Horses and ponies: general interest Books

Book SynopsisIn this book Equine Massage Therapist Jim Masterson teaches a unique method of equine bodywork, in which the practitioner recognizes and follows the responses of the horse to touch to release tension in key junctions of the body that most affect performance.Trade ReviewIn Beyond Horse Massage the reader is introduced to a method of unique, interactive bodywork that is done with the horse, not to the horse, and horses love it.... A must-have for horse lovers and guardians as well as professional bodyworkers! * The Natural Horse *Masterson clearly demonstrates exactly how to manipulate the horse's neck, front and hind legs to create the desired tension-freeing and movement-enhancing effect. * Horse Journal *

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Book SynopsisAnatomy, particularly functional anatomy, is a vital and dynamic subject, an appreciation of which leads not only to superior husbandry and welfare, but also to a better understanding of the anatomical challenges associated with riding, training, overtraining, injury and rehabilitation. Using Alexa McKenna's fabulous illustrations, this book shows the correlation of the skeleton, muscular system and locomotion, providing a clear insight into the functional and dysfunctional horse. It also addresses the largely misunderstood concept of 'perfect conformation' and looks at the effect on function of the rider and tack, using cutting-edge diagnostic techniques such as thermal imaging and gait analysis. Again with the emphasis on the visual, readers will be able to appreciate how muscles function in differing athletic disciplines by analysing the heat generated in musculoskeletal structures after exercise. This will also highlight the importance of post-competition recovery. The book concludes with a range of useful techniques to improve the function of any horse, including stretches, taping, wrapping and other proprioceptive techniques to increase balance, flexibility, awareness and posture.Trade ReviewGain an insight into how your horse's body works, and discover some tools to help reduce the chance of him picking up an injury. Author Gail Williams, a qualified veterinary physiotherapist, aims to equip you with knowledge about your horse's skeletal system so you can understand more about how injuries occur and how they can be prevented. There's a fascinating section on foot balance and gait analysis, plus some useful stretches and groundwork exercises you can use with your own horse to improve his muscle tone and range of movement, and keep him in tip-top physical shape. While you may be forgiven for thinking the topic of anatomy is quite technical, this book makes it something that everyone can understand. Horse Vet Gail Williams explains how your horse moves, and why and how it can go wrong. The wonderful illustrations by Alexa McKenna will help you understand how horses use their muscles in different disciplines, as well as the issues associated with overtraining and injury. Horse & Rider 'This is a useful book to have on your shelf and addition to any collection certainly' Four Front Magazine

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Book SynopsisMonty Roberts, known as 'The Man Who Listens to Horses', leads an extraordinary life. An award-winning trainer of championship horses, bestselling author, Hollywood stunt man, foster dad to forty-seven children (in addition to three of his own) and creator of the world-renowned and revolutionary equine training technique Join-Up, Roberts has won countless awards and received immense worldwide press coverage. He trains horses for the Queen and has been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Zurich and the University of Parma. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals honored Roberts with their Founders Award. He is now much in demand as a motivational speaker and executives from groups as diverse as the CIA to Volkswagen have invited him to share his experiences with their leaders. He lives at Flag is Up Farms in Solvang, California, with his wife, Pat.Trade ReviewWild horses should not drag you away from finding out more about Monty Roberts * Independent *The horse whisperer in action... more exciting than his fictional counterpart * Observer *Contains enough plotlines to keep Dick Francis busy for years * Spectator *For anyone who cares about animals and would like to get on with them better, it is required reading -- John Oaksey * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisEastern philosophy enters the stables in this unique guide to horsemanship. Allan Hamilton describes how horses understand and respond to the flow of vital energy around them. They use this energy, called chi, to communicate with their herd, express dominance, and sense predators. Hamilton shares safe, simple techniques to make you more receptive to your animal’s chi, so you can develop a calm and effective training style that will not only help your horse follow commands, but strengthen the spiritual bond between horse and rider.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of the hugely successful titles How Your Horse Moves and Horse Anatomy for Performance, comes a completely different training manual, also based on the Horses Inside Out philosophy: 'Understanding Anatomy Improves Performance and Reduces the Risk of Injury'. Divided into three main parts: Principles of Anatomical Riding and Training; Exercises for Horse and Rider; Troubleshooting, the book contains a wealth of practical tips and exercises broken down into easy to follow, well-illustrated steps showing how riders can improve their riding skills and potential. The author suggests ways to improve horses' physique, posture, flexibility, stability, core strength, performance and movement and how to reduce muscular and movement problems, and reduce the risk of injury. This beautifully illustrated book looks at how to deliver a safe, varied, fun, effective and achievable training programme. It provides all the ingredients for riders to make informed decisions to maximise their own and their horse's potential, gain more enjoyment, satisfaction and improve their skills.Trade ReviewFor me this book is like the light at the end of the tunnel. I literally couldn't put this book down and when I went onto the yard the next day it was almost like I was seeing our horses with a fresh pair of eyes! Christmas is coming and receiving this book is guaranteed to delight any rider...that is if they can wait that long and don t go out and buy it themselves beforehand! -- Emma ButlerShe's a woman passionate about getting us to understand equine physicality for the benefit of the horse. She manages to consistently present what could be a dry (though vital) subject in a very engaging way and I would highly recommend this book. -- Kelly MarksGillian enables you to understand the anatomy of a horse and how it affects ridden work. The book is packed with photos and fascinating illustrations and includes many tips and techniques that will help you improve your riding and schooling for the better.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Useful Terms Foreword Introduction PART 1: The Principles of Training 1. Principles of Anatomy 2. Skeletal Maturity3. Principles of Posture 4. Principles of Training 5. Effects of Riding 6. Asymmetry 7. The Gaits PART 2: Exercises for Performance 8. Positioning of the Head and Neck 9. Terrain 10. Collection Exercises 11. Bending Exercises 12. Lateral Exercises 13. Pole Work Exercises 14. Gymnastic Jumping Exercises Index About the Authors

