Horses and ponies: general interest Books

Book SynopsisShortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year AwardIn 1704 a bankrupt English merchant sent home the colt he had bought from Bedouin tribesmen near the ruins of Palmyra. Thomas Darley hoped this horse might be the ticket to a new life back in Yorkshire. But he turned out to be far more than that: and although Mr Darley's Arabian never ran a race, 95% of all thoroughbreds in the world today are descended from him. In this book, for the first time, award-winning racing writer Christopher McGrath traces this extraordinary bloodline through twenty-five generations to our greatest modern racehorse, Frankel.The story of racing is about man's relationship with horses, and Mr Darley's Arabian also celebrates the men and women who owned, trained and traded the stallions that extended the dynasty. The great Eclipse, for instance, was bred by the Duke who foiled Bonnie Prince Charlie's invasion (with militia gathered from Wakefield races) and went on to lead the Jockey Club. But he only became a success once bought and raced by a card-sharp and brothel-keeper - the racecourse has always brought high and low life together. McGrath expertly guides us through three centuries of scandals, adventures and fortunes won and lost: our sporting life offers a fascinating view into our history. With a canvas that extends from the diamond mines of South Africa to the trenches of the Great War, and a cast ranging from Smithfield meat salesmen to the inspiration for Mr Toad, and from legendary jockeys to not one, but two disreputable Princes of Wales (and a very unamused Queen Victoria), Mr Darley's Arabian shows us the many faces of the sport of kings.Trade ReviewAn excellent history . . . McGrath is one of the finest sportswriters of this generation . . . Brilliant -- David Walsh * SUNDAY TIMES *A racing book like no other - a book of remarkable scope -- Robin Oakley * THE SPECTATOR *Erudite, wry and astute . . . extraordinary horses and a rich seam of cultural history woven into a fascinating book -- Melanie Reid * THE TIMES, Book of the Week *A vivid, sweeping history of impressive scope. McGrath's eye for a story and eloquent turns of phrase will delight -- Nick Pulford * RACING POST *The introduction made my arms tingle as McGrath recalls Frankels's win at the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in 2011... Racing life, social life and equine life are all neatly pulled together and expertly rendered into a compelling story. each chapter is a satisfying vignette of a Darley descendent, the jockeys, trainers, rakes and rank who were involved. Chance and Fortune, deals and dodging -- it's like Derby Day on the page -- Alexandra Henton * THE FIELD *A racy gallop . . . a teeming, colourful survey [with] a great deal to inform and entertain -- Nicholas Clee * OBSERVER *A dark horse contender * EVENING STANDARD *Did I think I'd end up missing the whole of the Euro 2016 final in order to finish Chris McGrath's Mr Darley's Arabian? By no means, but I guess it's just that kind of book... Packed with the result of thousands of hours of painstaking research (the bibliography, in itself, is worth a read), the book never gets bogged down in any one horse or race and travels along at a pace that almost forces the turn of the next page. It also includes a quite ridiculous amount of sex, disgrace and utter debauchery. And unlike so many of the great betting coups related throughout, many of which quite spectacularly fail to deliver, it's an investment well worth making -- Will Hayler * SPORTING LIFE *Meticulous research and engaging writing... a book to be savoured, Mr Darley's Arabian is a triumph -- Richard Fahey * RACING POST *A good story . . . from an award-winning journalist . . . [McGrath is] at his best when he is conveying his love of racing -- Patrick Scrivenor * LITERARY REVIEW *Truly gripping...a finely crafted tome that insists on your uninterrupted attention from the start...A fascinating tale of horses and those who owned, trained and traded them. the story is peppered with enough scandal and adventure to fill the trashiest novel. Fortunately, Mr Darley's Arabian is very well written, its narrative racing along effortlessly - as you might expect of a thoroughbred author -- Pete Sharkey * BIRMINGHAM POST, Sports Book of the Month *A high-quality history of our sport, drawing on a cast that takes in aristocrats and nouveaux riches, playboy industrialists, Smithfield meat salemen and the rulers of Dubai * GUARDIAN *A colourful and engaging tale of scandals, adventures and fortunes lost and won * HORSE MAGAZINE *A real thoroughbred.. a three century gallop through 25 generations of champions * IRISH MAIL *Entertaining and informative... a remarkable journey through three centuries, many countries and most of all 25 horses to trace the history of horse racing... [written with] a wonderful light touch. -- Bill Spence * RYEDALE GAZETTE & HERALD *The thoroughbred among new writers * OXFORD TIMES *A sprawling, colourful read, McGrath is an excellent writer and this is an ambitious and well-researched project... [Its readers] are on to a winner * SPORT *A brilliant read... excellent...if you have any interest in horse racing at all, this book is a must read * BOOKBAG *Brilliant...Mr Darley's Arabian has rightly received rave reviews -- Lee Mottershead * RACING POST *Extraordinary * WILTSHIRE VIEW *To the sound of pounding hooves, royalty and aristocrats, obsessive jockeys and trainers jostle with rogues and rascals. The author's understanding of breeding, racing and human foibles is thorough, his prose elegant. * SUNDAY TIMES, BOOKS OF THE YEAR *An enthralling cultural history of humans as much as horses * THE TIMES, BOOKS OF THE YEAR *A picaresque chronicle of horse racing . . . ingenious storytelling... a pleasure * GUARDIAN, BOOKS OF THE YEAR *A sporty stunner... great * COACH *McGrath is an excellent writer and this is an ambitious and well-researched project * Sport *The most comprehensive and entertaining history of racing * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Brilliantly realised . . . The depth of the research McGrath has undertaken is evident on every page but the difficult balance between being definitive and keeping the reader entertained is cleverly maintained . . . There could be no better way for a newcomer to racing to absorb its rich history or a devotee to discover fresh depths * Observor, 'The Sports Books that Made Our Writers' Year' *McGrath's book is erudite, his style wry and his descriptions astute * The Times *Excellent history of thorough-bred racing . . . immense attention to detail * Sunday Times *I galloped through Mr Darley's Arabian, Christopher McGrath's brilliantly colourful romp through the extraordinary horses and scandalous characters who make up the history of British horse racing * Observer, Best Holiday Reads *

