5 comments about Horse People: Scenes from the Riding Life.

1. Here is the best book I've read on what it means to own or ride a horse. The author, Michael Korda has tried not to anthropomorphize horses, and as a result he sounds a bit detached from these noble creatures (I do attribute human characteristics to horses, but then I'm not a journalist). I'm left with the opinion that he could live without horses, but there are some people who couldn't, including his second wife, Margaret. "Horse People" is almost her biography.
   
   It is also an equestrian autobiography of Korda, himself. Here are the sometimes raffish, always respectful portraits of his mounts, including a "a dapper and rather flashy little Arab-Welsh pony cross that was just a little too small for me...and had, in fact, as it turned out, rather more character than was desirable." Mephisto was the pony's name and one of my favorite stories involves Mephisto's decision to back into the Serpentine, an artificial lake in London's Hyde Park. Korda has to be rescued by the regimental sergeant major of the Life Guards, aboard the regimental drum horse, Clarence "with hooves the size of dinner plates and thick, feathered fetlocks, a towering eighteen hands or more high and probably weighing over a ton..."
   
   Even though many of this book's stories are funny, and most are touching, this is not a collection for horse-loving children. It's a true-life amalgam of "American Beauty" and "National Velvet," with some of the sadness of Steinbeck's "The Red Pony" added to the mix. Horses go lame, suffer from narcolepsy, and have to be euthanized.
   
   Many of the chapters contain deft portraits of (mostly) East Coast equestrians--from Olympic medal winners to those folks, who are happiest at a slow ramble along Central Park's horse trails. President Reagan is featured (Korda wrote his biography in a separate book), as is Bill Steinkraus, who rode in five Olympic Games for the USA, and won the Individual Gold Medal aboard Snowbound at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games--he was the first American ever to win an individual equestrian gold medal. My favorite stories involve the not-so-famous eccentrics who dwell in the equestrian realm: the riding instructors, stable hands, and of course, the regimental sergeant major in "a khaki uniform with razor-sharp creases, and buttons, badges, leather, and cap peak so shiny that it hurt my eyes to look in his direction."
   
   If you are thinking of buying an old farm and keeping horses, then at the very least you should read the chapter, "The Grass Isn't Always Greener on the Other Side of the Fence." Korda takes a look at some of the myriad problems that beset horse owners, accompanied by "the steady, dismal noise of money going out" to farriers, vets, and electricians. Then there are the boarders "tramping through the living room of [the] great ramshackle house in muddy riding boots and spurs looking for a drink or a convenient sofa on which to nap." Included in the usual run of leaky roofs and sagging fences are automatic waterers that shock the horses every time they try to take a drink. This chapter would be extremely funny if it weren't true.
   
   Korda is a splendid raconteur, whether writing about horses, failed marriages, or equestrian presidents. "Horse People," a 'New York Times Notable Book' is perfect for those of us who grew up reading Walter Farley and Marguerite Henry.



2. I have always loved horses, but had only passing touches with them "in the flesh". But my cousin shows a lovely Arabian, and this book gave me a glimpse into her world. Even though I'm not in the horse show circuit, I could relate to Michael and his wife's love of their horses, and the tales of the good, bad, ugly and just plain odd points of each horse as they got to know it. I think the book would also help people who've lost a well-loved pet or companion animal, as throughout the author's lifetime, he had to say goodbye to several wonderful horses, and he shares his emotions in a way that allows you to remember and grieve well your own losses. It's also a step into another world to think of the big city and finding ways to ride within its confines, and I especially loved the pictures from this time period of glamour. I highly recommend it for other "horse people".



3. I found some of the hyper-critical reviews surprising, almost as if the reviewers weren't reading the same book. As someone who has renewed her riding after a 20-year hiatus (having been, in large part, turned off by Claremont and the rutted bridle paths of Central Park), I found this book absolutely charming. The tales of Korda's various horses were heart-warming - I loved the tale of Missouri who still finds purpose in his life at 29, I cried for Hustle, and found the final chapter extremely moving. Korda has great affection and admiration for his wife after over 20 years of marriage, and who can/should argue with that? He also has great affection for his horses, with all their quirks, which is as it should be. Much of what some of the reviewers interpreted as superiority is actually self-deprecating humor of the English variety but which I thoroughly enjoyed.



4. I had high hopes for this book, but was sadly disapointed in the quality of the story and writing. While the equine anecdotes were often interesting or "struck a chord" (the only reason I give this book 2 stars), the writing of the book was about at the level of a talented fifth grader. The stories are presented out of chronological order, which is irritating and confusing; you
   will find yourself reading episodes involving horses of whose death's Korda has gone into great detail about only a chapter or two before, which is a serious detriment to the flow of the story and has you contantly flipping back and forth. Not to mention that it's hard to believe Korda was ever employed as an editor, considering his flimsy grasp on the rules of punctuation and lack of common sense about the flow of a scentence. An entire paragraph may be one legnthy scentence, laden with commas (commas, along with the occasional period, seeming to be the only punctuation Korda is familiar with-- either that or the only two punctuation keys working on his computer). He also interjects "aside" comments into scentences with no regard for how confusing the jumbled information appears to the reader. Many (if not most) of his scentences are severly overburdened and would benefit from putting some information in parenthesis, using a hyphen or semi-colon, or simply making the scentence into two or three seperate scentences.
   