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Book SynopsisA guide to stable design - practical and full of inspiration and advice. Among the detailed topics discussed are: * Basic requirements of a good stable * Planning a yard - optimum layout and planning permission * Constructing and kitting out stables - flooring, drainage, roofing, walls, doors, windows, stable fittings * Key yard constructions - e.g. feed rooms, tack rooms, rug storage areas, washing-down rooms * Turnout, schooling and training facilities - e. g. lungeing arenas, outdoor and indoor schools * Services, fire precautions and waste disposal - drainage, electricity and water supply, muck disposal, safety * Converting existing buildings, and maintenance and repair The basic principles of good stable design are relevant for all horses and ponies - so whether accommodating an Olympic equine athlete or a family pony, any horse or pony in your care should be housed in a safe environment which caters adequately for his needs - and this book shows you how

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Book SynopsisBeginning with a short history of horseshoeing, this book traces its origins to pre-Christian times. It then move on to explain the underlying structure of the horse's front and hind legs. It includes a chapter on shoemaking that contains practical exercises, each one illustrated with step-by-step photographic principles of their craft.

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Book SynopsisThe first edition of The Principles of Riding was published more than 50 years ago, imparting mandatory basic knowledge for all areas of equestrian sport and horse-keeping and this 28th edition, Basic Training for Horse and Rider, has been completely revised regarding language and content, while still taking into account the well-established principles. The consideration of traditional principles leads to the education and training of the horse according to its nature and thus to its health, well-being and performance capability. The horse's instincts and natural behaviour are presented in detail as the basis of communication and understanding between horse and rider. Modern scientific research relating to training theory and biomechanics has influenced the systematic training of the rider as well as that of the horse. The Principles of Riding provides versatile, practical assistance to horse lovers and readers of this book who want to learn, irrespective of whether they ride for leisure or competitively, are interested in hacking or hunting, or want to develop and improve their basic training for dressage, show-jumping or eventing. These Principles should be indispensable for all riders, drivers, trainers and judges, and to all of those who are interested in the appropriate training of the horse, according to the horse's nature, and who place importance on a harmonious cooperation between horse and rider.Trade ReviewThe Principles of Riding is easy to read and very well laid out with clear concise instructions with bullet points and also includes tips on what can go wrong which is very helpful. Clear illustrations really help drive home the salient points of the text making it easy to understand. This book is not just aimed at the novice rider, there is plenty here to interest experienced rider too. Anyone interested in riding will find this a mine of useful information which readers can devour in its whole or dip into at will when questions or problems arise. -- Jacqui Broderick'First published more than 50 years ago, it's now on an incredible 28th edition but has seen some changes along the way... Some of the more modern scientific research is now being incorporated in what has always been a complete manual of horsemanship covering rider, horse, training of both, lungeing, jumping, tack and teaching young horses.' Wendy Parsons, Essex Rider -- Wendy Parsons * Essex Rider *Table of ContentsForeword Thoughts on Classical Riding Chapter 1: General Basics: Horse - Rider - Trainer - Training Area Chapter 2: The Equipment of Horse and Rider Chapter 3: Preparation for Riding Chapter 4: Seat and Influence of the Rider Chapter 5: Systematic Structure of Lessons Chapter 6: Basic Exercises Chapter 7: The Basic Training of the Horse Index

