Description
Book SynopsisIs it possible to be simultaneously passionate about winning in an equestrian sport and about the welfare of horses? Professional polo player Adam Snow and sport horse veterinarian Shelley Onderdonk answer this undeniably twenty-first-century question with a resounding, "Yes!" They have spent a lifetime together, nurturing Adam's astounding career at the top of his sport (he is the last American polo player to achieve the perfect 10-goal handicap) with the artful, conscientious care and training of the equine partners he needed to be the best. And Shelley's twenty-five years as an equine veterinarian have been spent helping sport horses compete at the highest levels in other disciplines, as well-including reining, racing, eventing, show jumping, and dressage-while always prioritizing long-term health and well-being. In these pages, Adam and Shelley share the keys to their success...and the struggles and celebrations that taught them along the way. Through the lens of their disparate and yet synchronous experiences in the intense realm of world-class equestrian sport, they explore topics of concern and those worthy of consideration, including the: - Role of natural training methods and horse-human communication - Cultivation of a competitive training mindset - Responsibility of a veterinary team member: goals of prevention and realities of diagnosis - Options offered by therapeutic alternatives - Best steps when preparing human and horse for competition - Hard questions to ask when maintaining an equine athlete - Pieces that make up the performance puzzle: conditioning, farriery, tack, and travel - Reality of retirement and when it is the right thing to do, for horse and human Smart, engaging, and honest, this book is the answer to the online debates and the boardroom arguments. With intelligence and experience, the authors provide the much-needed antidote to the dark side of horse sports. "Our story is an explicit acknowledgement that doing good for the horse is good for results in the competitive arena," they write. "Our task is to explain our method, and yours is to prove that it can be replicated."
Trade ReviewAt a time when debate is increasing as to whether a horse’s welfare can be truly protected in sport, this book is a very welcome addition to the discussion. The horse-human partnership is inherently unequal, but people can do much to redress the balance by understanding their horses and putting their needs first. Adam and Shelley’s book is a thoughtful step along that path, demonstrating that competitive sport and equine well-being do not have to be mutually exclusive.
What an incredible opportunity for all equestrians to get knowledge, experience, and life lessons from a two of the most respected horse people in the world. Shelley Onderdonk and Adam Snow have had amazing horse lives and careers. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone. There is so much here to learn, understand, and appreciate. It’s a must-read!
'The horses must come first.’ This is the mantra that should be the guidepost for anyone who plays with horses in a competitive arena. Winning with Horses is a must for anyone's equestrian library—full of thoughtfulness, empathy, and a progressive outlook that is valuable in any kind of life with horses. The shared thought process between veterinary work and a high-level competitive program is rare and needs to be celebrated. This is a wonderful philosophy that promotes the idea that horsemanship based on a horse's emotional and physical well-being is always the most successful way to live in this world.
