Horses and ponies: general interest Books

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 SynopsisThe first European-authored study of Arabian horses.Table of Contents Preface, by Stuart Cloete Acknowledgments Translator’s Introduction Preliminary Chapter. The horses of the Sahara—Sources of information—Guarantees of exactitude—Difficulty of obtaining information—Observations of the Emir Abd-el-Kader—Numerous treatises about horses written by Arabic sages. Chapter Two. Dealing with the origins of the Arabian horses—A singular letter written by the Emir Abd-el-Kader—Four great eras—God created the horse from the wind—The horse, according to the Koran, is the supreme blessing—The colors of horses according to the terrain in which they live—The moral attributes of horses. Chapter Three. The Barb or Barbary horse—Call a horse Arabian, Barb, Turk, or Persian, he is still the horse of the Orient—Letter from the Emir Abd-el-Kader—Letter from M. Ferdinand de Lesseps describing horseraces in Alexandria—Weights carried by horses in Africa. Chapter Four. The horses of the Sahara—Traditional love for horses as a religious duty—Proverbs—Popular verses—Observations of the Emir Abd-el-Kader—The horses of the Sahara are superior to those of the Tell. Chapter Five. The undoubted purity of blood of the Barbs of the Sahara—Families of Arabian horses—The perfection of the horse; the noble horse—Observations of the Emir Abd-el-Kader—Horses divided into two families: Arabian and foreign horses. Chapter Six. About stallions and mares—Mating—Gestation—Foaling—Care and feeding of the mare and foal—Observations of the Emir Abd-el-Kader—The foal takes after the sire—Strictness with regard to the purity of blood lines. Chapter Seven. The training of the colt—Very early training—Training after weaning—Exercise—Names given to horses—Observations of the Emir Abd-el-Kader. Chapter Eight. Feed—Camel’s and ewe’s milk—Dates—Feeding according to the season—Observations of the Emir Abd-el-Kader—Rest and fat are the enemies of the horse. Chapter Nine. Grooming, hygiene, and proportions—The choosing of feed and water—Methods of predetermining the height and qualities of a horse—Observations of the Emir Abd-el-Kader—Method of judging the size and future qualities of a horse. Chapter Ten. Colors—Attributes of certain colors—Splotches—Whorls or tufts—Favorite colors—Observations of the Emir Abd-el-Kader. Chapter Eleven. Selection and purchase of horses—Reasons for disqualification or elimination—Selling methods—The Arabic horse-dealer—Observations of the Emir Abd-el-Kader—Genealogical trees Poetic quotations and anecdotes. Chapter Twelve. Farriery—Master smith, their prerogatives, their tools—Cold shoeing—Drawbacks of European horseshoes. Chapter Thirteen. Tack—The Arabic saddle, et cetera—Superiority of Arabic tack. Chapter Fourteen. General principles of the Arabic horsemen—Frugality—Sobriety—Respect for a horse—The study of the nature of horses—Observations of the Emir Abd-el-Kader—Horseracing among the Arabs. Chapter Fifteen. Veterinary medicine among the Arabs—A word about the Arabic veterinary art—Veterinarian sages—Free services—Diseases of the horse—Observations of the Emir Abd-el-Kader. Chapter Sixteen. Gelding of the Arabian horse—Methods employed—Superstitions—Observations of the Emir Abed-el-Kader. Chapter Seventeen. The usefulness to be derived from the native horse—Notes on the Barb or Oriental horse—The use of the Arabian horse—Quotations from the Bible and the Koran. Chapter Eighteen. The Opinion of the Emir Abd-el-Kader with respect to the Arabian horse—The number of days an Arabian horse can journey—The distance covered in one day—An example of sobriety and endurance—Reasons for training horses from an early age—Why mares are more expensive—Pedigrees—Tribes which own famous horses—The homogeneity of Barbs and Arabians—Precepts for the care and feeding of the horse—Draft or work horses. Chapter Nineteen. The war horse—His conformation and attributes. Chapter Twenty. Letters to the author—Opinions of some of the leading horsemen in France—The deplorable conditions into which horse-breeding has fallen. Appendix Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis"A great story of generosity and determination...What a good read!"--Monty Roberts, author of The Man Who Listens to Horses