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Book SynopsisInfluence without punishment, collection without rein pressure - these apparent contradictions are explained as renowned horseman Klaus Ferinand Hempfling demonstrates his revolutionary method of teaching and training based upon precisely defined body language. The method, a way of communicating in a visual language understood by the horse, assists the rider to develop a 'presence' and to achieve interaction with the horse. It is classically based and embodies both holistic and spiritual principles. Packed with nearly 500 marvellous colour photographs this book has already been a bestseller in Germany, France, Spain and Scandinavia and will enthral every horse owner.

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Book SynopsisHorses in Company is a radically new analysis of horse social behaviour that opens the way towards a better understanding of horses on both ethological and practical levels. Based on first-hand observations of wild horses and their evolutionary need for collective defence against predators, it shows how domestic life distorts horses' natural social relations, encouraging misinterpretation, mistreatment and human-horse problems.

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Book Synopsis"Chances are real good that if a person is indecisive, angry, scattered, hesitant, belligerent, argumentative, bossy, or impatient in everyday life, he is bound to bring those same qualities to his horsemanship, and in turn, his horse will tend to reflect those qualities. By the same token, if a person is patient, calm, willing, quiet, self-confident, focused, and dependable, it is more than likely to be those qualities the horse will reflect." —Mark Rashid Here is compelling meditation from renowned horseman Mark Rashid on all the ways that the principles we apply in our dealings with fellow humans can apply to our relationships with our horses, and vice versa. Rashid describes how his discovery of the Japanese martial art aikido helped reenergize his commitment to positive horse training and self-improvement at a time when his dedication was flagging, with negative consequences for his health. He began taking classes in aikido and, with dedicated training, came to recognize its transformative effects on his sense of self. He found his mental and physical communication with others had improved greatly, and understood the incredible benefits that aikido might hold for greater emotional balance and understanding between a horse and its rider during training. By sharing his examples from personal experience with horses in the lively and engaging style that has made his earlier books so successful, Rashid shows us how the things he learned can be applied to guide you further on your path with horses.This is a book you’ll want to share with your friends and relatives, whether they are horse lovers or not. Every reader will find something new about how to form a more mutually communicative relationship with a horse you have, or hope to have one day in the future. Horsemanship Through Life is about awareness, learning, teaching, honesty, integrity, and much more. It is about more than tips or technique; it is about principles to live by. It is about taking responsibility for our lives and our relationships with horses and humans. It doesn’t take long to read, but will be with you for life. Experience the profound lessons of this inspiring book.

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Book Synopsis''I absolutely love Snow Foal it''s so truthful, tender and touching. A book to read in a day and remember for a lifetime.'' Dame Jacqueline WilsonThe perfect children''s book to curl up with and begin the new year.A beautiful and heart-wrenching middle grade debut for kids aged 9 to 11, full of love, healing, friendship and hope. Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Wilson''s Tracey Beaker, Cathy Cassidy, Pax and Gill Lewis.When eleven-year-old Addie goes to stay with a foster family on a remote Exmoor farm in the midst of a very cold winter, she is full of hurt, anger and a deep mistrust of everyone around her. Until one day, when she rescues a tiny wild foal from the moorland snow and Addie discovers that perhaps she's not so alone after all.And as adventure and unexpected friendship blossom, Addie is determined that both of them will know what is to be home again soon A beautifully written, warm read for anyone looking for a gorgeous family book to read together and to capture the imagTrade ReviewI absolutely love Snow Foal – it's so truthful, tender and touching. A book to read in a day and remember for a lifetime (Dame Jacqueline Wilson, author of Tracy Beaker) A beautiful book with a big heart (Gill Lewis, author of Sky Hawk) How much my daughter and I enjoyed Snow Foal! It's a gripping sensitively written book' (Jenny McLachlan, author of The Land of Roar) A mesmerising new voice about a girl that deserves to be heard (Joanna Nadin) One of my most highly-anticipated reads of the year (Hana Tooke, author of The Unadoptables) Snow Foal shines out with compassion and understanding for the children at its heart. Susanna's writing is delicate and beautifully understated (Julia Green) A tender, lyrical tale for a cold winter's night that will lift the spirits and warm the heart (Steve Voake)

