Hope . . . From the Heart of Horses

by Kathy Pike

Hope . . . From the Heart of Horses explores and celebrates the relationship and bond possible between horses and humans. Each chapter offers a life lesson about trusting one's instincts, honestly addressing emotions, achieving clarity in communications, and releasing negative thoughts.

Because survival depends on being highly tuned to the thoughts and feelings of others, horses sense human intentions rather than what a person offers in facial expressions, which creates a remarkable effect on the relationship between these two distinctly different species. Among the moving stories the author relates are a horse named Hope who teaches the difference between hope and faith; an abused horse’s background bringing up old memories and helping the author to move on; a young Olympic equestrienne hopeful who discovers and reaffirms her self-esteem; and a corporate training session in which one participant achieves great success merely by being honest about her fears.

KATHY PIKE is the founder of the Mind Body Method (MBM), a leader in the field of Equine Experiential Learning, and a Life Coach. She conducts equine-facilitated workshops and training sessions throughout the country and abroad. She lives in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Skyhorse Publishing
http://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/

Getting in TTouch with Your Horse

by Linda Tellington-Jones with Sybil Taylor

In this revised edition of her bestselling book Getting in TTouch, world-renowned animal behaviorist and horse trainer Linda Tellington-Jones explains how to analyze the meaning of all the physical traits that indicate a horse’s true personality. Learn how to “read” your horse’s head conformation, as well as the swirls (patterns in the lay of hair) on his face and body. Then meet 36 horses of various types and breeds and see how she breaks down her technique of personality analysis for each one. Linda also teaches you to determine if the horse’s personality has been affected adversely by stress or pain caused by poor health, inadequate living conditions, or a riding discipline ill-suited to the horse’s conformation.

With more than 220 photographs and 100 drawings, this perennial bestseller promises to unlock the secrets to forming a lasting and rewarding relationship with your equine partner.

LINDA TELLINGTON-JONES, an internationally recognized equine expert, developed the Tellington Method® three decades ago as a system of training and healing horses that overrides common resistances and strengthens the horse-human bond.

Trafalgar Square Publishing
http://www.horseandriderbooks.com/
978 1 57076 415 8

Everything I Know About Life I Learned From My Horse

by Gwen Peterson

Book review by NWHS editor D. Taber

Montana author Gwen Peterson knows horses. She knows how they buck off greenhorns, how they bounce a rider in the saddle until all dignity is thrown to the wind...and how they can be the best of companions and a way to see life through a freer, friendlier set of eyes.

Through a collection of hilarious essays, Peterson offers anecdotes that seasoned horse people will recognize as fully their own. In fact, this book might make an appropriate gift for the non-horse person who is trying to get a handle on the equine lifestyle. They may walk away scratching their heads, but certainly not without a laugh. Between Chief, the circus horse who frequents the town bar, a lesson in how to catch and lead a wayward horse without a halter or rope in sight, and a few meditations on the lack of modern facilities in the great Montana outdoors, all readers can find something to identify with.

A noted “Cowboy Poet,” Peterson intersperses her poetry with the essays, covering history and song in the pages. Unfortunately, as a stickler for scansion and rhythm, I felt that some of the poems didn’t work—especially the historical epic of “The Bloody Bozeman Trail”—but overall, the book is well worth the read. The pace is lively and the laughs are neither few nor far between.

ISBN-13: 978-0-7603-3690-8

Voyageur Press

Available in bookstores everywhere or through www.voyageurpress.com

The Adult Rider by Sarah Montague

Sarah Montague's The Adult Rider: A Practical Guide for First-Time Equestrians and Adults Getting Back in the Saddle is exactly what it says it is: practical, informative, and geared toward adults. The book begins with a thorough description of a variety of equestrian disciplines, most of which will be familiar to readers of NWHS, but the detailed information, presented in a friendly, conversational tone, is bound to teach even the most well-read aspiring horse person something new.

The book offers down-to-earth advice geared especially toward adults, covering differences in the way children and adults learn and emphasizing safety and comfort for those of us who no longer have the resilient bodies of youth. If you’re new to the horse world, the book is definitely a good way to dive in. If you’re a returning rider with some experience who is trying to get back into the saddle after time away, some of the information may be a little too basic for your needs, but there is also plenty of relevant information. Encouraging anecdotes fill the volume, reminding you that there is always more to learn.

Sarah Montague is the co-author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Horses, and has contributed to Eventing, among other publications. She is a cultural feature and documentary writer and producer for public radio, and rides in upstate New York.