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Book SynopsisThis is a detailed guide to medicinal herbs for horses and how they can help in the treatment of a wide range of common ailments. The guide provides an A to Z of common ailments - from allergies to wounds - which can be effectively and safely treated using herbal medicine. It draws on research in herbal medicine as well as in traditional plant-based remedies. Throughout, the author underlines the importance of veterinary consultation, explaining how herbs can be used to complement conventional methods. To provide background information, a materia medica lists the properties of 50 readily obtainable herbs, giving details on habitat, collection, actions and uses, along with folklore and case histories. The author also discusses several non-herbal products, such as vinegar and yoghurt. There are guidelines on how to make herbal preparations, and how to use herbs in compresses and poultices. Advice is given on how remedies are selected and dosages determined, bearing in mind that most herbs take time to bring about a healing reaction. In the final part of the handbook the author describes a range of alternative therapies which can be used alongside conventional or herbal medicine.Table of ContentsChoosing a remedy; dosages for herbs; how to prepare and use herbs; materia medici; non-herbal miscellany; alternative antibiotics; common ailments; alternative therapies - Bach flower remedies, aromatherapy and essential oils, homoeopathy, radionics, chiropractic, other therapies and treatments.

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Book SynopsisGerry Harrington’s intensely thoughtful and highly informative book draws on her long experience using equine assisted therapy to help educationally and emotionally disadvantaged young adults to find their feet and live independent lives once they have left school. Taking the reader through all the different kinds of mental and emotional challenges which can be addressed and transformed through EAT, and demonstrating how it works in practice through case studies and stories, Gerry Harrington opens a door to a world of potential for parents and carers to explore.

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Book SynopsisHorses and donkeys continue to be important to most societies as either recreational or working animals. Presenting a broad coverage of topics relating to horse and donkey ownership, The Handbook of Horses and Donkeys is an introductory guide providing expert advice on current ethical management practices. The history, evolution and domestication of equids is covered, along with equine anatomy and physiology, nutrition, behaviour, learning and cognition, communication, equine health and disease, hoof care, first aid, parasitic infections, preventive measures, pregnancy and foal management. The book is practical, guiding the reader towards good management and best practice. Functional topics are also covered, including body condition scoring, estimating body weight, calculating dietary rations, stabling, pasture advice and management of abnormal behaviours and stereotypies. The approach is holistic, with a global perspective of the care and different uses of equines worldwide and of equine health in relation to the global spread of infection and diseases. The information presented is expert-led but written in an informative and accessible way, designed to be applicable to the novice or experienced owner.