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Book SynopsisThe most comprehensive single volume dedicated to horses, Original Horse Bible, 2nd Edition is a celebration of the long relationship that humans and horses enjoy, written by two highly regarded horsewomen, the late Moira C. Allen and Sharon Biggs. Covering an array of topics that span the world of horses, including evolution, domestication, horseback riding, training, competing, breeding, and so much more, making this complete guide is a must-have for any avid horse-lover! An extensive breed chapter offers portraits of approximately 175 breeds, alphabetically arranged, from the Abaco Barb to the Welsh Pony, plus many rare and handsome breeds from around the world as well as favorites like the American Quarter Horse, the Shetland Pony, and the Thoroughbred. With over 100 training and behavior tips, more than 50 riding, grooming, and health takeaways, and so much more, the Original Horse Bible belongs on the shelves of anyone who admires these magnificent creatures.

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Book SynopsisA richly illustrated and elegant volume showcasing beautifully designed stables by contemporary architects and designers the world over.From a ranch in the U.S. and a Finnish farmstead to a Spanish hacienda and Australian outback home, Stables is a celebration of horses and their extraordinary lodgings. International in scope, ranging from traditional to contemporary in flavor, these stables--built of wood, metal, and stone--are exemplars of the finest taste in design.The allure of housing horses is a story of architecture, design, landscape, and a unique way of living in magnificent places--and spaces--that are made exclusively for horses and for those who love them. The book also explores indoor and outdoor arenas, paddocks, and gardens, providing a humane face to the otherwise functional buildings. Social spaces for the horses, riders, and visitors also play an important role in filling out the projects, making stables not just places for sport but also for en

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Book SynopsisFoals imprint on their mothers and are guided by instinct. But over time they get accustomed to humans and can be reared to become trusting, faithful playmates and companions. Therefore, establishing good behaviour at the outset is fundamental to creating a well-adjusted adult horse. The authors, using their extensive experience and personal stories, explain how to balance natural behaviour with training methods to develop a well-behaved horse. The approach is knowledgeable and patient and is based on mutual respect between horse and rider. Key exercises are explained in the text by a great variety of photos, and can also be used with older horses. Practical topics covered include vaccination, hoofcare, herd behaviour, feeding and housing. The reader is guided through the health, well-being, training, education and attitude of the first three years of a horse’s life, with a focus on building trust throughout. Foals and Young Horses is a good companion guide for horse owners, riders and especially breeders. It will also be of interest to equine science students and para-professionals.

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Book SynopsisFriendly, dependable, intelligent, and easy to care for, donkeys are increasingly prized by small-scale farmers, horse lovers, and animal enthusiasts. Donkeys not only pull carts, carry riders, and tote gear for hikers, but they also make terrific stable companions and livestock guardians, and they are renowned for their skills in transport, raising water, milling, and farm tillage. They're also gentle with children and the elderly, making them a popular therapy animal and family pet. A donkey is not simply a long-eared horse, however; understanding the donkey's distinctive traits is critical to the animal's well-being and usefulness."The Donkey Companion", by Sue Weaver, offers a comprehensive overview of this hardy creature - the most complete, up-to-date reference of its kind. Here is everything donkey enthusiasts need to know about the animal's history, physiology, behaviour, breed characteristics, daily care, and health needs. Readers will come to understand this versatile animal, and through understanding will become skilled, satisfied owners." The Donkey Companion" offers detailed information about different breeds and types; provides tips for finding and selecting the right animal; explains donkeys' daily care and health requirements; and guides readers through the nuances of training, riding, driving, and breeding. The book is enhanced with fun facts, training tips, quotes, photographs, illustrations, and additional resources. From foaling to first aid, and from grooming to professional showing, this extensive guide offers everything a donkey owner needs to get the most out of this gentle, hardworking animal.