Taylor Trade Publishing

www.rlpgtrade.com

ISBN: 978-1-58979-414-6

TPB $16.95 • 313pp.

Understanding Lameness

by Terry Swanson, DVM with Heidi Nyland

Review by NWHS editor Deb Taber

Understanding Lameness is a basic but thorough primer that works from the ground up to explain causes and effects of a wide variety of types of lameness. A lot of time is spent on the mechanics of the hoof, with case studies to illustrate potential problems and resolutions in an accessible format. Photos, drawings, and radiograph images help the reader understand exactly what to look for as well as what occurs internally.

Beyond the hoof, the book dedicates several chapters to other parts of the horse's body, addressing causes and treatments for lameness that broaden focus to the movement and connections of the whole horse. But perhaps the most useful part of Understanding Lameness for the average reader is the final chapter, which discusses how to manage your horse's home care after he is treated by the vet. Issues such as nutrition, exercise, and boredom are covered, along with more direct care such as cold therapy and administering medication.

I highly recommend this book for horse owners looking to better understand how to get and keep their horses sound.

8.5" x 11" • 215 pages

Western Horseman Publishing

www.westernhorseman.com

ISBN: 978-0-911647-74-7

The New Ride with Your Mind Clinic

Rider Biomechanics—Basics to Brilliance 

by Mary Wanless 

Mary Wanless helped revolutionize riding with her "Ride with Your Mind" technique. Now she’s back with exciting new ideas and exercises that she has discovered since writing her previous books. She delivers these tantalizing tidbits of riding know-how in the form of a riding “clinic.” Join her in the arena as her students of varying levels of experience and ability demonstrate common problems with riding position and aiding. 

Find out how to use Wanless’s methods to improve faults such as:

•Tipping forward

•Leaning back

•Hollowing the back

•Rounding the back

•Asymmetries in the saddle

•And more

MARY WANLESS has combined her lifetime of equestrian knowledge with experience gained by studying psychology, biofeedback, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), the Alexander and Feldenkrais techniques, Tai Chi, massage, dance, anatomy, sports psychology, and educational kinesiology. 

Trafalgar Square Publishing

192 pp • 150 color photos, 50 illustrations

ISBN: 978 1 57076 391 5

www.horseandriderbooks.com

Starting & Running Your Own Small Farm Business

by Sarah Beth Aubrey

Running a small farm goes beyond growing, raising and crafting artisan products. Locally grown produce and specialty farm items also have to be marketed and sold to wholesalers, retailers and consumers. To help farmers position themselves well in the market, Sarah Aubrey offers a business-savvy reference that covers everything from financial plans and advertising budgets to web design and food service wholesalers.

Although Aubrey's book focuses on the business of raising and selling of produce, dairy and beef products, there is much information for any agriculture-based business. The sample prices offered may be inaccurate due to many recent changes in the economy, but the advice given for determining pricing and figuring costs and expenses is solid. Overall, the book is an excellent reference for any independent agricultural business, and offers useful resources to further your knowledge as your business grows.

Paperback, 176pp
Color photographs and illustrations throughout
ISBN: 978-1-58017-697-2
www.storey.com

Human to Horseman: A Journey of Discovery, Growth and Celebration

by Rick Lamb

Rick Lamb, creator and host of the popular TV and radio shows The Horse Show and The Horse Show Minute, has spent the past decade bringing horsemen and women of all ages and levels of experience the most current information available on the care, riding, and training of horses. Along the way, he’s personally tested everything he’s learned, transforming himself from a greenhorn to a well-rounded horseman with the humility to acknowledge he still has a ways to go. 

Now, Rick has picked the very best of what he’s learned and the very worst mistakes he’s made and shared them in a soul-baring collection of personal stories and practical lessons. With humor and candor, he passes along his hard-won wisdom.

In addition, Rick offers useful advice on:

• Performing an emergency dismount 

• Planning and constructing horse property

• Practicing a one-rein stop 

• Feeding according to your horse’s needs

• Using Imprint Training 

• Preparing for trailer loading

Trafalgar Square Publishing

www.horseandriderbooks.com

208 pp • 27 color photos

HC: 978 1 57076 394 6 

Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses by Carol Walker

Wild horses: bold, elusive, independent, and above all, free. Or are they? Most of us consider wild horses honored emblems of our Western spirit, but some see them as a resource to exploit or even a pest to eliminate. Which are they? For Carol Walker, the photographer and author of Wild Hoofbeats, the answer begins not in abstract argument over symbols and statistics, but with the horses themselves. In images that move fleetly from the pages straight into our hearts, Walker brings to brilliant life the horses of the Adobe Town herd in Wyoming’s Red Desert, and we gain a priceless perspective on these graceful, courageous animals.