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Book Synopsis‘Each time we lay down together, I thought of pounding fetlocks, the flex of tendons, the press of horse shoe against my chest, the ring of purple flesh it would leave on my stomach, his galloping, galloping into me … Each night, after, I filled the space we’d made with the whine and later the voice of the violin, my voice, coming quicker and quicker, my fingers finding the notes through his hair, quicker and quicker through my bow arm sweeping across the strings, down the flutes of muscle on his back. It came mellow and low then quicker and harder and pizzicato and striking each note, forcing it from the wood and into the still sycamores, pin oaks, maples. Always, the violin called between the spaces.’ In this stunning fictional début Kelly Sullivan explores of the inner life of Grace: mother, wife, and talented violinist. Finding release only in her music, Grace exists in a state of profound emotional paralysis, until the storm. 18 August 1969 – Hurricane Camille ravages all that lies in her path; at a party in Mississippi drunken revellers eagerly await her arrival. As they sway to the sound of a stereo hi-fi, outside ‘the trees whip by and the rain whips down’. Twenty-four people die inside the beachfront building when it’s razed ‘flatter than a winter bayou’. Speeding over drifting sand, Grace, her husband and his newly acquired lover make a last-minute dash to safety. In the days that follow, Grace surveys the destruction wrought by the tempest. Like the wood of her beloved violin, her fractured ego risks crumpling under the pressure: ‘Too much moisture and you’re gonna warp her, but too little and you’ll have more cracks,’ the violin repairman had warned. In Winter Bayou, Grace journeys through the past, from the heady rush of teenage love to a marriage ‘ripped apart too … shredded and pushed beyond our boundaries’ – her meditations forming a perfectly poised novella as lyrically tender as it is viscerally sensuous.

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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 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 SynopsisA comprehensive guide to the care and management of horses and ponies. The aim of this volume is to provide a reliable source of information and advice on all practical aspects of horse and stable management. The manual has been compiled by a panel of experts each drawing on considerable experience and contributing specialised knowledge on his or her chosen subject. Filled with reliable information and advice on modern stable management practices, the book provides a sound foundation for Horse Knowledge and Care. Throughout, the emphasis is on the adoption of correct and safe procedures for the welfare of all who come into contact with horses, as well as for the animals themselves. Coverage includes: The Horse Care of the Horse Watering and Feeding Saddlery and Tack Specialist Care of the Competition Horse The Horse at Grass The Stable Yard Trade ReviewEssential reading for students taking BHS examinations - invaluable to amateurs and professionals alike.Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements Section 1: The Horse 1. Conformation and How to Assess it 2. Action 3. The Psychology of the Horse 4. The Teeth and Ageing 5. Breeds 6. Breeding 7. Identification 8. Buying and Selling a Horse Section 2: Care of the Horse 9. Management Methods 10. Handling the Horse 11. Grooming 12. Clipping, Trimming, Pulling and Plaiting 13. The Foot and Shoeing 14. Bedding 15. Signs of Good and Ill-Health, and Sick Nursing 16. Basic Symptoms of the Horse and How to Get a Horse Fit 17. Internal Parasites 18. Stable Vices and Problem Behaviour Section 3: Watering and Feeding 19. Watering 20. Food and DIgestion 21. The Rules of Feeding 22. Food — Composition and Types 23. Deciding on a Ration 24. Feeding Problems and Non-routine Feeding 25. Managing Forage 26. The Feed Shed and Storing Food Section 4: Saddlery and Tack 27. The Saddle 28. Bridles 29. Other Saddlery 30. Bits 31. Boots and Bandages 32. Clothing 33. Care and Cleaning 34. Saddling Up and Unsaddling Section 5: Specialist Care of the Competition Horse 35. Guidelines for Competition Horses 36. The Event Horse 37. The Dressage Horse 38. The Show Jumper 39. The Endurance Horse 40. The Driving Horse or Pony 41. The Hunter 42. The Point-to-Pointer 43. The Show Horse or Pony 44. The Polo Pony 45. Transportation Section 6: The Horse at Grass 46. Grassland Managment 47. Management of Horses and Ponies at Grass 48. Working the Grass-kept Horse or Pony 49. Bringing a Horse up From Grass Section 7: The Stable Yard 50. Construction of Stables 51. Design of Stables 52. Riding Areas 53. Buying Fodder and Bedding 54. Organising and Running a Yard 55. The Law Appendices 1. Measurements 2. The British Horse Society 3. Equine Passports 4. Vaccinations 5. Government Publications and Codes of Practice 6. Animal Transport Certificate and Route Plan 7. Stable Fires Further Reading Useful Addresses Index