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Book SynopsisA letter is handed to you. In broken English, it tells you that you must now vacate your farm; that this is no longer your home, for it now belongs to the crowd on your doorstep. Then the drums begin to beat.'As the land invasions gather pace, the Retzlaffs begin an epic journey across Zimbabwe, facing eviction after eviction, trying to save the group of animals with whom they feel a deep and enduring bond the horses.When their neighbours flee to New Zealand, the Retzlaffs promise to look after their horses, and making similar promises to other farmers along their journey, not knowing whether they will be able to feed or save them, they amass an astonishing herd of over 300 animals. But the final journey to freedom will be arduous, and they can take only 104 horses.Each with a different personality and story, it is not just the family who rescue the horses, but the horses who rescue the family. Grey, the silver gelding: the leader. Brutus, the untamed colt. Princess, the temperamentalTrade Review‘The dramatic narrative of their dangerous journey … gives this epic its nail-biting edge. The horses, each with its own character, are the stars’ The Times ‘Brutally honest and often grisly, One Hundred and Four Horses […] remains a powerful story of loss, desperation and, above all, hope. More than just a memoir, […] the story is gripping, moving and disturbing all at once.’ Horse and Hound

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Book SynopsisMonty Roberts is a real-life horse whisperer-an American original whose gentle Join-Up® training method reveals the depth of communication possible between man and animal. He can take a wild, high-strung horse who has never before been handled and persuade that horse to accept a bridle, saddle, and rider in thirty minutes. His powers may seem like magic, but his amazing “horse sense” is based on a lifetime of experience. In The Man Who Listens to Horses, Roberts reveals his unforgettable personal story and his exceptional insight into nonverbal communication, an understanding that applies to human relationships as well. He shows that between parent and child, employee and employer, abuser and abused, there are forms of communication far stronger than the spoken word that are accessible to all who will learn to listen. This new edition features engaging photographs, a chapter that traces Roberts’s amazing experience gentling with a mustang in the wild, and an Afterword about the remarkable impact this book has had on the world.

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Book SynopsisThe Difficult Horse provides many insights as to why a horse may develop unwanted behaviours. 'Problem' behaviour is usually more of a problem for the handler than the horse, which is likely to have established patterns of behaviour as a way of helping himself feel safe in situations he finds mentally and/or physically stressful. As well as explaining the reasons for a horse's reactive and sometimes dangerous responses, this book suggests a number of practical exercises that can help to address a wide range of commonly encountered issues. Even if you consider your horse to be problem-free, these exercises will still be invaluable in helping you and your horse to develop a closer, more pleasurable and successful relationship.

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Book SynopsisThe author traces the origins of the horse in Europe, Asia, and North Africa and, in particular, on the Iberian Peninsula. Drawing on archaeological evidence and ancient texts, he explains the development of the horse from hunted animal to domesticated working horse. The author is past President of the Brazilian Association of Lusitano Horse Breeders.

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.''we call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words.''When his beloved owners are forced to sell him, Black Beauty leaves his life as a young, care-free colt behind him and embarks on a working life of misery. Cruelly treated by his new masters, Anna Sewell rails against animal mistreatment in this poignant tale of a horse whose spirit can not be broken.

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Book SynopsisBarefoot Horse Keeping provides a practical, accessible and objective guide to barefoot horse keeping. The book draws on empirical research and the authors' twenty-five years experience delivering barefoot hoof care, saddle fitting, behavioural training and rider coaching. Topics covered include: the Barefoot philosphy; the herd and the environment; hoof trimming; diet and nutrition and equine anatomy and biomechanics.

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Book SynopsisPrized for their stamina and their acclimation to the harsh conditions of the Arabian deserts, the ancestors of the horses that are now recognized as the Egyptian Arabian purebred horse entered Egypt centuries ago, establishing the valuable bloodlines of the breed there. The breeding programs in Egypt therefore became the root source for the finest Arabian horses, attracting passionate enthusiasts from all corners of the world. Artists, poets, and historians have for centuries been inspired by their great beauty and romantic legacy. Nasr Marei is the third-generation owner of a stud farm in Giza, Egypt. His love for and knowledge of the Egyptian Arabian horse, coupled with his sensitive and striking photography, have inspired this visual tribute. His extraordinary photographs, accompanied by text that traces the history and evolution of the Arabian's journey into Egypt, celebrate the lineage of this living treasure of Egyptian heritage.

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Book SynopsisSuggests exercises for both English- and Western-style riders, progressing from basic skills to more advanced maneuvers and patterns.