Walker gathered these dynamic images over years spent observing (sometimes at a distance, often within a mere stride or two) the bands of the Adobe Town herd. She emerged from her experience with a sense of personal acquaintance with the horses, a deep respect for their social allegiances and intelligence, and a heart fully engaged by their plight. As art, the photographs are elegant. As documentary, they are evocative. In every respect, they are indelibly memorable.

Painted Hills Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9817936-4-1
160pp. TPB
www.wildhoofbeats.com

BARBARO: America's Horse by Shelley Fraser Mickle

He was bred to be a champion. He was born to run. Everyone said he would be one of the greatest racehorses of all time. Everyone said he would take a place in history next to Triple Crown winners like the fabled Secretariat.

Then, in one sickening, heart-stopping moment, everything changed. Suddenly he was no longer racing for glory; he was fighting for his life. And the horse bred to be a champion became much more: he became a symbol of hope and courage for an entire nation.

Though designed for young readers (ages 7-12), BARBARO: America's Horse is a book that speaks to all ages. Based on interviews but fictionalized just enough to create the dialog that tells a compelling story, the book brings back to life a horse that captured a nation.

Shelley Fraser Mickle lives on a farm in Florida with her two horses, Precious and Mullet. She is the author of several novels, including The Queen of October, a 1989 New York Times Notable Book. This is her first nonfiction book and her first book for children.

Winner of the Bank Street Best Books of the Year

Trade Paperback, 160 pages
ISBN-10: 1-4169-4865-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-4865-0
www.simonandschuster.com

Horse Health and Nutrition For Dummies by Audrey Pavia and Kate Gentry-Running

Reviewed by Karyn "K.C." Cowdrey

Horse Health and Nutrition For Dummies by Audrey Pavia and Kate Gentry-Running, DVM, CVA is a very good place to begin for people new to horses and horse ownership.

The book starts with the basics of what you need to know to properly care for your horse, and then moves into more in-depth but still easy to digest (pun intended) information on a horse's nutritional requirements and how to best ensure the horse is getting its optimal nutritional needs met.

From there, the book goes into other care issues such as understanding common anatomical terms so you can have an informative conversation with your vet, plus basic first aid practices and how to diagnose and treat common ailments.

The book also goes into what is necessary to breed a horse and successfully raise and care for a foal, then how to help that horse mature and age gracefully and how to compassionately help your horse at the end of its life.

Experienced horse people will enjoy the refresher of perhaps dusty basics, and people new to the world of horse care stand to gain valuable information.

Wiley Publishing, Inc
www.wiley.com
Paperback, 360pp.
ISBN: 978-0-470-23952-0

Beyond the Track: Retraining the Thoroughbred from Racehorse to Riding Horse

by Anna Morgan Ford with Amber Heintzberger

Renowned for their amazing athleticism and unparalleled work ethic, and famed for their “great heart” and willingness to go the extra mile, off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) have proven to be the ultimate equine partner in a host of disciplines: dressage, eventing, hunter/jumper, trail riding—even barrel racing! Discover all you need to know to find the right OTTB and give him the solid educational foundation he needs to excel in a new career, whether as a highly trained competitor, pleasure mount, or companion animal.

“Beyond the Track by Anna Ford is breakthrough racehorse literature, concisely covering every facet of what to expect and how to get the most out of your off-the-track Thoroughbred, both mentally and physically. The book could also be called ‘OTTB Training for Dummies’ or ‘OTTB Training A–Z.’ I consider this book the ultimate in training manuals for anyone thinking about adopting an ex-racehorse.”
~Liz Harris, Executive Director, Thoroughbred Charities of America

*A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book goes to support the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program

Trafalgar Square Books
http://www.horseandriderbooks.com/
TPB 264 pp · 218 color photosISBN: 978 1 57076 402 8

It's Not Just About the Ribbons by Jane Savoie

Book review by Karyn "K.C." Cowdrey

A follow-up to Savoie's early work, That Winning Feeling!, in which she first introduces the equestrian to the powerful tool of sports psychology, It’s Not Just About the Ribbons is not your average horsemanship book. Instead, this book focuses on how to tap into the power of our minds to overcome obstacles in riding due to mental traps we impose on ourselves, such as insecurity, frustration, lack of empathy, impatience, tension, doubt, arrogance, moodiness, discouragement, distraction and pessimism.

By understanding how to overcome these obstacles, you can clearly define goals and map out a game plan to reach them.