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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 SynopsisCelebrate the mysterious bond between horse and horse-lover. The pleasure of whoa. The surprise of the “unscheduled dismount.” And why, when jumping, to throw your heart over first. Drawing on her lifelong passion for horses and riding, award-winning artist Bonnie Timmons offers up a book full of whimsy and wisdom and a huge helping of giddy up. These are the truths as recorded by an astute observer: Of little girls who spend every minute after school mucking out the barn in hope of one trail ride Of the mechanics of riding: the walk, the trot, the canter, the gallop—a gait so fast your worries can’t keep up Of English vs. Cowboy-speak. Of Outfits and Accessories, and Good Horse-Keeping Tips, (including how to weigh your horse so you know how much to feed him: 1. Weigh yourself. 2. Weigh yourself holding your horse. 3. Subtract 1. from 2.) And finally, of knowing at the end of the day that when you h

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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 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 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 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 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 SynopsisSince prehistory, horses have given us assistance, close companionship and artistic inspiration. Horses offer everything from practical help to brisk exercise to the sheer exhilaration of galloping together across open country. They provide entertaining antics when we're bored and quiet understanding when we need it most. To poets in particular, these beloved creatures are the most wonderful muses, as they neigh, whicker and nuzzle, reflecting back at us our heartfelt tenderness and high spirits. Horse Poems offers a selection of verses in praise of the horse by some of the most celebrated poets of all time. The perfect gift for literary horse fans.Trade ReviewAll of equine life is here. A pocket treasure * The Lady *

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Book SynopsisThis book describes 150 breeds of horses common in North America and Europe. From work horse to pony, and from lineage to key identifying features, this book is perfect for horse lovers or for the family road trip through the countryside.

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Book SynopsisTraining a horse can be a frustrating experience for rider and animal alike. From dealing with a horse that won’t listen to rectifying erratic behavior, this guide covers hundreds of common training challenges and offers proven solutions to your most pressing issues. Stressing effective communication, realistic goals, and the importance of an enjoyable atmosphere, Jessica Jahiel helps you get the most out of your training sessions by pinpointing what’s causing the problem and providing strategies to help both rider and horse stay engaged and focused.

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Book SynopsisFrom the best way to break in a pair of stiff new boots to mastering a difficult jumping routine, Jessica Jahiel addresses hundreds of common problems facing amateur horse-riders. Offering helpful tips and plenty of encouragement, this comprehensive guide covers a wide range of riding concerns that include both physical (painful joints) and psychological (fear of accidents) issues. Jahiel’s informal yet informative approach will not only help you overcome nagging riding obstacles, but inspire you to enjoy your riding experience to its fullest.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents topical research in the study of horses, including recent advances in equine herpes virus 4 genetics using BAC technology; selective breeding in horses; the sexual interference behaviour in a managed herd of Sorraia horses; the management of wild horses with porcine zona pellucida; pathogen inactivation during horse manure composting; horse and human personalities; as well as horse identification and parentage control.

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Book SynopsisThere are several questions requiring attention for rearing horses. By providing appropriate care during early ages, important injuries such as lameness or musculoskeletal damage can be avoided, which becomes of capital importance especially among competition horses. In recent years, there has been an increasing body of evidence that the early rearing environment, in particular access to exercise, can have a positive effect on stimulating the musculoskeletal system and priming the tissue for the future demands it will face in the competition arena. Due to different reasons, such as their participation in competitions or exhibition, sales or pleasure, horses are transported from one location to another. Transportation could be a physical and psychological stressor for horses, contributing to the development of some diseases, thus the effects of transportation on performance and welfare should be appropriately taken into account.

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Book SynopsisHorses and women have always shared a bond. Why else do little girls plaster their schoolbooks with pony pictures? Why do women spend weekends devotedly mucking out paddocks? Or willingly go out in public wearing tight, unforgiving, pale jodhpurs? How is it that otherwise fastidious females cheerfully fill their cars with hay, their nails with dirt and their boots with mud, while turning out gleaming horses, with barely a tail-hair out of place? It seems that in days when urban sprawl is overtaking paddocks and trails, and country life seems so far away, little girls (and big ones!) still dream of horses.

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Book SynopsisBronc Busters and Hay Sloops tells the story of ranching in the West from the beginning of the Great War until 1960. Cowboy soldiers, bronc busters, First Nations, upper-crust Englishmen and the strong, capable women of ranching country . . . theirs are the stories told in this book. Some of these characters are larger than life, such as: Joe Coutlee, cow boss of the Douglas Lake Ranch, whose booming voice gave him the nickname "Roaring Bill"; Grover Hance, who roped one of his men and tied him to a tree until he sobered up; Florence "Bunch" Trudeau, whose pet moose got a little too big for comfort; Ollie Matheson, one of the only women to ride in the Williams Lake Stampede''s death-defying Mountain Race; Anne Paxton, who tended cattle, guided big-game hunters, ran pack horses and a ranch; Bill Arnold, who could ride "anything that wore hide." Ken takes readers inside sprawling ranches, which were self-contained communities in themselves, and small family-run homesteads scratched out of the wilderness. Like his first book on ranching history, Buckaroos and Mudpups, this is an engaging look at fascinating times and the people who made them so.

