5 comments about The Athletic Development of the Dressage Horse: Manege Patterns (Howell reference books).

1. With all the books on dressage out nowadays, this is one that emphasizes developing the horse with daily exercises that he explains and then shows in lots of photos. The instruction is good and really helpful to a dressage rider.



2. The message is all there in this book but finding it is a treasure hunt. There is some excellent advice, excellent exercises, and great information on how to progress. In order to put it together logically, I needed to create my own index and map to the information.



3. At the risk of repeating what everyone says about every book that they like, you must be this book and digest it thoroughly if you are at all serious about dressage. I have nearly every training manual that has been published about dressage, but this book deals more with the theory of gymnastic training of the horse that is so vital if we are to understand why we do all the things that we do. It will also save you many hours of frustration and anguish as you are trying to perfect movements. I would write a proper epistle about more of the merits of this great book (get 'The Ethics and Passions of Dressage', too) but to tell you the truth, I'd just as soon get back to Chapter 10 right now!



4. very disappointing book. The writing is poor, the book is disorganized, and consists primarily of repetitive statements about the author's philosophy on dressage. I wasn't able to read more than half the book before giving up in disgust.



5. of great usefulness for riders of any level and discipline. The author discusses manege patterns that help achieving correct athletic development of your horse and help remedie faults such as crookedness. Too often, riders resort to use of equipment, such as draw reins, to control their horse. After reading this book, these people will realize that that is completely unneccessary and, moreover, is inhumane and has adverse effects. This book is more to the point than some of the other books by the same author.

1 comments about Seasons of the Horse: A Practical Guide to Year-Round Equine Care.

1. Beautifully illustrated throughout with color photography, "Seasons Of The Horse: A Practical Guide To Year-Round Equine Care" by horse owner, trainer, and professional competitor Jackie Budd is a 272-page compendium of basic information pertaining to all aspects of proper care and management for both staple-kept and field-kept horses throughout every season of the year. "Seasons Of The Horse" will reveal to novice horse enthusiasts how horses think, how their natural behavior is affected by the way they are cared for, and how their performance and their relationship with their rider can be enhanced for the benefit of both. Beginning with an opening section of four chapters dealing with lifestyle options, the principles of feeding, routine health care, and year-round health conditions, "Seasons Of The Horse" goes on to cover carrying for the horse in the conditions of Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. All aspects of caring for the horse at all given points of the year are addressed including pasture management, summer riding, the cost involved, grooming the field-kept horse, and so much more. If you own a horse, or if you are contemplating horse ownership, "Seasons Of The Horse" should be considered mandatory reading and a core addition to personal and community library Pet & Wildlife reference collections in general, and Horse Care reference collections in particular. Also very highly recommended from TFH Publications (a premier publisher of animal care books) are two other titles for horse owners and riders: Elizabeth Iliff's "Good Horsekeeping: A Comprehensive Guide To All Things Equine" and Sharon Foley's Getting To Yes: Clicker Training for Improved Horsemanship".

5 comments about Caring for Your Miniature Donkey (Second Edition).

1. This book is one of the few available regarding the care of donkeys. As such, it has some decent information. However, it is poorly indexed and written in an anecdotal format, and several important topics are incomplete. Beginners may find more questions raised than answered. It assumes pre-existing equine knowledge in too many instances (there isn't any information, for example, on how to determine if a jennet is experiencing heat cycles - something a non-breeding owner would still wish to know for the sake of anticipating or explaining certain behavioral changes). The parts about training are completely inadequate. The author is opinionated, and writes from personal experience rather than substantive research, although there are a few quotes from veterinarians and others included.
   
   The author's magazine publication is similar, with answers to readers' questions usually answered with, "Buy the book." When I contacted Ms. Gross with a question about something not answered in this book, a brief answer was avoided and I was instead told that I "...must not subscribe to the magazine?" (I do - that is, I *did*, and I mentioned it in my email,) and that I should purchase her *other* book for more information. If one would imagine that basic information should be included in a book pertaining to an animal health for non-commercial owners, then one would apparently be wrong in Ms. Gross' estimation.
   
   That is just one example of the author's personal tone, which comes across as dictatorial and condescending in this book (as well as in her magazine). Too many statements are unsupported by evidence or explanations. It "tells" but does little to educate.
   
   A new book, The Donkey Companion, by Sue Weaver, is going to be published this year (2008) and it will be interesting to see if it has more up-to-date, beginner-friendly, and well-researched information. I'm anxious to see it and have pre-ordered it already. It will cover all sizes of donkeys, not just miniatures.
   
   Perhaps the availability of another book on donkey care will encourage Ms. Gross to update her work and include additional information. Buyers should be aware that she is not the only "authority" on donkeys, though she makes it sound as though she is. Better to write down your questions and spend the $30 on a phone consultation with an equine vet.