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Book Synopsis#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The dramatic and inspiring story of a man and his horse, an unlikely duo whose rise to stardom in the sport of show jumping captivated the nation   Harry de Leyer first saw the horse he would name Snowman on a truck bound for the slaughterhouse. The recent Dutch immigrant recognized the spark in the eye of the beaten-up nag and bought him for eighty dollars. On Harry’s modest farm on Long Island, he ultimately taught Snowman how to fly. Here is the dramatic and inspiring rise to stardom of an unlikely duo. One show at a time, against extraordinary odds and some of the most expensive thoroughbreds alive, the pair climbed to the very top of the sport of show jumping. Their story captured the heart of Cold War–era America—a story of unstoppable hope, inconceivable dreams, and the chance to have it all. They were the longest of all longshots—and their win was the stuff of legend.

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Book SynopsisIn this heartfelt, thoughtful, and inspiring memoir, New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz tells the story of his beloved rescue donkey, Simon, and the wondrous ways that animals make us wiser and kinder people. In the spring of 2011, Jon Katz received a phone call that would challenge every idea he ever had about mercy and compassion. An animal control officer had found a neglected donkey on a farm in upstate New York, and she hoped that Jon and his wife, Maria, would be willing to adopt him. Jon wasn’t planning to add another animal to his home on Bedlam Farm, certainly not a very sick donkey. But the moment he saw the wrenching sight of Simon, he felt a powerful connection. Simon touched something very deep inside of him. Jon and Maria decided to take him in. Simon’s recovery was far from easy. Weak and malnourished, he needed near constant care, but Jon was determined to help him heal. As Simon’s health improved, Jon would feed h

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Book SynopsisHow Change Happens in Equine-Assisted Interventions gives clinicians and researchers an intervention theory on the mechanisms of change during psychotherapy and other interventions that incorporate horses. Chapters introduce the concept of intervention theory, present a theory of the problem (what the client comes with), theories explaining the intervention (what is done during a session), and theories of change (what happens in the mind of a client), with each theoryâs function described. Using an autoethnographic approach, the authors describe, deconstruct, and analyze personal experiences as clients during an equine-assisted intervention. Then the authors present and apply a unique intervention theory by linking it to the thoughts and experiences of clients in and after a session. Practitioners will come away from this book with a unique perspective on the field and with an increased understanding of what their clients are thinking both in and out of session. ResearchersTrade Review"Esposito and Fournier do a beautiful job of elucidating the lived experiences of equine-assisted therapists and educators while masterfully pulling from disparate theories. Their intervention theory is a groundbreaking step toward increasing understanding of horse/human interaction made accessible to researchers and practitioners alike." Deborah Eaker-Rich, PhD, clinical full professor (retired), School of Education, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"EAST is the brilliant and creative syncretism of mind-body science, humanistic psychology, and leading-edge learning theories that provides the first formal framework for understanding the transformative, numinous quality of the horse-human encounter in equine-assisted therapies." Beverley Kane, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Stanford University and founder of Equine-imity Somatic Horsemanship"This book provides important thought processes to consider and evaluate when incorporating horses into psychotherapy and other interventions. I highly recommend this book and appreciate the authors adding an important analysis and contribution in the world of equine-assisted services." Lynn Thomas, LCSW, founder/CEO of Arenas for Change (ARCH), board president of Horses for Mental Health, and founder/former CEO of EagalaTable of ContentsSection 1: Why Theory for Equine-Assisted Intervention? 1. Why Theory? 2. What is Equine-Assisted Intervention? 3. The Horse Section 2: Equine-Assisted Story Transformation (EAST) 4. Introduction to EAST 5. Theory of the Problem 6. Theory of the Intervention 7. Theory of Change 8. Integrating the Theories: EAST Section 3: Application 9. Seeking the Client’s Perspective 10. It’s A Problem: Autoethnography 1 11. Finding Strong: Autoethnography 2 12. Analysis and Interpretation 13. Bringing it All Together

