2 comments about Trail Training For Horse And Rider (Equi Skills).

1. This enjoyable and lively book will inspire you to seek out trail riding opportunities beyond your current comfort level, and will deliver on practical advice to stay safe and keep your horse healthy in so doing. The author's engagingly personal style, replete with many real-life anecdotes about horses she has ridden and incidents encountered on trails, will keep you entertained while you learn. Chapters cover choosing a trail horse, training a horse for trail rides, fitness, trail etiquette, safety, and how to deal with common problems such as barn and buddy sourness, jigging, spooking, and the more dangerous bolting, bucking, and rearing. Highly recommended for all levels of trail riders.



2. This is a wonderful resource for both the experienced and the novice trail rider. Those of us who are fans of Ms. Daly's have long-awaited this book. Ms. Daly has written a monthly trail riding newsletter for some time. The book reflects her easy-to-read, conversational style and contains so many great stories. Ms. Daly and her friends have done it all!
   The first part of the book emphasizes the fun and challenges of trail riding. Innumerable trail pointers and etiquette tips are given: avoid running up behind another rider; cross streets in groups (not single file); hold gates up for other horses, but don't hold branches for other horses, etc. She describes common and uncommon obstacles and how to both prepare for them in advance of the ride and also how to handle them during the ride. Ms. Daly further describes safe conditioning for the trail horse, an important aspect of trail riding that is too often neglected.
   In the second half of the book, Ms. Daly describes how to train horses for safe trail riding. She addresses both the young or inexperienced horse as well as the horse who has developed some nasty vices such as bucking, bolting, spooking, barn souring, or rearing. These chapters could be very useful to the rider/horse who has performed mostly in the arena and would like to try the great outdoors. If a chapter doesn't apply to your horse today, it will probably apply to a friend's. This is a book to be read and re-read--and enjoyed!

1 comments about Understanding the Horse's Back.

1. this is a thorough study of the horse's back. Every bone, every muscle and the functions are explained in this book. Also discussed are ways to keep the back functioning properly. The author explains what to look for from the horse's body actions that might hint to pain from the back. It's a good book and one that you can read again about eery 6 months to a year...for a refresher.

1 comments about Schooling for Success With William Fox-Pitt.

1. Having drooled over William Fox-Pitt since Pony Club I am very disappointed to be giving this book a poor review. My expectations were perhaps too great. The first few chapters (Flatwork, Jumping) and those at the end (At The Competition, Get Your Horse Fit) I felt were a waste of paper. They essentially covered the basics and common sense tips experienced riders already know. Readers can go to other more specialized books for advice on these topics. However, I did enjoy reading more about William's background and early days.
   
   The chapter I wanted more from was Cross Country. This book should have been re-focused as "Cross Country Schooling for Success" and more technical detail could have been added throughout. The take home message was to approach each fence with confidence, look ahead, maintain contact and keep your horse between hand and leg. Stay balanced with a secure lower leg. The text rarely got more detailed than that and training tips "if you look into a ditch, you'll end up in it!" again common sense advice. Experienced riders will want so much more, therefore I think this book will be better for the beginning event rider. But then photographs of advanced level jumps are not immediately relative to them. Also, the short two pages on introducing a young horse to water were basic. I've read a better guide in Practical Horseman magazine.
   
   One of the main problems is that the text is by Kate Green. Although I appreciate many riders have another person write for them, I think you still want to feel that you are paying for William's advice. So you want it to read like William has written it, rather than just put his name to it. Thus when discussing photos of William riding over fences, it should read "Here I came in too fast, my reins got too long" etc etc., rather than "This pair came in too fast" or "This rider let his reins slip". Although many riders are photographed in the book, we can easily pick out William. The book would have a better feel, if it read like he wrote it.
   
   The best part of this book is the excellent use of sequenced photography. There are some great shots and certainly a few photos that will make you cringe. It is nice to visualize where things went wrong, and this can be a great training tool. But I can imagine some of these photos discouraging the nervous rider. Experienced riders may appreciate this book as a good review and relish the photography - as I did.

No comments about Colts & Fillies 2009 Calendar.

1 comments about Discovering Horse Drawn Farm Machinery (Shire Discovering).

1. This is a lovely little pocket size book packed with useful information on horse drawn farm machinery.
   
   If you've ever wondered how they did it or the difference between a harrow and a harvester this book will tell you. If you've ever thought of taking up farming by horse, this book can help tell you what you need to know.
   