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Book SynopsisAs much as dogs, cats, or any domestic animal, horses exemplify the vast range of human-animal interactions. Horses have long been deployed to help with a variety of human activitiesfrom racing and riding to police work, farming, warfare, and therapyand have figured heavily in the history of natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. Most accounts of the equine-human relationship, however, fail to address the last few centuries of Western history, focusing instead on pre-1700 interactions. Equestrian Cultures fills in the gap, telling the story of how prominently horses continue to figure in our lives, up to the present day. Kristen Guest and Monica Mattfeld place the modern period front and center in this collection, illuminating the largely untold story of how the horse has responded to the accelerated pace of modernity. The book's contributors explore equine cultures across the globe, drawing from numerous interdisciplinary sources to show how horses have unexpectedl

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Book SynopsisCaroline Akrill reveals the frequent disasters and the occasional triumphs of her long association with a string of equine characters. Engagingly witty, endearingly frank, sometimes surprising, but always amusing, Caroline Akrill regards the horse from the safety of the stable door and scrutinises him with candour and affection.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface vii Acknowledgements ix About the Companion Website xi 1 Introduction – The Fascination with Horses and Learning 1 2 Ethology and Cognition 7 3 Anthropomorphism and the Human–Horse Relationship 45 4 Non‐associative Learning 59 5 Associative Learning (Attractive stimuli) 81 6 Associative Learning (Aversive stimuli) 101 7 Applying Learning Theory 121 8 Training 151 9 Horses in Sport and Work 191 10 Apparatus 213 11 Biomechanics 235 12 Unorthodox Techniques 261 13 Stress and Fear Responses 273 14 Ethical Equitation 301 15 Research Methods in Equitation Science 313 16 The Future of Equitation Science 331 Glossary of the Terms and Definitions and of Processes Associated with Equitation 339 References 357 Index 393

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Book SynopsisThe Namib Desert is vast, arid expanse of constantly moving gravel plains and dunes. It covers more than 31,000 square miles stretching the whole of the western coast of Namibia, into Angola and South Africa. The winds blow relentlessly and thick fog frequently blankets the towering dunes along the coast. Although it supports a wide diversity of flora and fauna, it is a harsh environment for man and mammal. In the midst of this seemingly inhospitable region, near Garub, live the elusive wild horses that have fascinated people for almost a century. And into this wilderness a young slip of a girl ventured, alone and armed with little more than a camera, a tent and a burning desire to follow the call of the wild. As the weeks turned into months, Miona Janeke followed the herd from before sunrise until after dark: learning, understanding, photographing and becoming one with the free-spirited horses. This book is the result of an intrepid pilgrimage to discover the essence of the mysterious herds of feral horses. The exquisite photographs of the horses and their surroundings show a deep, almost spiritual, connection between subject and photographer.They are testament to a rare talent and an indomitable personality.

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Book SynopsisThis ground-breaking book explores the issues surrounding barefoot horses in the UK and looks in detail at how to improve overall hoof health, in both shod and barefoot horses. This new edition in paperback offers practical, hands-on advice on achieving barefoot performance in a variety of disciplines - from eventing and hunting to endurance - focussing on the essential elements for healthy hooves: diet, environment, exercise and trimming or shoeing. In addition, the book has step-by step advice on rehabilitating problem hooves with case studies of horses with a range of issues, from navicular or tendon damage to metabolic disorders like laminitis and insulin resistance. The authors have successfully ridden and competed their own horses barefoot for many years and have helped many hundreds of their clients' horses work successfully without shoes.

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Book SynopsisExpert advice on breeds, all aspects of horse care, and step-by-step riding techniques, fully updated.

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Book SynopsisEnjoy a comfortable long-distance ride on a well-trained gaited horse and you’ll be surprised at how easygoing these handsome animals can be. But unique challenges can arise when horse owners more familiar with the standard walk, trot, and canter try to train these complex and multigeared horses to gait correctly. Author Lee Ziegler guides riders through the finer points of developing and maintaining these extra gaits, using humane training methods that stress patience and good horsemanship.

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Book SynopsisGround training is the key to a safe and pleasurable riding experience. Designed for easy reference while working with your horse, this guide can be hung on a post. Riders of all disciplines and skill levels will benefit from these exercises that reinforce good habits and help develop a strong bond between horse and rider.

