No comments about Arabians 2009 Calendar.

2 comments about The Harmony Project: Part One.

1. As a student of naturalhorsemanship I can't say enough good things about this book. Kate has created a wonderful blend of story and infomation. Books on NHS can be difficult to read and absorb. They also tend not to give a sense of the time that can be involved along the way. Of elements like learning your timing and feel, and how that plays into the learning process...for the trainer and the horse. Kate provides a wonderful narative along with the information that gives others interested in this approach a sense of the time involved. Not that it takes a LONG time, but when you see an experienced horseman get through to a horse in a few hours... and it takes you a few weeks, that can be discouraging ... you see in Kates story it does take some time..it does for EVERYONE that adopts this approach to working with horses... and sometimes it cold out, and sometimes its raining and you are wet to the skin... and that you're there for as long as it takes... and when you look back in a few months to see how far you and your horses have come, thats when you see the results and the progress in both of you...
   
   This approach works for all horses, all owners/trainers and you don't have to be 'handy' with a rope when you start.. you just have to have the conviction to keep going out there and trying again.. and again.. until it starts to come together...
   
   A really good read for those curious about the 'horse whisperer' tactics to find out whats really happening and that its not magic, its basic communication...
   
   Thank you so much Kate for documenting your experience.



2. I have read this book from cover to cover 4 times now and keep going back for reference. An invaluable training aid for those of us with youngsters and of course anyone interested in Natural Horsemanship looking to broaden your understanding of the equine mind. The book is brilliant and congratulations to the aurthor it has been a fantastic tool in the training of my horses.

No comments about A Student Workbook for BHS Stage One (Books for British Horse Society Examination).

4 comments about Fitting and Showing the Halter Horse.

1. This book was very helpful. It demonstrated many different ways or wrapping, trailering, braiding, ect. It covers showing for english, western, and halter. You learn some good tricks, and tech. The only thing I missed, was that it didn't cover very much in the way of actually showing in halter. Then again, it was only intended to cover how to prepare for stuff, and it really goes beyond that.
   I recommend it to anyone who wants to know diff. ways to braid, leg wrap, and other things.



2. I wish I'd known about this book 20 years ago! It contains not only information directly related to fitting and showing the horse, but also has lots of other valuable information in it for horse owners in general and those with show aspirations in particular.



3. I wish I'd known about this book 20 years ago! It contains not only information directly related to fitting and showing the horse, but also has lots of other valuable information in it for horse owners in general and those with show aspirations in particular.



4. Fitting and Showing the Halter Horse is a good book the for the begginer to advanced showmanship/Halter exibitor. It shows you the finer points of what the judge is looking for in you and your horse. I recomend this book if you have just started showing a horse. It realy helps you out in what equiptment to by, grooming tips, what to do when you get into the ring and much, much more!!!!

4 comments about Heavenly Gaits: The Complete Book of Gaited Riding Horses.

1. Stepping Off the Edge: Learning & Living Spiritual Practice
   
   Are you tired of aching after every ride? Do you dream of pain free riding? Liberation can be yours! Try an easy gaited horse! I made the switch, and I'm glad. This comprehensive book discusses all the gaited breeds-- Saddlehorses, Peruvian Pasos, Icelandics, many more. Explains what lateral gait is. Why suffer? Figure out which breed appeals and GO FOR IT!



2. For the money, I was expecting a little bit more. Then again, paltry little fluff paperbacks are going for 8 bucks a pop these days, so I shouldn't have been too surprised to find this petite volume going for $20+.

   It seems very well-researched, with lots of history for each breed. The section on Icelandic horses is particularly entertaining. The cover proclaims "Five-Gaited American Saddlebred, Tennesee Walking Horse, Missouri Fox Trotter, Peruvian Paso, Icelandic Horse, Paso Fino, and _More_". The "And more" is a dissapointing 7 pages covering 10 other breeds rather perfunctorily. Rather disappointing to me, a reader looking for more info on Tiger Horses (3 paragraphs) and the Rocky Mountain Horse (a rather substantial 5 paragraphs/about a page and a half). And while I know there are entire books about the lovely Lipizzan, I would have liked a mention in this one, as well.

   For those of us who enjoy looking at pretty horses, this book is a disappointment. The photos are mostly small and all in black and white. Instead of a diagram of the various gaits, I would have probably been more educated by stop-motion photographs of the horse in motion, to watch their feet, with perhaps a diagram or description of the gait underneath the photo.

