No comments about Riding Masterclass.

1 comments about Whoa-Ga! Eight Limbed Yoga for Horse/Rider Harmony.

1. I found Whoa-ga to be inspirational as well as practical. The text is clearly written and keeps attention and the pictures and illustrations are helpful. I really enjoyed the forward by Elena Collins. The focus on balance and relationship is great.

5 comments about Training Strategies for the Dressage Rider, Second Edition.

1. This is a fabulous dressage book. Be sure to get the 2nd edition as it is a joy to read and is clear and explains everything so well. If you only get one dressage book,this should be the one. I have tons of them and this one is the best.



2. Here's a book for the well-educated, well-experienced dressage rider who wants to refine their skill and reaffirm their knowledge. It is by no means a quick, light read. It's a textbook to be read, studied, and absorbed with dedication. Charles de Kunffy is a master of classical dressage who apparently spent a great deal of effort putting this book together for the serious rider. He has high ideals and evident compassion for the horse, and structures all his techniques and strategies with the welfare of the horse in mind.

   The 300 pages in this book cover a huge range of topics. Always the philosopher, Mr. de Kunffy writes in thick yet imaginative language, provoking just the right mental pictures. Everything is covered from the rider's seat to competition preparation. You will gain a greater, fuller understanding of correct seat and aids, correct flexion of the horse, lateral work, improving the basic gaits, and further schooling to higher level dressage. He also discusses various equipment and their uses.

   This is an extremely valuable guide to any serious rider. Beware, though, that it's not for a beginner.




3. The author demonstrates clearly his love for horses and the art of dressage. He emphasizes the fundamentals of good riding: a good seat and hence quiet giving hands. This is not really a 'how-to' book, but then no book on riding really can be, because riding is not something mechanical. I enjoyed reading this book, even though the text is quite repetitive at times. It made me newly aware of aspects of my riding, and I have been riding dressage for more than 20 years!



4. This book tells you how to get the best results out of your horse. It has so much vital information if you want to become a good dressage rider or just in general riding. If you love horses and want to ride your horse with the most humane and loving way this book is for you!! I admire the author's love, dedication and respect for horses and there well being.



5. Although I agree that the author advocates a thoughtful and gentle approach to riding which is to be commended, as a novice to dressage I found the information hard to put to use. There is much digression into theory during explanation of the aids for various movements. I didn't find it helpful to hear how, for example, the perfect half-pass "should" be done. I was hoping to be told what EXACTLY to do with my aids, what to avoid and how best to present this movement to my horse, as clearly as possible and without a lot of "pie-in-sky" wishful thinking. I agree with the reviewer from Charlotte that this book is not for beginners. If anyone thinks I am off the mark, please let me know - otherwise I will return this book.

3 comments about What Horses Teach Us: Life's Lessons Learned from Our Equine Friends.

1. This book reflects how creative and unfathomable our Creator God in Heaven really is! The fact that all living creatures have the same Creator God shows how intrinsically and uniquely designed each species is to clearly represent itself.
   
   As humans (we're not animals - Thank God!:), this book represents the fact that we are able to read, think, reason, feel, make intellectual decisions, love and be loved. Animals, on the other hand, can only represent themselves in the station of life they have been created for - they are the handiwork of our imaginative God who allows animals to be blessings which we may thoroughly enjoy and appreciate.
   
   Saturate yourself with the sweet sentiments of this endearing book...take a quiet moment to reflect on what the pages represent. A picture is worth a thousand words. Allow God to reveal Himself through His Creation just as He promises He will in Romans chapter 1 (take a look at the Holy Bible) and be renewed by the goodness He has toward us! Enjoy...



2. The previous reviewer who said the book had no content...was just pictures is definately off base with their evaluation. The disappointed reviewer was probably expecting one of those horse psychology books. Yes, there are mostly just pictures, but they are wonderful, humerous affirmations of animal behaviour from which we as human animals can be reminded of our own wisdom and folly and our connection to the animal kingdom and the oneness of all living things. The pictures make you wonder how long the photographer sat around waiting for the animal to do that. And the lessons and commentary for the pictures fit perfectly. I love all the books in this series..What Cats, Dogs, Horses, etc. Can Teach Us, and highly recommend them. They make wonderful gifts for animal lovers and are great to have handy to pick up for a good chuckle or a warm fuzzy emotional pick me up.



3. There is no content. It's just pictures with captions. I want to return it, but when I try on line, it tells me the book is not returnable. I just received it yesterday.

1 comments about How Horses Learn: Equine Psychology Applied to Training.