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Book SynopsisBefore crude oil and the combustion engine, the industrialized world relied on a different kind of power - the power of the horse. Horses in Society is the story of horse production in the United States, Britain, and Canada at the height of the species' usefulness, the late nineteenth and early twentieth-century. Margaret E. Derry shows how horse breeding practices used during this period to heighten the value of the animals in the marketplace incorporated a intriguing cross section of influences, including Mendelism, eugenics, and Darwinism.Derry elucidates the increasingly complex horse world by looking at the international trade in army horses, the regulations put in place by different countries to enforce better horse breeding, and general aspects of the dynamics of the horse market. Because it is a story of how certain groups attempted to control the market for horses, by protecting their breeding activities or 'patenting' their work, Horses in Society providTrade Review"This handsome book offers a telling glimpse into the often-charged world of horse breeding and horse trading in North America and Britain between 1800 and 1920." -- Lawrence Scanlan The Globe and Mail "A full and complex picture of horse culture." -- Karen Raber American Historical Review "Although draft animals have often been treated as footnotes to the rise of the machine, Margaret Derry demonstrates how a detailed treatment of horses can deepen the historical understanding of American and European societies." -- George B. Ellenberg "Horses in Society is a lucid and thoughtful journey into the world of the horse at its short-lived zenith, and of the society that honoured and sustained it." -- Max Foran University of Toronto Quarterly "Margaret E. Derry's Horses in Society is a remarkably interesting read ... This is a ground-breaking work that will resonate with social, business, and military historians alike." -- Warren M. Elofson Business History Review "An extremely valuable book that brings the history of science to bear on horse-breeding literature and sets both within the context of modern political economy." -- Ann N. Greene Canadian Historical Review "Horses in Society is a valuable contribution that will interest historians of science and technology, military historians, and anyone interested in the history of animals, economics or the nineteenth century in general." -- Darcy Ingram Scientia CanadensisTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction * Modern Purebred Breeding: A Scientific or Cultural Method? Part One. The Breeding of Horses * The Light Horse * The Heavy Horse * The Farmer's Horse Part Two. An International Horse Market: The Remount Story * Finding Horses for the British Army * American Horses and War: A National and International Issue * Canada's Equine War Effort: A Story of Conflicting Interests Part Three. Governments and Horse Improvement * Understanding Heredity: The 1890 Report of the British Royal Commission on Horse Breeding * Producing Better Horses in the United States: Attempts to Control Fraudulent Activity and Market Share * The Canadian Experience in Horse Regulation: Continental and National Concerns Part Four. Society and Horses * Aspects of a Pervasive Horse Culture in Society Conclusion Notes Note on Sources Index

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Book SynopsisNow with full-color photography and illustrations throughout, the completely updated third edition of Storey’s Guide to Raising Horses is the most comprehensive horse husbandry handbook available, whether you’re a first-time owner or an experienced horse handler. Covering everything you need to know about facilities, breeding, and health care, this new edition features a photographic gallery of many types of horses; expanded material on recognizing, preventing, and treating a wide range of health issues, including insulin resistance, skin conditions, and digestive disorders; new vaccination protocols, including vaccinating for West Nile Virus; and updated information on breeding methods, foaling problems, and the care of broodmares and new foals.

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Book SynopsisGet jumping! This collection presents a logical series of fun and rewarding exercises that are designed to develop your horse-jumping skills. With straightforward instructions and clear arena maps, this guide can be hung on a pole and easily referenced from the saddle. In addition to clearly articulated goals and progressively difficult variations, each exercise also includes encouraging advice on what the rider should keep in mind while jumping. Saddle up and get ready to fly through the air with grace and confidence.

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Book SynopsisThis series of Western Dressage exercises are designed to improve suppleness, balance in movement, and responsiveness. Each exercise has a specific goal in mind, and they are organized by different areas of focus: softness, looseness, rider development, engagement, adjustability, and ground work. With illustrated step-by-step instructions and full arena diagrams, you’ll quickly be on your way to mastering this exciting discipline.

