5 comments about The Horse Encyclopedia.

1. This was purchased for a young elementary school girl who loves horses. The description did not say that there are photos/drawings of horses reproducing. This made things a bit difficult for her parents who were forced into a discussion they hadn't planned on. I did not know about this from the description.
   
   The rest of the book had some great photos and information about horses.



2. The first part of the book contains a list of horse and pony breeds which are described quite comprehensively. The other parts I found a little incomplete and sketchy. The horse care basics in this book are messy, some horse sport descriptions are poor. The photos aren't of highest quality and the index contains some inaccuracies.
   This book will be helpful for a beginner.



3. I had a blast reading this book, the pictures go along with everything it talks about, and everything is clearly seen in pictures. Very educational and fun book, also one to refer back to later.



4. I borrowed this book from a friend and was so pleased with it-it has hundreds of full-color photos and such crystal-clear information-that I went out and bought my own copy. This book includes rare chapters on the Western and harnessed disciplines (among a few well-written others)and covers the basic breeds and has a detailed horse care section. The price is well worth it.



5. The book was great! Even a beginner could understand this information. Horse Owners and Lover: Buy this one!

No comments about An Illustrated Guide to Dressage.

1 comments about Saltwater Cowboys: A Photographic Essay of Chincoteague Island.

1. This photo-essay is breathtaking. You feel as though you are there. I gave this book as a gift to a 13 year old girl and she adores it. Well worth the money. Highly recommended.

No comments about Breyer Spirit of the Horse 2009 Calendar.

5 comments about Champions: The Lives, Times, and Past Performances of the 20th Century's Greatest Thoroughbreds.

1. What a wonderful book - filled with statistics, stories and sometimes pictures. It takes the champions of the 20th century (American thoroughbreds, for example, Horse of the Year, and tells the stories of their racing careers decade by decade. Each chapter of text is followed by Past Performances, as put together by the DRF. There are stories about long-ago horses I haven't seen since Robertson's History of Thoroughbred Racing in America. It's going to take a long time to read this book - not because it's slow reading, but because I keep going back and forth in time to compare stories and speed fractions.
   One thing I'd change - even if they didn't have the space to tell the story of each champion, I wish they'd found the space to have a picture of each one. As they say.....one picture is worth....... I love looking at pictures of the old racers and the newer ones - line them up next to each other and look at their relative build, then go to the track and see who reminds you of the great old geldings or the powerful sprinters. Now THAT's data!



2. i already wrote a review praising this book, but i wanted to leave another to let people know that they don't have to pay the extravagant prices wanted by the thieves selling here on amazon. simply go to drf.com and you can get this book for the list price of $50. i'm not affiliated with them, i just think it's wrong for someone to try and over-charge by 7 times because someone might not know where else they could get the book.



3. I bought this as a birthday gift for my 25 year-old daughter, and it's her favorite of anything I have ever given her! She has always been really good at spouting names, numbers, years, tenths of a seconds, etc. Now she'll be insufferable! This book is absolutely loaded with all the racing stats you could ever think of! She actually WHOOPED when she opened the package!!! She opened it and explained all the racing stats to me--she understood every bit as soon as she saw it (I was still in boondoggled land!) The book DID have some of my favorite recent horses in it (such as Bertrando and Paseana) and it had ALL of her favorites in there! It also contains pretty much all the great horses of the century. One thing even I noticed and really loved in this book, is it tells who the jockey was in each race.

   And of course, the unsurpassable Secretariat is in here; all his races. I still think that seeing him win the Belmont and with it the Triple Crown, was the greatest moment in sports history! The reruns are unreal, but there was NOTHING like seeing it happen!

   I can't speak as an owner, trainer, or one who bets. But as a "serious fan" of racing, I can truly say this is one extraordinary reference manual to have on hand. WELL worth the price!




4. For all of us in the Horse Racing business as owners, toutes, fans, etc, everyone knows the Daily Racing Form is the key publication for past performance data and news.

   The PP's(past performances) of famous champions of the past really open your eyes as you see that some of them ran within days of their last start in Major Stakes races and others ran at tracks that no longer exist, or across the country and both coasts in the same season.