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Book SynopsisEnables students, trainers, riders and horse owners to understand the fundamental principles behind the behavior of horses and how to apply them in different situations in practice. This book looks at the constraints which apply to the modern horse because of its evolutionary history and the nature of the evolutionary process itself.Table of ContentsPreface vii Acknowledgements viii Part One: Understanding Behaviour Concepts 1 1 Approaches to the Study of Behaviour 3 What is behavior 3 Ethology versus psychology 6 A brief guide to conducting a behaviour study 9 Conclusion 15 Topics for discussion 16 References and further reading 16 2 Origins of Behaviour 18 An evolutionary approach to understanding behavior 18 Lamarck versus Darwin 19 Genes not individuals 22 Evolutionary throwbacks and genetic jumps 26 Adaptation and apparent stupidity in domestic horses 27 Evolution and the variety of behavior 29 Conclusion 31 Topics for discussion 31 References and further reading 32 3 The Evolutionary History of the Horse 33 Introduction 33 Early evolution of the horse 38 The arrival of Equus 43 The origins of the modern breeds 45 Domestication and its consequences 47 Topics for discussion 52 References and further reading 52 4 The Lifetime Development of Behaviour 53 Instinctive and learned behaviour, what is the difference? 53 Sensitive phases for specia1 times specific associations 56 Using play for better management 58 Using natural biases in development to improve management 60 Conclusion 65 Topics for discussion 65 References and further reading 66 Part Two: Mechanisms of Behaviour 67 5 The Processing, of Information 69 Introduction 69 The nervous system 69 Neural transmission 72 Central processing 80 Behavioural motivation 84 Autonomic and somatic nervous system 88 Topics·for discussion 89 References and further reading 90 6 The Special Senses 91 Sight 91 Hearing 99 Chemoreception 102 Cutaneous sensation 107 Topics for discussion 108 References and further reading 108 7 Communication and Social Organisation 110 Communication 110 Social organisation 125 The composition of the group 129 The social structure of the group 129 The dynamics of the group 133 How horses defend their resources 134 Conclusion 136 Topics for discussion 137 References and further reading 137 8 Sexual and Reproductive Behaviour of Horses 139 Basic genetic foundation of the individual’s sexuality 139 Normal mare specific behavior 140 Normal sexual specific behaviour l49 Modifiers of the genetic blueprint 153 Conclusion 160 Topics for discussion 160 References and further reading l60 Part Three: The flexibility of Behaviour and its Management 163 9 Learning and Training 165 Psychological processes 165 A few basic procedures 167 App1ying reinforcement to train new behaviours 176 Punishment and its problems 180 General guidelines to training new behaviours 182 Learning beyond a change in behaviour 183 Training techniques for problem behaviours 186 Conclusion 193 Topics for discussion 164 References and further reading 194 10 Welfare 196 Understanding welfare 196 What is right is not always the same as what is good 196 Measuring welfare 197 ls the domestic horse a fish out of water? 205 Stereotypies 210 Principles of treatment for stereotypies and other behaviour problems 220 Conclusion 224 Topics for discussion 224 References and further reading 225 Appendix 226 Index 227

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Book SynopsisProvides an in-depth guide to horse care under conditions unique to Australia and New Zealand.

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Book SynopsisHealing for Horses is the most comprehensive guide available on the subject of using healing energy with horses. Margrit also describes the way energy runs through a living being, what and where the chakras are on horses, and how healing can benefit horses and improve the horse-human bond.

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Book SynopsisWith the author''s experience of training and riding at international level, this guide covers the essentials on handling, breaking and training the young event horse. It shows what to look for when buying, discusses training problems, suggests exercises and advises on preparation for competition. The author sets out to answer such questions as: When should you introduce the roller, and then the saddle, prior to backing?; How do you accustom the unwilling pupil to the bit?; At what stage should lungeing start?; How do you avoid over-facing a young horse, and asking too much too soon? She delivers practical advice on all aspects of working with youngsters, from early handling, through backing, lungeing and long-reining, to riding out and early jumping. The book contains specially commissioned photographs taken at the author''s own stud in Hampshire.Table of ContentsSelecting the competition horse; early relationships; training on the lunge; progressive training from the ground; first stages in riding the young horse; early jumping and fitness work; training for jumping and cross-country; preparing for competition; the young horse in competition.

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