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Book SynopsisA top-ranked horse trainer's gorgeous, life-affirming memoir that offers profound insight into the fascinating ways both horses and humans seek relationships to survive.Trade Review"Gaffney has a breathtaking and at times nearly otherworldly ability to read horses by closely studying their bodies, and then to capture what she sees with her prose. ...[T]ruly transcendent." -- Jessica Lustig - New York Times Book Review"Ginger Gaffney writes the intricacies of the equine-human relationship as well as I have ever seen it written…She knows a horse’s mind as well as she knows her own. You will remember the tenacious and utterly winning people that populate Half Broke for a long, long time, and you will never forget the horses." -- Pam Houston, author of Deep Creek"Written with clarity and compassion, Half Broke is about the astounding power of horses to heal broken human beings. It shows a side of New Mexico that is seldom seen—the poverty and the struggle, but also the hopefulness and odd beauty of spirit within the people and the horses." -- Leslie Marmon Silko, author of Ceremony"Half Broke is a love song to the broken ones, be they human or beast, and all the ways they find to mend. Ginger Gaffney’s prose is as clean and lovely as the land she describes, and this story is one that hinges on some of the deepest truths. Among them the fact that loving well is the best medicine, and though we may not recover in a way that preserves the person we were, such loss is not without mercy." -- Melissa Febos, author of Whip Smart and Abandon Me"Ginger Gaffney is a bold and original talent. This poignant, positive story of human and equine transformation subtly combines the author’s own healing with the challenge of teaching difficult people to work with deeply scared horses. The characters leap off the page and into your heart. Savor this book, and then buy a copy for your best friend." -- Anne Hillerman, New York Times best-selling author of the Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito novels"Gaffney pulls off the impressive feat of translating horses and humans. She creates lyricism through experience, landscape, and empathy." -- Gretchen Lida - Washington Independent Review of Books"Fascinating. … [S]ome of the most compelling characters here don’t speak in words: they are horses. And in Gaffney’s story, they come alive." -- Deborah Hopkinson - BookPage""Half Broke" — with its painful candor and spare, incisive prose — is captivating." -- Michael Upchurch - Seattle Times"This book astonished, excited, enlightened, and humbled me. I loved it, loved it, loved it. This marvelous memoir, peopled with folks in serious trouble of one kind or another, and the horses they care for, creatures with their own sophisticated ways of communicating, taught me as much about language as have my seventy-seven years on the planet." -- Abigail Thomas, New York Times best-selling author of What Comes Next and How to Like It"With sensitive, soul-bearing prose, Gaffney weaves together her personal experiences as a horse trainer with the struggles of damaged humans and damaged horses. I was also moved by the depth of vulnerability and intuition of the horses." -- Jonathan Balcombe, author of What a Fish Knows"[A] powerful debut." -- Publishers Weekly"In the pages of Half Broke is the rare gift of story exquisitely told, a book that shows us how to save ourselves by saving what we’ve left behind." -- Nickole Brown, author of To Those Who Were Our First Gods"Half Broke asks us to look at horses and ourselves in a new way. Gaffney’s vivid and engaging stories of 'teaching horses how to feel comfortable in the world of humans' inspires us, like the author, to 'love their world more.' A very moving book for all animal lovers from a true horse whisperer." -- Brenda Peterson, author of Wolf Nation: The Life, Death, and Return of Wild American Wolves"An engaging ... [and] heartening story of healing and interspecies connection." -- Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisGive your horse a gorgeous look! Charni Lewis provides step-by-step instructions for 30 mane and tail braids for both casual outings and specialized events of all riding styles. Full-color photographs and detailed illustrations bring every twist and turn to life, while also clearly demonstrating proper hand positioning. Get inspired and experiment with a Scalloped mane braid or a Four-Strand Weave for the tail. Not only will your horse look great, the time you spend braiding will help develop that special bond between you and your horse.

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Book SynopsisA heartwarming collection of stories from a woman who brings together disadvantaged children and abandoned racehorses, with remarkable results.

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Book SynopsisThere is little in this world that a family cannot endure, if endure they must. For we all have it within us to lose everything, absolutely everything, and still find strength in the most simple, beautiful things.Pat and Mandy Retzlaff lived a hard but satisfying farming life in Zimbabwe. Working all hours of the day on their sprawling ranch and raising three boisterous children, they savored the beauty of the veld and the diverse wildlife that grazed the meadows outside their dining room window. After their children, the couple''s true pride and joy were their horses. But in early 2001, the Retzlaffs'' lives were thrown into turmoil when armed members of President Robert Mugabe''s War Veterans'' Association began invading the farmlands owned by white Zimbabweans and violently reclaiming the land. Under the threat of death, the family was forced to flee, leaving behind a lifetime''s possessions and becoming exiles in the only country they had ever called home. A

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Book SynopsisKelly Marks, who gets spectacular results in her exhibitions with the most fiery and recalcitrant of horses, says the secret is to talk to horses in their own language, establishing a relationship of trust and respect, using considerate and consistent techniques. You will find it helpful to formulate your own ''code of conduct'' for your horse and while you''re at it, for yourself as well, making consideration a way of life. Perfect Manners starts with the philosophy and concepts behind Kelly Marks'' techniques and moves on to foundation exercises and groundwork training. There are also sections on Join Up and Body Language, Training Halters, Biting, Spooking and Shying and the ''Lovely Head Rub''. A must-read for horse owners everywhere.Trade ReviewI could not recommend a better teacher of my methods anywhere in the world than Kelly Marks. -- Monty RobertsKelly [has] experience, enthusiasm and humour, alongside her respect and affection for the animals...the essential guide for any horse owner. * Countryside La Vie *

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Book Synopsis

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