   The writing is good, the research is fine, the description of gaits seems very comprehensive, but...there just wasn't enough!




3. If you have any interest in gaited horses in particular, or horses in general, this book should be on your shelf. It gives wonderful descriptions and illustrations of the different gaits and in-depth history of many gaited breeds. The writing style is very readable and is actually hard to put down. The appendix of breed associations and bibliography listing books, magazines and tapes is extremely helpful. Bravo to Ms. Imus!



4. As a new owner of a Tennesse Walker- I found this book to be very informative. There is not much written on gaited horses. I enjoyed the parts on genetics and the explaination of the different gaits and the breed profiles. I belive this book would interest anyone with a gaited horse and if you dont have a gaited horse it would make you want to get one!!

No comments about How Your Horse Works.

5 comments about Tears and Tales: Stories of Human and Animal Rescue.

1. Once again, Russell Vassallo has written a book that will bring pain to your heart but laughter to your soul. The depth and honesty of the emotions that he shares with us are at once breathtaking and admirable. Few men have the kind of courage Vassallo has when it comes to revealing the singularly human feelings that are shared by all of us, men and women alike. Whether it be loneliness, frustration, fear or depression, Vassallo has tasted them all. But, more importantly, he can also share those feelings with us, and in so doing, directs the light of understanding into our own lives, and our own experiences.
   
   There is a lot of sadness in these stories, as there is a lot of sadness in the world at large. But there is also a lot of joy in these stories. It is the joy of loving, of being loved, and of sharing that love with others, whether those others be people or animals.
   
   Mr. Vassallo obviously has a special connection with animals, an affinity that is returned to him in full measure by nearly every animal he meets and takes into his heart. The animals feel that love as much as he does. And the lives of both are enriched by that love.
   
   The stories in this collection include a duck that gets uproariously drunk--falling-down drunk--on rye whiskey; a mysterious, almost mystical cardinal who brings hope to the hopeless; a horse and a dog whose bond was stronger than death itself; and a mare who re-lights the flame of marital love.
   
   This is a book for anyone who loves and tries to understand animals, any kind of animals. But it is also a book for those who wish to understand themselves.
   
   This is a book that clearly deserves MORE than five stars. I recommend it highly.
   
   Russ Heitz
   www.russheitz.com



2. I bought Tears and Tales because it was recommended to me by a friend. I love the stories and I can't make up my mind which story is the best. They are all great. I really feel like I know the characters and didn't want the book to end



3. Feeling down? Going through a rough period of life? Russell Vassallo, author of Tears and Tales has had more of those times than most people, but has been helped through all of them by loving and being loved by the many animals that have been a part of his life.
   
   We share his journey of healing from a painful childhood through the dissolution of his first marriage, retirement, depression, and then the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Beginning with Crazy Duck, the whiskey drinking duckling, Russell shows us the way in which animals help him connect to his feelings.
   
   Russell shares many stories of how animals guided him through an inner journey of self-reflection. He is fearless in allowing us to see parts of himself that many would be afraid to share. We learn of his doubts about his worthiness as a partner and parent; we see him become self-absorbed and misinterpret his wife's caring gestures. Throughout it all, we are privy to his willingness to learn about love and life from his dogs, horses, and even a cardinal that speaks to him of the possibility of a joyful life.
   
   Reading this book will give you hope that you can cope with whatever challenges life gives you. And it will inspire you to share that life with an animal that needs you as much as you need it.



4. As the tears came to my eyes as I read the stories of each special animal, I realized that our vulnerable friends make our lives rich. Having rescued and loved many animals, memories came to mind of the sad times and happy times throughout the years. This book will warm the hearts of so many people. Take the time to enjoy it!



5. Mr. Vassallo beautifully expresses how animal "relationships" offer life lessons we can apply to our encounters with each other, as well as discover things we didn't recognize in ourselves. We may not always like what we see, but we are forever changed by the experiences and lessons these beloved creatures impart to our daily lives and those around us.
   
   You will close this book with a sense of understanding your own "Tears and Tales" after reading and re-reading this honest recollection of love, loss, laughter and a sprinkling of magic even if you don't believe a Cardinal can save a man's life...in this case, Mr. Vassallo's!
   
