In praise of Fitness, Performance and the Female Equestrian
""This book is an important guide for women who want to feel well, ride well and extend their active years."" Chrystine Jones Tauber former member United States Equestrian Team Grand Prix Jumping Squad
""Mary Midkiff is a new voice in our evolving cultural freedom, where insights unique to women in this case, in relation to horses and riding are welcome and needed."" Richard M. Timms, M.D. chairman and CEO, Troxel Companies
""This is an exciting approach to an ancient relationship. Mary Midkiff has done horsewomen an important and useful service in bringing it all together."" Mary Vernon practicing physician and professor of medicine Lawrence, Kansas
The Howell Equestrian Library is a distinguished collection of books on all aspects of horsemanship and horsemastership. The nearly fifty books in print offer readers in all disciplines and at all levels of competition sound instruction and guidance by some of the most celebrated riders, trainers, judges, and veterinarians in the horse world today. Whether your interest is dressage, show jumping, or western riding, or whether it is breeding, groomi ng, or health care, Howell has a book to answer your needs. Get to know the books in the Howell Equestrian Library; many are modern-day classics and have achieved the status of authoritative references in the estimation of those who ride, train, and care for horses.
The Howell Equestrian Library

Author Gail Woerner used her life-long association with the rodeo world to research and write a history of this paradoxical profession that requires a laugh-getter dressed in baggy britches and wearing a clown face to put his life in jeopardy to protect cowboys from the dangerous Brahma bulls, and sometimes death. All aspects of the world of the rodeo clown are included -- how the profession began, comedy acts created by the rodeo clowns, the animals they trained so masterfully, the evolution of the profession. Other aspects include bullfighting, development of the barrel, injuries which are a part of the job, frustrations in organizing, a cowboy clown's role in the world of rodeo, how sponsors changed the profession, how specialized the bullfighter has become and today's fearless funnymen. Information has been gathered from hundreds of rodeo clowns, bullfighters and barrelmen, plus interviews with wives, sons and daughters, friends and co-workers. Included are more than 700 rodeo clowns, their hometowns along with the years of performance. Other information includes honors and awards given these hilarious risk-taking heroes.

Monte Foreman was one of America's foremost trainers of horses and riders, and many advances in western training have come from his years of research into the action and interaction of horse and rider--research aimed at improving their athletic ability as a team. It was Foreman who first applied still and motion-picture photography to the sport of riding, to determine beyond doubt how horses move most naturally and efficiently. His training methods are applicable to all kinds of western and English riding.

"Monte Foreman's Horse-Training Science" introduces beginning and advanced riders to Foreman's method, which he taught successfully in clinics for many years with Patrick Wyse, his first accredited instructor. Step-by-step instructions and more than 300 photographs and drawings explain how to execute the turn on the forehand, the side pass, leads, the posting trot and the natural depart, flying lead changes, balanced stops, rolls, and spins. The horse-and-rider team that becomes proficient in the Foreman method will enter a whole new world of enjoyment, performance skill, and competitive achievement.

Kelly 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'.

Convict Cowboys is the first book on the nation's first prison rodeo, which ran from 1931 to 1986. At its apogee the Texas Prison Rodeo drew 30,000 spectators on October Sundays. Mitchel P. Roth portrays the Texas Prison Rodeo against a backdrop of Texas history, covering the history of rodeo, the prison system, and convict leasing, as well as important figures in Texas penology.