If you want to gain personal enrichment as well as the full ability to tap into your equestrian potential, I highly recommend picking up a copy of It’s Not Just About the Ribbons.

Trafalgar Square Publishing
www.horseandriderbooks.com
256pp. 63 color photos
ISBN: 9781570764011

A Horse of Her Own by Annie Wedekind

Reviewed by Deb Taber, NWHS editor

Although I grew up on horse fiction, it has been a while since I've indulged in reading horse stories. Over time, I tried a few that seemed to be written with no understanding of a young horse lover, so I was hesitant when I picked up A Horse of Her Own by Annie Wedekind.

The premise is unsurprising: Jane Ryan's family can't afford to get a horse for her, and circumstances take away the school horse she has bonded with. That may be an old story, but it's still timeless...and besides, that's just the beginning. Jane and her family are all enjoyable, quirky, believable characters who are whole people, not clichés. The same goes for the other characters in the book, horses included. Sure, the nasty clique of rich girls is there...but one of them might be more human than she wants to think, and even the minor characters have distinct personalities that make them as real to the reader as they are to Jane. The best part of A Horse of Her Own is the down-to-earth feel, be it the bumps and bruises of training or a young girl's realization that some things don't matter as much as she once thought they did, and other things matter even more.

I enjoyed my visit to Wedekind's world very much, and learned a little about the mechanics of jumping and eventing along the way. Despite its designation as a young adult novel, I think readers of any age will enjoy this book just as much as a horse-struck young girl will; it's one to put up on the shelf with the Marguerite Henry and Walter Farley novels from our own younger years.

Back to Work: How to Rehabilitate or Recondition Your Horse by Lucinda Dyer

Back to Work brings the reader guidance from 11 highly regarded veterinarians and professionals—all experts in rehabilitating horses—plus the stories of 40 amateur riders from all walks of life as they come to grips with diagnoses of tendon and ligament injuries, colic surgery or laminitis. They share their heartbreak and day-to-day struggles as they juggle career responsibilities, put aside relationships and reorganize family life in order to devote time and energy to their horses' convalescence. More importantly, they tell us how they overcame the odds, providing countless tips, detailed recovery timelines, and the tools and techniques that were invaluable as their horses recuperated.

In addition to these heartfelt accounts of horses’ recoveries, author Lucinda Dyer interviews six riders who suffered nerve-shattering falls from horseback, broken legs, dislocated arms, car accidents and cancer surgery. Read about their experiences as they regained lost confidence, conditioning, and locomotion in the saddle—proving just how strong our love for horses and riding can be.

About the Author
Like many of the women profiled in Back to Work, Lucinda Dyer rode as a child, but then took a several–decade hiatus from horses before beginning to ride again in her 40s. She bought her first horse at age 48 and soon after embarked on a happy voyage through the lower levels of dressage.

400 pp • 8 ¼ x 9 ½ • b/w photos throughout • 978 1 57076 366 3
www.horseandriderbooks.com

The Legendary California Hackamore & Stock Horse Book by Bobby Ingersoll

Photography by Stoecklein Publishing

Famous horse trainer Bobby Ingersoll has joined forces with Stoecklein Publishing to produce a fascinating book about the history of the California stock horse and the hackamore style of horse training. Ingersoll’s depth of experience and knowledge results in a volume that will delight and educate readers. It is complete with practical horse training tips, intricate drawings and diagrams, and beautiful photographs.

"Even though it took me more than three years to write all this down, I do believe this knowledge should be preserved because traditional California hackamore training is on the verge of vanishing. At first, I was just going to write about the hackamore, but for the Spanish system to make any sense it is important to explain, examine, and then move through all four stages of training in a methodical way."

~Bobby Ingersoll, from the Foreword to The Legendary California Hackamore & Stock Horse Book

Each book in the Stoecklein collection is available in a regular edition and a limited leather bound edition. These exquisite signed and numbered books make the perfect gift for the true collector. Each book is hand bound using top grade cowhide, branded with its respective title, and comes in a leather slipcase.

12x11" Hardcover
204 pages
Regular Edition $50.00
Leather Bound Edition - Add $300.00 (only 100 available)
http://www.thestoeckleincollection.com/

101 Horsekeeping Tips by Jessie Shiers

Safety, efficiency, and cleanliness are the hallmarks of every well-run stable. In this book, learn the time-honored methods of the pros to improve the day-to-day functioning of your own barn. You'll learn tips for keeping your horses safer, healthier, and happier while making your own work easier and more enjoyable.

