucking out the stables when I arrived. Piles of dirty straw littered the cobbles, and two horses were drinking from a stone trough at one end." And when she speaks of Johnny as being camp and how he was slight, dainty and balding in a lavender shirt and salmon pink carvat I had to chuckle thinking of a man this reminds me of.

   Chapter Twelve Surrender and Trust was enchanting. The way she writes of Jade the horse and practicing her dressage and how animals (page 99) have much to teach us about acceptance and how riding is really a Zen like state of mind. Where you become one with the animal and the rest of the world seems to fade away.

   How horse therapy with children as well as adults helps bridge the gap of fear into a world where this large animal that so many see as a power force can become the trusted friend that rather than hurt will instead with its rocking motion as you ride, will soothe and calm and take the fear away.

   I am not going to tell anymore about the book because it is so special and I simply want you to read it and treasure it and be better for it.

5 comments about More Cross-Training: Build a Better Performance Horse with Dressage.

1. I purchased Cross-Train and More Crossing Training by Jane Savoie about two years ago based on all the 5 star reviews these books received.
   
   Unfortunately, these books were a disappointment to me. I struggled to finish Cross-Train and I never could get into reading More Cross Training. The text, even though helpful to most people, just seemed to drag on for me. Perhaps this was caused by Ms. Savoie's writing style; perhaps it was just me. (I have found Feeling Dressage by Ruth Sabine Schaefer more to my liking.)
   
   On a positive note, these books have many nice pictures and illustrations which many people should find helpful.



2. Together with the first book a must have for every rider that wants to prolong and improve her horse's well-being. This is the first book I came across that really shows who to do a half-halt aid.



3. This is the perfect companion to the first Cross-Training book. It's for the riders who want to better and further their dressage training. It picks up where the first book left off, and like book 1, it is clear, innovative, explanative and illustrates the basic principles of more advanced dressage. It leaves the reader/rider with a better understanding of riding mechanics and harmony with the horse. It gets a little bit more in depth and into more advanced, challenging dressage excercises. Suited for any horse and rider in any sport, which makes it so different than any other dressage book out there. A great buy.



4. Both of Jane's cross training books are a great resource for trainers, riders, and instructors because of their content and their readability. The photos are numerous and first rate. They illustrate commonly made mistakes as well as the ideal and are well captioned. The text provides readers with easy to follow instructions on how to correct common mistakes, how to introduce new movements, and how to improve our horses overall. You can enjoy the book reading it from start to finish or just selecting sections that deal with a particular point of interest to you.



5. i am a life-long rider in hunt seat, jumpers, and dressage, and i found this book to be well-written, straightforward, and illustrated with great photographs of horses and riders, showing both correct and incorrect movements and aids. anyone who wants a more disciplined, athletic, and well-balanced horse, as well as an improved attitude towards his or her riding, should read this book. it doesn't matter what your riding discipline is--dressage, hunt seat, or even western, trail, or endurance. the techniques that jane sets forth in her books will help every rider be more in tune with his or her mount, be more in control of the tremendous physical power of the horse, and therefore end up with a performance, whether in the show ring, or on the trail, that is a joy to ride.

5 comments about Joe Taylor's Complete Guide to Breeding and Raising Racehorses.

1. He offers a real world perspective on the breeding of thoroughbreds. His advice on facilities maintenance is extremely useful as are his insights into the bloodstock markets.



2. This is a book to live by, for the novice or the experienced. Mr. Taylor covers everthing you need to know from buying your land to dressing a foals legs. A must have.



3. Really like this one. Has important information and opinions for the novice and expert alike. It covers a range of subjects and contains great advice for those entertaining any equine endeavors.



4. Few of us have been priviliged to learn the horse business from the dawn of conscious thought the way Joe Taylor was. If you want to know How and Why about any part of the breeding, care, feeding and selling of horses, this is the man take as teacher and authority!



5. Have read this book more times than I can count. If you have any interest in raising horses for profit, this is it. Tells it like it really is, what works, what does not.

5 comments about TRAINING THE THREE-DAY EVENT HORSE AND RIDER.

1. This is an excellent book, not only full of practical exercises and training schedules, but also includes many humorous, true and right-on-the-mark stories. I ran my highlighter dry selecting out words of wisdom and exercises to try with my instructor.
   
   A great read with valuable information and stories, told by a great rider and trainer.



2. This book is excellent, I can't tell you how many times I've referred back to it. Contains tips for training horse and rider in all three phases, and common problems that most riders will certainly face sometime in their career. Lots of great photographs to show you the right (and sometimes not so right) way to do things. Advice on conditioning (which I've found to be very helpful) and gymnastics at the back of the book. If you event, get this book.



3. I have had the incredible opporunity to work with this man in person. He is THE most informative, patient, helpful trainer I have ever worked with. Both of his books, "Training the Three-Day Event Horse and Rider" and "Gymnastics", are must-reads for any equestrian. I can only hope he writes more!!



4. I am just a beginner, but this book inspired me to try hard to event. I loved the gymnastics in the back!



5. I was SO happy to finally read a book involving cross country with so much emphasis on good basics and snaffle bits. I am so sick of hearing trainers advocating bigger bits to control your horse. Mr. Wofford advocates better TRAINING to control your horse - what a concept. This book covers quite a range of topics; from choosing an event horse, dressage, how the horse sees jumps vs. how we see jumps, cross country, jumping, conditioning, cross country position and more. I think this is a great book!

1 comments about The Blood-Horse Authoritative Guide to Pinhooking for Profit (Blood-Horse Authoritative Guides).

1. This is the most speculative investment that a person can make in the industry.
   
   Though there are a variety of pinhooking plans, the most common is for a person or partnership to buy a weanling or yearling and train the runner to sell - hopefully at a significant profit - at auction or privately about a year later, or sooner.
   
   The book leads you through the various steps to pinhooking, which racing fans would also find interesting.
   
   I have not heard of anyone who initially got involved in Thoroughbred racing through pinhooking, due to the time and financial risk involved. If you are at the point of wanting to try this facet of the industry, you certainly attend the races and may be involved in racing partnerships.
   
   I urge you to talk with owners and trainers to get a real perspective; and listen well. The book is a great resource, but nothing beats solid advice from those involved 24/7 with these great athletes.