2. Since there are only a few books available on Miniature Donkeys this is the one to get. Well written and lots of valuable information for the first time owner. A pleasure to read.



3. This is an excellent book, and a most welcome read after the disastrous experiences I had with my first 3 miniature donkeys. Poor creatures. I'm only thankful that this wonderful edition has helped me prolong the life expectancy of my current miniature donkey, Gerhardt. Donkies are not something you can just buy to play with and show off to your friends, and then leave unattended with a pet monkey for days on end.
   
   One minor qualm I have is how Gross fails to mention the calamities involved in allowing a pet monkey to ride a miniature donkey. Be forewarned - this is not a good thing to do!



4. Overall excellent, though I wish they'd kept the recipe for poached donkey lung from the first edition....



5. If I had a miniature donkey, I would name it Bonnie Gross. Hey, maybe this book was WRITTEN by a miniature donkey!

5 comments about Beyond the Hay Days: Refreshingly Simple Horse Nutrition, Second Edition.

1. Learn how to feed your horse properly and avoid health problems because of mindless feeding practices.



2. I've been involved with horses since 1970. A lot of books have come and gone that claim to teach you everything you need to know about feeding your horse correctly, but getting through them is a challenge. This book is clear, easy reading. It covers feeds normally fed to horses in the US, and it gives good practical advice. Hay Days will not collect dust on your bookshelf - you'll be referring to it often.



3. This is an excellent book on horse nutrition. It makes nutrition easy to understand and information is presented in an easy to read format. Nutrition concepts (such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, ATP, enzmymes, minerals, vitamins, etc.) and how they are metabolized by the horse are explained. Also included is a chapter dedicated to MSM, DMG, Chondroitin Sulfates, Glucosamine, and Bromelain. The book details how much protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, etc. your type of horse needs (broken down into maintenance horse, pregnancy, lactating, growing, performance, or stallion) and how your horse's health, care and general condition contribute to his ability to absorb these nutrients. Each chapter includes charts highlighting the information presented. Additionally, at the end of the book are charts and formulas to help you determine exactly how much your horse needs of each nutrient and how much he is currently receiving in his diet. They were very easy to use, and this will allow you to see where his diet is deficient. This is a great book for the horse owner who is interested in horse nutrition, wants to optimize what he is feeding his horse, and is curious as to the benefits (or not) of all those supplements on the market.

   While you can purchase either the paperback or hardcover here on amazon, if you go to the publisher (www.pixyjackpress.com), the author will sign the book for you. It's a nice touch.




4. This book offers a very simple, concise look at feeding horses, with an emphasis on SIMPLE. Forage is kept as the cornerstone of the equine diet, and a simple look at protein and mineral requirements is given. Written with U.S. horseowners in mind, this book differs from many books based in the UK, where grain types are much different.



5. Rex Ewing captures the reader's interest easily with his relaxed writing style. He makes horse nutrition sound simple and there isn't a lot of confusing technical terms. A straight-to-the-point book.

1 comments about Jump With Joy: Positive Coaching for Horse and Rider.

1. It is great to have an equestrian book written with training information that is very readable, clearly presented and correct! Should be in every owner/trainer's library !

1 comments about Masters of the Turf: Ten Trainers Who Dominated Horse Racing's Golden Age.

1. Thoroughbred historian Edward L. Bowen chronicles the life and times of the most famous trainers in the "Golden Age of Racing," when the exploits of champions like Man o' War, Equipose and Exterminator were major news events from coast-to-coast.
   
   But - as in any sport - the great athlete has optimum conditioning, which opens the door to performing at grand levels. The trainers who are covered in words and photographs are James G. Rowe, Sr., Sam Hildreth, H. Guy Bedwell, John E. Madden, Max Hirsch, "Sunny" Jim Fitzsimmons, Herbert J. Thompson, Preston Birch, the father-and-son team of Ben A. Jones & Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones and Hirsch Jacobs.
   
   Some of the names may have been lost in the dusty pages of turf history, but Bowen brings these legends to life, while depicting the long hours and sacrifices a trainer makes for those few minutes of fleeting glory in the afternoon.

No comments about Equine Stud Farm Medicine & Surgery.

1 comments about The Horse Shoeing Book: A Pictorial Guide for Horse Owners and Students.

1. It has a lot of pictures and explain everything what you need to know about the basics of horsheing and more.

No comments about The Horse in the Ancient World.

1 comments about American Horses.

1. Ralph Moody's books always contain unique pictures of early 20th century American rural life. AH is an excellent resource for the history of several horse breeds in America. Our children own and train some of these breeds, and were thrilled to learn more of their history.