   I look forward to the next time Mr. Vassallo will entertain and enlighten us with his gift of telling it like it is when you have animals in your life....worth every joy and every tear, and what you lose if you don't.
   
   This unique personal perspective of the human/animal bond will speak to anyone with a heart. The author's very candid and revealing insight into his personal space, and the the animals who entered is most reassuring to anyone who has ever felt like giving up or looking for strength to go on.
   
   Thank you Russell,for sharing.

2 comments about The Whole Horse Wellness Guide: Natural and Conventional Care for a Healthy Horse.

1. The horse, whether a working animal on the ranch, or at the race track, or is simply a personal recreational companion, is susceptible to a host of potential health problems that alert owners and handlers must be aware of in terms of the care provided them. In "The Whole Horse Wellness Guide: Natural And Conventional Care for A Healthy Horse", author Diane Morgan (who over the years has owned Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Arabians, and Morgans) with the assistance of veterinarian Doug Knueven (a pioneer in holistic pet care and owner of the Beaver Animal Clinic, a full service animal hospital in Beaver County, Pennsylvania) provide with an illustrated instructional reference that addresses such equine health and medical issues as mainstream medical practices and surgical treatments, nutritional wellness and therapeutic healing, bodywork, acupuncture, acupressure and Shiatsu; energetic medicine, homeopathy, western herbal medicine; Chinese herbal medicine, ayurvedic medicine, aromatherapy and essential oils, and flower essences. Of special note is the section devoted to 'Common Equine Diseases and Treatment Options'. Enhanced with the addition of a glossary, a resources list, and an index, "The Whole Horse Wellness Guide" is a welcome and thoroughly 'user friendly' addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.



2. wonderful read on a different approach to wellness for my equines. It will be close at hand for everything I need to look up.

5 comments about Wild About Horses: Our Timeless Passion for the Horse.

1. Just read - agree with Monika - (review written in '04 (I believe) too much tales of abuse, murder, maiming of horses for my taste. What was this author (compiler) thinking about in getting this stuff together? I wonder how many books this has really sold. I also wonder about the other reviewers who gave this five stars? Lots of info left out - something started then left hanging. "Epic Rides" - terrible, deplorable. Overall not a good effort. Scanlan - how much of a horse lover is he, really? Makes you wonder. Wish I could get my $15.00 back.



2. I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it. Whether you are an expert horseperson or just a horse lover this book is for you! The chapters cover horses throughout history in war, sports, Hollywood, Greek mythology, and even where we get some of our common sayings (pass the buck, lucky horseshoe, getting on your high horse). I will definitely read this book more than once!



3. The author, Lawrence Scanlan, is something of a 'born-again' horse lover, by his own proclamation. He admits that for much of his life he failed to see the overwhelming appeal that many people find in horses. But as an adult, in preparation for his job as co-author of "Riding High" with show jumping champion Ian Millar, Scanlan started to take riding lessons. Soon he was hooked. Although he still does not have horses of his own, he now loves riding and spending time in the company of our equine companions. As he read more and more about the equine creature, he became fascinated with the intertwined histories of humans and horses. This is what led him to write "Wild About Horses," a collection of [mostly true, some fictional] stories celebrating this inter-species bond.

   Scanlan does not really have a central thesis, but rather explores the numerous ways in which horses have participated in and impacted humans throughout history and into the present day. His writing is fluid and to the point. The book is divided into ten chapters, each with a slightly different theme, covering such stories as the following (these are not the only stories he addresses, but just a sampling to give you an idea):

   Horses in rituals and sacrifices through history; Pegasus; the Trojan Horse; Scanlan's own horseback trip in Wyoming; the history of mustangs; Wild Horse Annie; the evolution of the horse; the domestication of horses; horses as a food source; Xenophon; Native American horsemanship; trainer John Solomon Raney in the 1850s; trainers Monty Roberts and Tom Dorrance; Alexander the Great and Bucephalus; the history of warhorses; the Huns and Mongols; Medieval knights; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Comanche and the Battle of Little Bighorn; Napoleon and Marengo; Wellington and Copenhagen; Roy Rogers and Trigger; Eadweard Muybridge's motion photography; the Lone Ranger and Silver; the books "Black Beauty," "Misty of Chincoteague," "My Friend Flicka," and "Smoky the Cow Horse"; the movie "National Velvet"; author and former jockey Dick Francis; equine athletes Ruffian, Northern Dancer, Secretariat, Phar Lap, Man O'War, Big Ben, Halla, and Arkle; cattle drives; Scanlan's own stay at a working ranch; A.E. Tschiffley's 10,000 mile ride across the Americas; Barbara Whittome's 2,500 mile ride across Russia; Welsh Pony breeders Dick & Adele Rockwell; the Pony Express, and Buffalo Bill Cody; Snow Man, a horse rescued from slaughter that went on to become a champion jumper; Marocco the 'dancing horse'; Clever Hans; horse psychic Fred Kimball; and the bonds horses form with other animals.