   The best of the best are in here, and as DRF did a very good job with arrangement and information. Its like looking at the Breeders Cup Entries of the Immortals !

   Best Regards to All, MC - TheStickRules.Com




5. a good book which serves as both an overview of horse racing in the 20th century, as well as offering loads of past performance lines so race fans can compare the greatest thoroughbreds.

5 comments about Zen and Horses: Lessons from a Year of Riding.

1. This is an excellent book! People who ride horses would be missing out by not reading it. For those who don't ride, it's still a wonderful and beautifully written story. It's not only about horses, it's about life.



2. I bought this book for my girlfriend to read on the plane travelling back from Canada, only, I read it before ariving home. It opens your eyes to both the fear and joy of riding horses to the learning process itself. It has made me more aware of how to teach people as well as what I should expect learning new things, something I hate doing, but must. Buy this book to help you learn to ride, buy it to help you learn, buy it.



3. I bought this book to read about another person's journey learning to ride horse. I closed this book knowing and understanding myself and my riding much better. I would never have thought of me and my horse becoming like one skin. It is amazing how Ingred after such a short time riding, could feel her horse tense under her and even predict what her horse's next move would be...I've been riding for 2 years, and I still feel like I don't have a clue what's going on in my horses' minds. But, I know a lot more now, and I know how to improve my riding. It starts with letting the horse be itself. And "opening the tunnel"!



4. Ingrid Sorens' touching recount of her first years of riding is intelligent and insightful. I think it is fabulous that someone riding for such a relativley short period of time was able to come to the realization of allowing the horse to just be and not get in their way, the path to truly harmonious riding.
   To read her descriptions is to be there. She is a vibrant writer who brings you into her space with masterful skill. You do not have to be searching for a book on riding(although all riders should read it) to find this one intriguing. It is a fabulous journey about living life, overcoming fears and an intimate exploraton of Zen philosophy. It has helped me refocus in my life. THANK YOU.
   Horses or no, I will be looking forward greatly to her next release. Can't wait.



5. The cover photo and the title is what caught my eye. And we are a horse loving, horse riding family going back generations. And the book is small. A tad bigger than 5X7 but it is so full of wisdom. And until I read it I never had thought of the Zen aspect of horses. Their stillness and power and the way they just "are".

   The way she speaks of Ducie and the other horses she rode, the reader feels like they are there almost as an eavesdropper or horse voyeur. In chapter four A Portion Of Genius I could almost smell the stables when she writes "several girls were mucking out the stables when I arrived. Piles of dirty straw littered the cobbles, and two horses were drinking from a stone trough at one end." And when she speaks of Johnny as being camp and how he was slight, dainty and balding in a lavender shirt and salmon pink carvat I had to chuckle thinking of a man this reminds me of.

   Chapter Twelve Surrender and Trust was enchanting. The way she writes of Jade the horse and practicing her dressage and how animals (page 99) have much to teach us about acceptance and how riding is really a Zen like state of mind. Where you become one with the animal and the rest of the world seems to fade away.

   How horse therapy with children as well as adults helps bridge the gap of fear into a world where this large animal that so many see as a power force can become the trusted friend that rather than hurt will instead with its rocking motion as you ride, will soothe and calm and take the fear away.

   I am not going to tell anymore about the book because it is so special and I simply want you to read it and treasure it and be better for it.

4 comments about On the Fence: A Parent's Handbook of Horseback Riding (Howell Equestrian Library).

1. So, your child wants to ride a horse. Here then, in comprehensive detail, are answers to the multitude of problems and questions you will face. Learn how, where and when to best get started--how to find appropriate resources while keeping within an affordable budget for this expensive sport. The author has thoroughly researched and provided answers to every question you or your child will have in beginning, sustaining, and enjoying this very special endeavor. This book provides an unique opportunity to learn all you need know while saving endless time and recurrent difficulties. You'll savor it!