1. Although this book was written in the late 70's, it covers the basics of how horses learn in an indepth and informative narrative. The writing style is not academic, even when reviewing scientific research and there are many illustrations and examples used to explain the information. A great book for the beginning horse person who wants to have a fundamental knowledge of how to approach teaching a horse basic manuvers as well as avoiding mistakes which can teach a horse bad behaviors. Dr. Godfrey has also contributed to the Chicken Soup for the Horse Lovers Soul series.Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul II: Tales of Passion, Achievement and Devotion (Chicken Soup for the Soul)

5 comments about From the Horse's Mouth.

1. This beautiful book exposes so many of the abuses that Tennessee Walker showhorses suffer along the way to winning ribbons and trophies for greedy owners. It is a shame on the industry that these abuses STILL occur today. Offenders have even made a science out of covering up their transgressions and only get what amounts to a slap on the hand for getting caught. This book not only makes you despise the abuse but also respect and admire the proud history of this fantastic breed. The gentle horse who is the narrator in the book does everything he can to please people despite the awful way he is treated, and this is so typical of Tennessee Walking Horses. I think anyone who enjoys this breed or even anyone who loves horses at all should read this book. It is touching. I hope it helps turn the industry towards sound, naturally gaited horses.



2. Anyone who reads this book and is not motivated to change the Walking Horse training methods has no soul. The horrors that Walking Horses are put through in the name of beauty are absolutely and without a doubt the most cruel and unhumane practices on the face of the earth. If people would just appreciate the horses' natural ability and gait it would be a much more enjoyable association.



3. Every horse lover should read this book. It is so heartbreakingly true it will bring you to tears many times as you read. Someday this abuse has to be stopped. I love the way the book is written, with the horses telling the story. A very powerful book.Thank you, Mr Davis for writing this book. So many people choose not to see what is happening to these beautiful and naturally unique horses.



4. My family is just getting into the Walking Horse industry, and I felt this book was a good way to find out some of the history of the breed.
   
   I was very upset of find out that these animals are treated in such a manner. It almost makes me embarressed to say that I want to be a owner and breeder of these fine animals.
   
   All I can say, is that now that I know what is actually happening, I can try to do all I can to promote sound horses and help in the fight to get this to come to end someday.
   
   More people need to read this book, and maybe someday there will be enough of a push to make all this torture end.



5. I showed pleasure Tennessee Walking horses for years and a padded horse on one occasion. I saw most all of the things mentioned in this book done to these wonderful horses, with perhaps one exception. Although I never sored any of my own personal horses, due to the fact I love them too much and a blue ribbon isn't that important to me, I was shown how to do it and encouraged to do it and did show horses which were sore (although I was not their owner but was riding them for their owner). I cared to much about my animals to sore them and was very interested in reading this book when I found out about it. It is pretty painful to read but it is very honest in describing what does happen to these wonderful horses. Unfortunately today the plantation pleasure horses are going through as much as the padded horses, only minus the pads. If only they could talk and Mr. Davis has done a really nice job giving them their due. I hope this book will enlighten many, but at the same time will not turn anyone away from this breed because it is a wonderful breed to own, ride and show; and all these things can be done successfully without abusing the horses. Funny how the characters in this book really remind me of some of the exact big time walking horse trainers and showmen I know of.

1 comments about Veterinary Care for the Perfect Horse (John Lyons Perfect Horse Library Series).

1. This book is gr8 to have around for the basics. Keeps you up-to-date on all the information you need to know regarding wormer information, yearly shot information, diseases, etc. Also references regarding temps, resp, etc. My friends love it that I can refer to this book first before I have to call them. = ) Gr8 book to have on hand for every horse owner.

1 comments about The How-To Horseshoeing Book.

1. I admit to being a bit of a farriery geek. This book is a collection of articles on shoeing methds for very specific disciplines. I might never own a harness racer or need to shoe a Clyde of the show ring, but I sure found the info interesting, and it did help me understand some of the mechanics of shoeing better. A very interesting read, but not Shoeing 101.

No comments about The Horse Illustrated Guide to Trail Riding.

3 comments about Horsemanship: A Comprehensive Book on Training the Horse and Its Rider (Trafalgar Square Classics).

1. great book for all the "horse lovers" out there. very well written,explains in detail how to train your horse ( and rider for that matter) to be able to do all the maneuvers required for dressage.The best thing about this book is that it is not only for "dressage" people, it's about natural horsemanship and how to teach your horse to be the best that he can be, calm, confident, have respect for you and the most important how to develop relationship between you and your horse.
   Love it, by far the book about training horses I have ever read.



2. This was a gift for a horse trainer friend - he reads it constantly - it's a classic



3. Among top European trainers, this book is widely reguarded as a great classic. It covers the full spectrum of dressage training from the very beginning, with the young horse, on to the highest levels. While the prose is very elegant, it is not the easiest book to read. And, there are many in-depth discussions of training theory. However, all serious students of dressage should own this book. It is one of the most correct and complete works on this subject.