   While I did enjoy reading this book, I have a few criticisms. First and foremost, Scanlan seems to have borrowed heavily from the book "The Man Who Listens to Horses" by Monty Roberts (for which Scanlan wrote the introduction and afterword). He has used material both from his own contributions to the book, as well as Roberts's own writing, often using identical phrasing. This parroting was especially evident since I have only just finished reading Roberts's book, and was somewhat disappointing. The sense of repetition is also furthered by the fact that most of these stories are very common ones, and I've heard about 75% of them before. They're not bad stories, but I do wish Scanlan had dug a little deeper for some less commonly heard-of accounts to include.

   Furthermore, Scanlan's coverage is not balanced. He leaves out vast areas of the horse world. The book has plenty of material on riding horses and ponies, but almost nothing on draft horses. The "Sport Horse Legends" chapter focuses almost entirely on Thoroughbred racehorses. There are a few jumpers thrown in, but no Western horses at all. When he talks of horse trainers, he talks a great deal about Monty Roberts, and a little bit about a couple others, but does not even mention many of the most influencial trainers of the last few decades. At times I also questioned the author's analytical skills, particularly when he dismissed a story as false on the basis that the horse involved, reported to be a palomino, had a Spanish name that translated to Cinnamon (which he said was too dark a color for palomino). However, this does not seem so far-fetched to me, as my father once owned a small black dog named Big Red...

   And finally, his writing is not completely focused on the supposed subject of the book - why humans love horses. He has included an overwhelming number of stories about horse abuse, and most don't even lead into more uplifting stories. In the "Epic Rides" chapter, he even commends several long-distance riders known for riding horses to death. Even more strange to me was the fact that, although much of the first chapter talks mildly and even respectfully about the ways horse skins and heads were used to adorn ancient holy spots, Scanlan later launches into a tirade against equine taxidermy and condemns horsemen such as Roy Rogers, who chose to have Trigger preserved and mounted.

   However, despite its faults, I did like the book. It was not perfect, but it was enjoyable. I did find some of the stories to be new and quite interesting, and Scanlan's extensive list of recommended further reading has lengthened the list of books I plan to read. If you're a connoisseur of horse lore, "Wild About Horses" may not hold any surprises for you, but it is nevertheless a nice collection. It's easy reading, and the text is interspersed with many black-and-white photographs. This would be nice for a personal treat or a gift for a friend.




4. My mother bought this book for me when she worried that her online purchase "The Tao of Horses" might not arrive on time (It did! Amazon.com always comes through!) This was the only book on horses in the entire used book store where she loves to shop... so she was apologetic about having to get me 'any old horse book' as a substitute for the one I'd wanted.

   I'm so happy she found this book.. I might never have found it on my own. I find it extremely easy to read, and quite informative in its' historical pieces. I love 'horse lore', but if it is written tediously, I don't often have the energy left to read it after a long day of teaching.

   This book is a delight!




5. I gave "Wild About Horses" four stars instead of five because I'd already heard or read most of the stories in my fifty years of being 'wild about horses'. They're good stories though, and well worth repeating. Scanlan reports a variation on 'The Pacing Mustang' (one of my all time favorites): the wild stallion who threw himself off of a cliff rather than endure capture by men. He includes a chapter on 'Epic Rides' which made me want to just saddle up and go (one of his riders, A.F. Tschiffely rode 10,000 miles from the tip of South of America to Washington D.C. in two and a half years. Anyone game for a trip from Texas to Alaska?).

   'Wild About Horses' would be an excellent book to give to your horse-crazy teen-ager. It's all about relationships (between horses and humans, in this case) and is written in a laid-back, New Age style that is easy to read. Scanlan talks about his own experiences with horses, and if you're a beginning rider you'll empathize with him!

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.