   I did not, however, notice him over-exaulting his wife, a common complaint in the reviews. Nonetheless, I did become irritated with his belief that his horses were all so much more special than and superior to everyone elses' horses-- even horses who (to the author's own admission) enjoy throwing their rider are exaulted and touted as better than all other horses, so long as they belonged to either Korda or his wife. Every one of the horses Korda has ever owned, he seems to believe, is the "best horse in the world". One eventually begins to wonder why Korda wote the book, as he continually critisizes fervent horse people and repeatedly admits that horses are but a hobby for him, not a true passion.
   Ultimately, I'd say read the book if you're very into horses and can get it free or cheap. Someone familiar with the horse world (especially Hunting or 3 Day Eventing) will certainly get a chuckle at some of the characters in the book, and as mentioned certain aspects of the anecdotes certainly strike a chord. However, be prepared for a frustrating, poorly written read as well as some general confusion due to the grammar and chronology of the book.



5. I found Horse People to be highly amusing, if a little too centered on the riding career of the author's wife and the world of eventing.
   
   I grew up in Southern California in the world of horses and I disagree with the author's analogy of "food stamps and old paint" in his description of Western horse owners. While I did know many people of modest means who owned high-dollar horses, I did not know any on the dole. Most of them were working class, as was my father. We had good horses of good breeding and we managed to take pretty good care of them--which was also true of most of the people we knew.
   
   I also knew real movers and shakers when I was coming up and, although some might criticize Korda's excessive attention to their world, he has them pretty well pegged, in my opinion. They're important, in my view--since it is they that help our cherished traditions continue--since only they can really afford to indulge themselves fully in this expensive endeavor. Also, it is they who provide employment for the countless trainers and other handlers, who are truly the unsung heroes of the equine industry.
   
   I do feel that he could have gone a little more into the details of horse rescue and retirement, which is carried on by people of relatively modest means all over the country. I also feel that he could have discussed the horse meat industry in a little more detail. For example, he might have mentioned the growing equine theft problem that it has given rise to, now that it is profitable for any petty criminal to steal a horse that might be convenient and sell him by the pound to the killers--something that happens frequently and almost happened to one of my horses about a year ago.
   
   Still, I highly recommend this to horse people and non-horse people. Above all, it is a fun read and maybe it will inspire more horse people, from other walks (or rides) of the "riding life" to tell their stories.

2 comments about Thinking with Horses.

1. The same as the first book in this series, I sometimes got a little impatient with the writing style but then also once again I still got a lot out of it. On to the last book...



2. Reading Henry Blake is like sitting on the porch listening to some nice old guy recount his life long adventures.

   Thinking With Horses is Henry's second work and in my opinion, as interesting as his first book, Talking With Horses. In his second offering Henry explores more deeply into some of the mysteries of horse communication and behavior, but never loses the style ambiance that he attained in his first book.

   I strongly suggest the reader progress through Henry's work in sequential order; Talking With Horses, Thinking With Horses and Horse Sense. By doing so the reader can enjoy the greater adventure in chronological sequence and fully enjoy the colorful characters, both human and equine, that Henry brings to life in his work.

   Henry Blake is probably my most recommended author for horse enthusiasts and home horse trainers to read.

1 comments about Equine Behaviour: Principles and Practice.

1. Mills and Nankervis display a rare talent for synthesising the complex, and frequently contradictory, theories of the origins and application of horse behaviour. A prolific author and speaker, Mills's teaching expertise is evident in the frequent examples of definitions or issues which arise in the various fields of study. The practical approaches to learning and welfare make this book a keeper. Nankervis is a lecturer in equine physiology at De Montfort University and founder of the Equi-Tutor distance learning programme. The authors' combination of talents means that the reader can absorb their explanations of such terms as "receptor adaptation", "neotenisation" or "simple and composite signals." The reading level is appropriate for a pony-mad 14-year old and up. Its chapter sub-divisions are logical and well-organised. Succinct steps are given for an analysis of problem behaviours together with alerts for other interpretations and modifying aspects. The link between the causes of behavioural reactions and their expression is memorably demonstrated. The beady-eyed horse drawings (the artist is, alas, unidentified) amuse and inform. Similar line drawings are used to illustrate the anatomy of taste buds or the ear, or the spinal cord or brain or neuronal components and connections. The uniformity of style gives the book a clean look. The list of references are short, covering both scientific and popular sources. The tables and graphs are well chosen, uncluttered, and sometimes cleaner refinement of the original. It was gratifying to see the author's diplomatic correction of the terminology used by popular trainer, Monty Roberts, in his "join up" presentations. Roberts refers to the mouth actions of the horse under pressure as "Don't hurt me, I'm a grazing animal" signals. In fact, as Mills and Nankervis point out, they are more likely to be submission, or, as I prefer to call it, "deference" signals given by horses to each other and sometimes other animals or humans. There were some oversights in the text. The ill effects of lungeing horses based on ages and stages of handling could have been emphasised and detailed. The approaches to weaning, while standard, did not detail the safer, kinder one of gradual transition via the social group of all ages. This approach is hinted at in the description of weaning in the wild. The authors make no mention of transport problems. Of all the management practices, transport confronts the horse with the most sustained challenges to its behaviour and health. Nearly 100 years of motorised transport have brought few adjustments to eliminate the problems of horse and handler during transport. Each chapter concludes with stimulating questions inviting further observation, experiment, and refinement. Although Daniel Mills invites correspondence on the topics raised, the printers have forgotten to include his address. We can assume that he is still at the school of agriculture at De Montfort University, Lincoln. This is an excellent book, with much current information, and a resume and resolution of historical background on many issues such as ethology vs. psychology, or nature vs nurture.