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Book SynopsisIt was the summer of ''43 on a Cariboo ranch. He was 12 and had to become a man. If you were a man, you could become a cowboy. Join the author on this nostalgic look back on the joys, frustrations and observations of growing up and discovering where he belongs. Excerpt from Eldon Lee''s foreword: This book by Alan Fry is probably the best book ever written on ranch life in the Cariboo. His account of everyday events is so perceptive and so true to the mark that all we country types yearn to re-experience its joys, and its miseries. The Ranch on the Cariboo is a good book and while it may not make a pretty sight to the tractor jockeys, by damn it is authentic; I should know because I was raised on a similar ranch just 18 miles north.

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Book SynopsisA follow-up to The Frog Lake Massacre, The Luck of the Horseman is a cleverly written ride from the days of the Wild West. The story begins ten years after the Frog Lake massacre. Jack Strong is doing a poor job of dealing with a devastating personal tragedy. He reconnects with Sam Steele, an old acquaintance and police officer, to assist in a hunt for a man wanted for murder. During the hunt, Jack meets a roaming cowboy named Jim Spencer. Soon Jack and Jim find themselves risking a challenging cattle drive over the Chilkat Pass to Dawson City, where the Klondike gold rush is in full swing. The Luck of the Horseman is a tale of friendship, and war, and of love lost and love found. It is the second part of a three-part story that chronicles the life of Jack Strong, from the Frog Lake massacre of 1885 and subsequent hunt for the Cree chief Big Bear, through the Anglo-Boer War, to the First World War and the Boxcar Rebellion of 1935.

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Book SynopsisLove it or hate it, the Calgary Stampede is a place where myth, history and spectacle collide. 100 years after an American vaudeville cowboy first dreamed it up, the Stampede remains an unrivalled homage to the West. Cowboy Wild was more than a decade in the making. Photographer David Campion roamed the world''s biggest Wild West show and brought back a collection of images that speak to our fascination with the cowboy. With wry humour, these photographs pull back the curtain and probe the contradictions that lie at the heart of a myth that transforms history into a story about the triumph of man over nature, nostalgically regretted even as it is celebrated. As the Stampede marks its 100th anniversary, the time is ripe for a book that goes beyond the hype. In the accompanying essay, writer Sandra Shields uses the prism of the Stampede to offer a meditation on the meaning of the West and its enduring hold on our collective imagination.

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Book SynopsisA diminutive cowboy with a full beard and a Texas drawl stands onstage at Expo 86 in Vancouver telling wild and woolly stories of life in the Chilcotin backcountry. The audience is mesmerised by his poetic ballad of an alcoholic dog that rode on the back of his saddle in Anahim Lake. The performer is Luther Corky Williams. Originally from Texas, Corky and his wife, Jeanine, moved from Los Angeles to Anahim Lake, BC, to become ranchers. Corky had grown up on a ranch along the Mexican border before heading to LA to work in the film industry. The learning curve was steep for the family as they tried to get used to sixty-below temperatures, keeping watering holes open for the cattle through four feet of river ice, contending with marauding grizzly bears, getting stuck in impossible bog holes, educating children and surviving the hoards of bloodthirsty mosquitoes. In the West Chilcotin, a country known to be hell on dogs and women, Jeanine says she thrived. I loved the ranching life, she says, but I felt the kids needed a better education. Eventually Jeanine and the children moved to Williams Lake while Corky stayed at the ranch. After a freak accident at the Anahim Lake Stampede, he was unable to continue life as a rancher, so he decided to return to his previous career onstage and in film. Getting chosen to perform at Expo was the big break he needed. From there he got an agent in Vancouver and landed parts in television shows like CBC''s The Beachcombers and CTV''s Bordertown. After Corky and Jeanine split up in 1990, Corky moved back to Texas to work in theatre productions with his brother Jaston Williams, and he performed on some of the major stages across the United States. By 2007, Corky, longing for the wide-open spaces of BC''s Cariboo, moved back to Williams Lake. After living in Texas for fifteen years, I just got a wild hair up my ass to get up and come back to Canada, Corky says. Corky became known as one of Western Canada''s most beloved cowboy poets, performing his spoken word stories and poetry across the province.

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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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