2. This book by Janet Barrett demonstrates an insiders knowledge of a child learning to ride. What is particularly helpful is that Ms. Barrett knows what is going on in the child's head. Thus the parent knows what to expect when the child suddenly wants to buy a horse or stop lessons for a while. This is a great manual that takes the parent step by step through the process from casual interest to wanting lessons, finding a stable and performing in shows. I would recommend it highly to any parent who hears those words for the first time: mom, I want to ride a horse!"



3. I can't imagine any parent starting their son/daughter in the sport of riding without reading and owning a copy of this book to refer to continuously as they go. It is not only informative on a day-to-day basis, but it is a valuable resource in understanding your child's progression through the sport from the first lesson onward (and yours from even before that!) Throughout, as your child moves from beginner, to intermediate and beyond, the information is explicit and clear. I suggest that anyone whose child wants to ride get this book and keep it as their "bible"!



4. This book starts with the one's child saying: Mom, I want to ride a horse! Overwhelmed by fears of what you don't know and the expense of an activity you are afraid your child will give up too quickly (or not quickly enough), this book addresses all the questions parents face as they face them. Very easy to read and nicely laid out, this book provided the answers we had as our daughter was deciding if this was "the sport for her". As I knew little to nothing about horseback riding and nothing about stables or lessons, this book helped me make the right decisions at the right time and kept me from rushing into buying more equipment than I needed.
   
   Before you go down this path, read this book!

3 comments about The Horse Doctor is In: A Kentucky Veterinarian's Guide to Horse Health.

1. This book is full of excellent information about horses, their ailments, potential illnesses, and this doctor's sage advice on keeping our horses healthy. I read medical journals all the time, and this reads more like a great story being told by your favorite teacher! There are real-life situations that are hilarious and those that give you pause. I read it cover to cover and loved it the whole time! It is a great reference book for your library.



2. This book is exactly what Brent Kelley set out to write: an entertaining, easy to read horse vet book. Its a perfect blend of anecdotes and technical information. His stories and experiences not only make the various equine aliments easier to understand, but more memorable as well. Definitely a "must have" for any horse owners who have ever struggled through books on equine veterinary medicine.



3. Finally, a veterinary guide that actually helps a horse owner understand the illness or disease his horse is facing. Dr. Kelley uses to his advantage many actual case stories or studies to help the reader understand technical veterinary terms/diseases. For example, he'll write about a horse he treated for canker/thrush, then he'll go into detail the clinical aspects of canker/thrush. Very interesting read!

No comments about Grooming (Horse Illustrated Simple Solutions).

4 comments about Horseman's Scrapbook: His Handy Hints Combined in Our Handy Reference.

1. I have read this book over a dozen times. It is priceless . If you work on a farm ranch or just have stock such as cows, horses or just raise Lamas this book is a must have. I train exotic animals world wide for a living. This book has come in handy in Africa as well as Thailand . It helps you learn to improvise when making tack or fixing fences or just throwing together some rigging. It covers the basics and advanced knots for making halters,tying horses or just splicing a rope. I have used it for training camels believe it or not. The various diagrams on laying a horse down have all but been forgotten. If you are a down to earth scavenger like myself you will love this book . It will pay for itself over and over.
   Army Maguire



2. The book was introduced to me by a next door neighbor. I found that once i picked it up i couldnt set it down. I was amazed at the endless ideas in this wonderful book. As a horseman myself im always looking for ways to make new stuff, and fix old stuff. To my suprise i had most of the stuff on hand, and having a machines shop at my home i spent more time in the shop. My neighbor and myself have built most of the farm yard ideas, and its fun to look around and see the improvments. I recomend this book for anyone who is a do it yourselfer, or just a cowboy at heart. Ive had fun with it and i hope you do too...



3. This is a collection of Randy Steffen's best horse owner's tips from his 40 years of tips in The Western Horseman magazine.

   Each tip is described and illustrated in a very clear and concise way.

   The book is organized by sections (trailers, tack room, training, etc). It's very easy to find neat ideas for any area of horsemanship (whether you are a cowboy or dressage enthusiast).

   Terrific book.




4. If you have horses or a farm of any kind, you NEED this book! Very entertaining, and lots of invaluable hints!