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.

Don Burt has earned a reputation as one of the foremost judges, lecturers, and clinicians in the country, and has officiated at the National and World Championships for most major breeds of horse. From his early years at his family's Hollywood riding academy, where he taught movie stars how to ride, through his military service (he "represented" the U.S. Navy in rodeo competitions), and his tenure as an advisor to many major equestrian organizations, Don Burt has acquired a panoramic perspective of the world of horses that others can only dream about.

A much sought-after contributor to equestrian magazines, Burt has filled this collection with favorite magazine columns and new essays. In "Horses and Hollywood, " he looks back at times spent with such screen stars as Robert Taylor and Ben Johnson, and with legendary horsemen Jimmy Williams and M.R. Valdez.

What do judges want to see? Burt goes into analytic detail in the section "Thoughts from the Center of the Ring, " giving horse show participants an spectators alike a clear idea of what it takes to win blue ribbons. But you needn't be a horse show competitor to profit from Don Burt's experiences and wisdom. All owners and riders will learn "What Horses Really Think" through the author's sharing seven decades of observing, training, and enjoying horses.

Rider, trainer, teacher, author, lecturer, judge, and official -- Don Burt has done it all. "Horses and Other Heroes" is a lively, incisive and useful volume that will delight and instruct anyone who cares about horses.

In California's Sierra Nevada Mountains near Lake Tahoe, riders from all over the world have gathered for fifty years to test their own and their horses' stamina and courage in the Western States Trail Foundation's famous Tevis Cup 100 Miles In One Day Endurance Ride.
The granddaddy of endurance riding, the Tevis Cup is widely considered throughout the equestrian world to be the ultimate test of a horse-and-rider team's fitness and determination. Entrants come from almost every state and many foreign countries, each with his or her own motivation for undertaking the event. Most hope simply to finish within the twenty-four-hour time limit. (Only half of those who start realize their dream--in the motto of the event, "To finish is to win.") A few come in search of victory, because to win the coveted Tevis Cup is one of the highest accomplishments in all of equestrian sport.
The Tevis Cup, the first complete history of this event, features a fascinating cast of characters, among whom are:
* Wendell Robie, the founder of the ride. His vision created a competitive trail ride across the Sierras, and his enthusiasm and energy made the vision come true;
* Betty Veal and Dru Barner, whose organizational skills helped turn Robie's dream into a reality;
* Dr. Richard Barsaleau, the veterinarian who established procedures and standards that ensured the welfare of participating horses;
* Donna Fitzgerald and Witezarif, the only rider-and-horse team to win the Tevis Cup six times, and other notable multiple winners, including Hal Hall, Marcia Smith, and Becky Hart;
* Gordy Ainsleigh, who finished the route three times: twice on horseback and once on foot--the latter givingrise to the demanding cross-country Western States Run; and
* Chris Knoch and Matthew Mackay-Smith's thrilling 1995 "Fred by a Head" duel of sportmanship.
In addition to chronicling the races themselves, author Marnye Langer presents a panoramic view of the history and geology of the region, as well as the fascinating lives of Lloyd Tevis, the nineteenth-century adventurer and entrepreneur for whom the competition is named, and James Ben Ali Haggin, sportsman, businessman, and Tevis's brother-in-law, who lent his name for the prize for the best-conditioned horse.
As Langer describes the event, the Tevis Cup is more than a ride; it is a journey. Every rider who completes the ride with a sound, fit horse in the allotted time joins a very special fraternity, an accomplishment that is both of the moment and remembered forever. In that spirit, The Tevis Cup will appeal to anyone who is enthralled by horses, history, and the challenge and beauty of the American outdoors.

The Western horse has transcended divisions of race, culture, gender, and age to become an American icon. Without it--and the stories it inspires--the West would be impoverished. While much has been written about cowboys and the West, no other anthology exists that focuses exclusively on the animal itself.
Unbridled assembles some of the best Western horse stories ever written. The Western horse is seen and described from a variety of perspectives. These are the stories of ranchers, cowboys, soldiers, hunters, trappers, Plains Indians, vaqueros, pioneer women, and even a president. Many of them are well known; some are waiting to be discovered. The unifying sentiment is their respect for and admiration of this most remarkable animal.
A long line of commercial successes--from "Black Beauty, "The Horse Whisperer, and "All the Pretty Horses, to "Seabiscuit, and the newly released "Hidalgo--proves that the "personalized horse story" is more than a fluke. It also demonstrates that the circle of aficionados encompasses more than just Quarter Horse owners or rodeo fans. While the success of some of these stories may in part be due to their human characters, horses play an important role in all of them.
This anthology includes thirty-two selections, spanning the traditional short story, reminiscence, folk tale, journalistic and historical sketch, and mythology. They speak of an entire landscape, of a way of life now almost obsolete. Writers include such well-known luminaries as Mark Twain, Sir Thomas Seton, Theodore Roosevelt, and Zane Grey, along with the modern Western voices of Thomas McGuane, Mark Spragg, and Gretel Ehrlich.

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.

An inside look at equestrian sports on the international level.

Trail riding is a great way to relax and see Washington's beautiful backcountry. Featured in this guide are fifty-five trail rides in some of the state's most scenic country. Each description has directions to the trailheads and information on horse facilities and maps.

Mutch About Horses gathers together R.W. "Ronnie" Mutch's most astute, sparkling, and amusing drawings of the foibles of horsemanship and the riding circuit. Whether pointing out the hazards of a hunt breakfast at McDonald's, giving a tongue-in-cheek review of show jumping rules, or illustrating how not to walk a course, Mutch's drawings are always incisive and correct - and hilariously funny.Ronnie Mutch was a leading rider, teacher, trainer, judge, and illustrator of many books and articles on horses and riding. Enriching this collection are personal accounts by the notable horse-world figures who know him. For years his lighthearted drawings of the special world of horses and horsemen have been prized by private collectors. This volume is the perfect gift for horse lovers, fans of Norman Thelwells' "pony" cartoons, or anyone who has ever felt slightly absurd while sitting on a horse. (10 1/4 x 7 1/4, 84 pages, illustrations)

This comprehensive guide covers all the things you need to know about horse care. Mining the combined experience of two dedicated and knowledgeable horse lovers, Handling and Understanding the Horse will help you avoid needless cost, anxiety, and heartache by teaching you how to form a relationship with your horse based on trust and harmony. All aspects of understanding horses are explored, including:
0/00 The nature of the horse, its relationship with other horses and with humans
- Basic handling and safety on the ground
- Handling the horse for grooming and routine treatments
- Tack and equipment
- Loading and transport
- Basic riding
- The mare and the foal
- The stallion
- The problem horse
A trove of valuable hints and insightful advice, Handling and Understanding the Horse is a must-have for all horse lovers and will assure a
successful and enjoyable relationship between you and your horse for years to come.