   Overall I'd recommend it.

5 comments about Clifford: of Drummond Island.

1. Clifford is a wonderful book for anybody who loves horses. It's also a great read for any animal lover, whether your favorite animal is a dog, cat, bird, or any other four-legged, furry friend. Nancy Bailey is a talented writer who is able to quickly bring the reader into her special world and share her love and connections with her animals. Clifford, the star of the book, is a comical, lovable horse who obviously adores Bailey but also insists on doing things his own way. Bailey isn't afriad to show these quirks and funny mis-adventures and that's what gives the book such a personal, enjoyable touch. Clifford and Trudy, another horse of Bailey's, also have a special connection with the many dogs that share Bailey's attentions. The book is made up of lots of short chapters, each one a new adventure. The horse/dog adventures are interspersed with stories about other animals that have touched Bailey's life. I particularly enjoyed the story about Rookie, the curious chickadee, Joe the Goat, and Frightful the Hawk. After reading this enchanting book, I feel like I know all of Bailey's special animal friends quite well. I highly recommend this book for a fun, memorable read.



2. If you love to read about animals, especially horses, this is the book for you.



3. This book gives us a peak in to the life of a very interesting, talented woman. She actually has time to ride her horse with her dogs running along beside. She has great adventures, thanks to a horse, Clifford, with a spunky personality. I think any animal lover will enjoy this book very much. References to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are pretty interesting, also.



4. This is a story about a horse that has a mind of his own, another horse who is perfect, and one who isn't so right in the head. Clifford of Drummond Island is a great book. Clifford is a chestnut colored Morgan colt who is raised using "clicker training" a technique used on dogs. With clicker training Clifford learns various tricks including learning how to fetch a cone. Clifford wins the hearts of everyone on Drummond Island, especially Mrs. Bailey's dad. This a great book for horse lovers and non-horse lovers alike!



5. Nancy Bailey has written a wonderful book, for animal-lovers of all ages, about Clifford, her Morgan horse with TOO much personality. Her evocative and descriptive prose takes the reader on a journey to Drummond Island, Michigan, and encounters with family members, islanders, birds, dogs, "fudgies," and of course Clifford himself. By the end of the book, I felt that I had known all of the characters myself!

No comments about Fitting Tack (Horse Illustrated Simple Solutions).

1 comments about Mindful Horsemanship: Daily Inspirations for Better Communications with Your Horse.

1. Mindful Horsemanship: Increasing Your Awareness One Day At A Time by freelance writer and horse expert Cheryl Kimball is a superbly presented compendium of 366 contemplative quotations concerning the search for better horsemanship, self-improvement in general, and a love for mankind's dedicated and hardworking equine companions. There is an appropriate quote for every day of the year, with a brief interpretation particularly geared toward horsemanship. Highly recommended for non-specialist general readers who have a love and admiration for the horse, Mindful Horsemanship should be a core addition to any personal, riding stable, or community library Horsemanship Studies collection.

No comments about Cross-Country Course Design and Construction: The Essential Guide for Course Designers, Builders, and Competitors.

4 comments about Horse for Sale: How to Buy a Horse or Sell the One You Have.

1. I would have never thought of all of these issues when buying my first horse. After reading this book, I no longer felt apprehensive about going through the process and I was informed. The first two horses I looked at flunked the vet exam big time which I would have never discovered on my own. Also, I got excellent guidelines for how to take a test ride from reading Horse for Sale. This book tells it all and I thank the author for helping me find "Destiny".



2. Book was ok. Think it had more painfully obvious stuff in it than actual"Hey why didn't I think of that?" info.



3. Buying your first horse is a huge ordeal!!! Cherry Hill's book was incredibly helpful!! I learned so much from her book and it made me feel more confident about what to look for. I made informed and knowledgeable choices in buying my horse. I only wish that I would have read it sooner. I would highly recommend this book to any first time buyer/seller. Make an informed choice, read Ms. Hill's book.



4. Cherry Hill provides a good resource on evaluating your needs when searching for a horse as well as objective criteria to consider before buying a horse. She also reviews alternatives to purchasing, explaining toh details that should be considered in various types of transactions. An especially good resource for the first time horse owner. Very useful as well for the more experienced. Good suggestions succesful marketing of your own equine. I would highly recommend this to EVERYONE considering a horse or sale