No comments about An Introduction to the Tellington-Jones Equine Awareness Method: The T.E.A.M. Approach to Problem-Free Training.

1 comments about Know your Horse Inside Out: A Clear, Practical Guide to Understanding and Improving Posture and Behavior.

1. I love this book. This book does an excellent job describing tension patterns in horses and helps to explain my horses behavior. I now have more tools to work with my horse in a clear and gentle manner. It is well written and has wonderful pictures to support the text.
   My horse will certainly benefit from all I learned from this book!!

4 comments about Out of the Saddle: The Young Rider's Edition of Horse, Follow Closely.

1. I have both the hard back and the soft back and I found them both the same, but some has different pictures. I can not get enough of Pony Boy or the photos. The soft back is easier to read, and I know have the hard back on my coffee table, and the soft back in my tack room..very good, and my husband who is a horse trainer is now using Pony Boy's method to train his horse and others...I trained my horse Pony Boys method right off the begining



2. This is a wonderful book on several levels. I recommend it for kids and adults alike.



3. Arrived in perfect condition and my sister loved it as a gift.



4. I really enjoyed this book myself, and had to wait to read it till the kids were finished with it.....they shared it with all of their horsey friends! It was nice to see that a high quality, full color photo book was available, and the fact that this was in paperback made a great buy. Some of the most unique stories I have ever read were sprinkled throughout the text, and the design was nice for the kids, it seemed to really keep their interest. What surprised me was that they found a renewed love of their horses - which I didn't really expect! The history included in parts of the book, such as 'why Native American Indians painted their horses and what the symbols meant' was very interesting. I was thriled to hear a discussion in the other room about what these kids had learned in school about 'history' about "indians" and this book caused them to realize that there was more to the story....I am glad that this book is out there to educate as well as entertain. As a mom, I highly recommend this book for your young horse lovers - whether they own one or not. Disappointments? It could have been longer.

No comments about Saddle Fitting (Allen Photographic Guides).

4 comments about Saddle Seat Equitation.

1. This book was absolutely fabulous. It gives information about the most popular breeds that compete in saddelseat equitation, and Helen Crabtree is especcially helpful with all of her years of experience. Even though the book is more than 20 years old, the lessons inside remain true. This is a timeless book that should be read by all saddleseat riders to enhance their possible performance in and out of the show ring.



2. This is an absolutely superb treatise on Saddle Seat Equitation, particularly for those new to the sport. Even for experienced Saddle Seat riders, there is probably no clearer explanation of the basics of showing the saddle horse anywhere, and we all need a bit of review ocasionally! The book covers a wide scope of subjects connected with the training of horse and rider to enter the world of riding and showing in the Saddle Seat discipline. Crabtree adresses such critical but sometimes overlooked subjects as the role a rider's parents can and should play at shows, beauty in the pairing of rider and horse, and teaching the adult show rider. What it offers in scope, it lacks in depth - and this is deliberate, since it is aimed at the new rider/trainer. Although every rider would benefit vastly from reading this book, especially the sections on the Saddle Seat Equitation tests, more advanced riders will not find it satisfying in terms of in-depth discussions of training or show ring techniques, as that is not its focus. But it is an extremely worthwhile book for riders of all levels, and it is also an eminently readable, delightful and informative chronicle of the Saddle Seat Equitation world from the 50s to the 80s.



3. I sugest this book to EVERY HORSE LUVER especially Saddlebred LUVER it is filled with funny stories, history, and memories



4. The author, Helen Crabtree, is a noted horsewoman. She's won the AHSA Horsewoman of the Year Award and the United Professional Horseman Associations's Trainer of the Year award. She has trained over 75 World Champions with her methods. This book shares her expertise. The book deals with the mechanics of riding Saddle Seat, proper tack, and rider attire, but does not deal with judging Saddle Seat. The emphasis is on showing.

1 comments about Trail Riding: A Complete Guide (Howell Equestrian Library).

1. Beginner's best buy for overall horse owning & care. No secret things to "do on the trail or getting there", but a comprehensive introduction. A must for early horse riders (who can read). Great resource section in Appendix.

No comments about ABC's of Showmanship: Teach Your Horse the Showmanship Maneuvers Step-By-Step.