Did you know that a cantle is the rear part of a saddle? Or that a jibbah is the bulge on the face of an Arabian horse located between the eyes? Over 6,600 common, specialized, and medical words and terms associated with equine care and training are defined in this comprehensive dictionary. Also included are slang terms and breeds of horses. Illustrations are provided for many of the definitions.

The best-selling guide to horsemanship — for English and Western riders

THERE ARE NO PROBLEM HORSES, ONLY PROBLEM RIDERS has stood for twenty years as an indispensable text in its field. As Mary Twelveponies writes in her introduction, "It is the hardest pill for all of us would-be horsemen to swallow, but it is absolutely true — if the horse is not responding properly, we are doing something wrong." This easy-to-read guide offers sensible advice on every common problem you may have in handling your horse, and provides highly effective solutions.

Newly introduced by John Lyons, America’s Most Trusted Horseman, this reissue covers everything from dressage to barrel racing, show jumping to endurance riding.

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'.

Originally written and published in 1949, "Academic Equitation" was considered by dressage experts to be the most important contribution to classical training in the twentieth century. This book was intended as a preparation for international dressage competitions but is far more than this. It discusses the subjects of academic equitation, the riding master and the choice of horse before introducing the reader to the author's systematic program, covering the very early training right up to the most advanced movements. The appendix deals with lungeing, work in hand, long reins and pillar work. General Decarpentry was not only a distinguished scholar of artistic equitation but also equally versed in putting the theories into practice. He deals with the education of the young horse and the complications and details of advanced schooling with the hand of a master. Although he claims that nothing in the book is his--his training system is based on the methods of D'Aure, Baucher and L'Hotte--the General's wisdom and deep knowledge are manifest throughout. It was the General's great wish that traditional teachings on the art of equitation should not be lost to those who wished to study equitation. In this most important work he has succeeded in presenting these teachings in such a way that allows both layman and expert to obtain a deeper insight into this fascinating subject.

First published in 1959, "The Way to Perfect Horsemanship" was immediately recognized as a classic work of equestrian literature. It offers insight into the psychology of the horse as well as its muscular system and the mechanics of movement. It explains in detail the basic principles of training, the fundamentals of riding, and the effect of training aids. Everyone, from trainers to occasional riders, will benefit from this book.

Horseback riding is one of the world's most popular activities. Much has been written about the various styles, techniques, and competitive events in the sport. But all too often resources, authors, and even instructors neglect the most important and unique aspect of riding: the relationship between rider and horse.

In "The Gentle Art of Horseback Riding," Gincy Self Bucklin shares her horse-friendly approach for developing comfortable, competent riders. Its step-by-step lesson format makes it an excellent resource for those who teach riding to others.

Whether you are just beginning or have ridden before, Bucklin's methods can improve your skills and make you a better, more confident rider.

Inside "The Gentle Art of Horseback Riding," you'll learn that the key to success at every level is understanding your horse and how to relate to him physically, mentally, and emotionally. This will help you advance more quickly, feel more confident, and have more fun.

You'll also discover much, much more:

- The seven steps for dealing with fear-related stress

- Interpreting your horse's behavior and body language

- Saddling up, riding in half-seat positions, and using the reins

- Basic movements, including walk, trot, canter, turns, and transitions

o More advanced trotting, cantering, galloping, hill work, and fence jumping skills

Whether you have a serious or casual interest in the sport as a whole or just one of its many disciplines, "The Gentle Art of Horseback Riding" is a must-read. Insightful and fascinating, it will enhance the riding experience for you and your horse.

Collection is one of the most misunderstood concepts in Western and English riding. Everyone wants it, but few people know how to get it. World-class rider, trainer, and clinician Lynn Palm now offers the one and only book that explains away the mysteries of collection while telling you exactly how to attain it. With 30 years experience riding and training champion all-around performance horses, and a background in dressage, Lynn has perfected an easy-to-use system of exercises that gradually collect any type of horse, regardless of his build, and that are of particular value to stock horse breeds such as Quarter Horses, Paints, and Appaloosas.
Lynn assures us that every horse can achieve and move in a collected frame with time and patience, and learning how to bring him into true collection helps you improve his performance; create a more willing equine partner; extend his physical and mental longevity; and enjoy riding him even more than you already do. Real collection proves elusive becauseOCountil nowOCothe instructions for achieving it have been complex, incomplete, or even incorrect. The result (false collection) is often based on a forced headset and little else. This is uncomfortable and unhealthy for the horse, and can lead to behavioral problems and physical breakdown.
Real collection is actually a complete tail-to-nose package of supple muscle and hind-end-generated impulsion: the hind legs step further under the body, the horseOCOs back rounds, he flexes at the poll, and the riderOCOs seat, legs, and hands connect it all. It is with this OC frame, OCO as it has come to be called, that the horse becomes more athleticOCohis forehand lightens, enabling him to maneuver his front end more quickly, his steps become cadenced, and his movement free-flowing.
To achieve this desirable OC fluidity, OCO Lynn begins on the ground with in-hand exercisesOCofree lungeing, ground-driving, and lungeing-and-bittingOCoto gain the horseOCOs trust and improve his responses to cues and commands. She then explains how you start in the saddle with simple transitionsOCosuch as haltOCowalkOCohaltOCoand gradually progress through stages that include more difficult transitions between gaits and markers; lengthening and shortening of stride; yielding on diagonal, straight, and curving lines; turns on the forehand and haunches; shoulder-in and shoulder-fore; haunches-in and haunches-out; half-pass; and simple and flying lead changes.
As the horse gains conditioning and increases his strength over time, long-and-low work and stretching down encourage him to OC giveOCO to the bit and flex at the poll. This, in coordination with LynnOCOs progressive exercises and training figures such as loops, figure eights, and serpentines, eventually leads to the beautiful, balanced frame of the responsive, collected horse that every rider dreams of: happy, healthy, willing, and ready to be competitive in the show pen or just simply a great pleasure to ride."

Two brothers live parallel lives on either side of the US-Mexico border. This is the dramatic true story of how their worlds collided in a major criminal conspiracy. A KIRKUS REVIEWS NONFICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR A NEW YORK TIMES EDITOR'S PICK Jose Trevino was raised in Nuevo Laredo, a Mexican border town and major smuggling gateway. He grew up loving the sprawling countryside and its tough, fast quarter horses, but in search of opportunity he crossed the border into Texas. While Jose built a modest living laying bricks, his younger brother Miguel ascended to the top of the infamously bloody Los Zetas cartel. As Jose settled down with a wife and kids, his brother was said to be burning rivals alive, eating victims' hearts and launching grenades at the US consulate. Then one day Jose showed up at a quarter-horse auction and bid close to a million dollars for a horse. The bricklayer suddenly became a major player on the scene, catching the attention of FBI agent Scott Lawson. Lawson enlisted Tyler Graham, the young American rancher breeding Jose's champion horse - nicknamed Huesos, or Bones - to infiltrate what he suspected was a major money laundering operation.The goal: capture Miguel Trevino. Set against the high-stakes world of horseracing, Bones takes you deep into a violent drug cartel, the perilous lives of American ranchers and the Sisyphean work of drug cops, revealing how greed and fear mingle with race, class and violence along the vast Southwest border. At its heart, this riveting crime drama is a gripping story of brotherhood, family loyalty and the tragic cost of a failed drug war.