You'll learn how to reduce the risk of diseases and injuries, treat minor health problems, manage your pastures and property, stop behavior problems before they start, and much more. Whether you run a large training facility or keep a couple of ponies in the backyard, this is a book that you and your horses can't afford to be without.


Jessie Shiers has been riding and caring for horses for fifteen years. The author of 101 Hunter/Jumper Tips, she lives in Middletown, Connecticut with her husband, her dog, and her horse.

Paperback, 192 pages
ISBN: 1-59228-831-6
Publisher: The Lyons Press
http://www.lyonspress.com/

Storey's Barn Guide to Horse Handling and Grooming by Charni Lewis

As anyone who works with horses can attest, even the friendliest horse can be unpredictable. Horse handlers need authoritative information, but they also need both hands free. A conventional book is neither the safest nor the most convenient source for step-by-step instructions when difficult equine situations arise.

Clearly illustrated with large print and a calendar-like hanging format, Storey's Barn Guide to Horse Handling and Grooming is easy to use as a quick reference on the go. Full of plenty of simple, clear instructions for the novice horse handler, it remains a valuable reminder for more experienced horse men and women.

Organized and color-coded for quick reference, the guide offers resources in the following categories:
· Approaching & Catching
· Leading a Horse
· Turnout & Tying
· Grooming & Bathing
· Braiding
· Tacking Up
· In & Out of the Saddle
· Reading a Horse
· Horse Play

The appendix includes tips on show grooming, a horse anatomy chart, and an easy reference sheet to fill in with emergency contact numbers so they're easily accessible when and where you need them.

Charni Lewis is a trainer and instructor at Flintridge Riding Club in Pasadena, CA. She has an extensive background in dressage, veterinary medicine, and thoroughbred breeding.

128 pages
$24.95
ISBN 978-1-58017-657-6
Storey Publishing http://www.storey.com/

Concise Guide to Medications, Herbs and Supplements by David W. Ramey, DVM

In today’s horse industry, the ongoing debate between traditional and alternative medications can be truly overwhelming, and herbs and supplements are pre-packaged with "promises" of improvement. So how do you decide what your horse does and doesn’t need? Dr. David Ramey saves the day with a fully updated edition of his no-nonsense compendium of all you really need to know about:

Vitamins • Minerals • Sedatives • Hormones • Antibiotics • Liniments • Emollients • Anesthetics • Ointments • Corticosteroids • Oils • NSAIDs • Antihistamines • Dewormers • Joint supplements • Bronchodilators • Hoof dressings • Expectorants • Poultices...and more.

Crystal clear explanations, helpful cross-referencing, pronunciation guides, and an index of brand names make this book a convenient and easy way to understand the actions of ingredients, administer medications safely, select substances wisely, and avoid problems in competition.

Northwest Horse Source's K.C. Cowdrey says of The Concise Guide...

"I found this book well written and easy to read and understand, while at the same time it didn't talk down to lay people. The ability to quickly look up the name of a drug or chemical compound makes this book a fantastic ‘quickie’ reference. This is one book I definitely will keep in my informational library!"

Dr. David Ramey is a 1983 graduate of Colorado State University. After completing an internship in equine medicine and surgery at Iowa State University, he entered private equine practice in southern California.

Trafalgar Square Publishing
http://www.horseandriderbooks.com/
Paperback - 978 1 57076 365 6
280 pp

The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss

In the winter of 1917, a big-boned young woman shows up at George Bliss’ doorstep. She's looking for a job breaking horses, and he hires her on. Many of his regular hands are off fighting the war, and he glimpses, beneath her showy rodeo garb, a shy but strong-willed girl with a serious knowledge of horses.

So begins the irresistible tale of nineteen-year-old Martha Lessen, a female horse whisperer trying to make a go of it in a man’s world. It was thought that the only way to break a horse was to buck the wild out of it, and broken ribs and tough falls just went with the job. But over several long, hard winter months, many of the townsfolk in this remote county of eastern Oregon witness Martha's way of talking in low, sweet tones to horses believed beyond repair—and getting miraculous, almost immediate results—and she thereby earns a place of respect in the community.

With the elegant sweetness of Plainsong and a pitch-perfect sense of western life reminiscent of Annie Dillard, The Hearts of Horses is a remarkable story about how people and animals make connections and touch each other's lives in the most unexpected and profound ways.

Molly Gloss is the author of The Dazzle of the Day, a New York Times Notable Book, and The Jump-Off Creek, a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award. She teaches writing and literature of the American West at Portland State University and lives in Portland, Oregon.

ISBN: 9780618799909
Hardcover; 304 pages
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/