"I'm thrilled to recommend this book as one of the finest narratives on what horses have to teach people about life, love, power, and connection." -Linda Kohanov, author, The Tao of Equus, from her Foreword 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. As you see how these people grow deeper into themselves as they learn the horse's way, you, too, will be inspired to explore and apply the deep and everlasting connection and communication between horses and humans.

This is an invaluable guide to every aspect of horsemanship, from the diverse and specialist equipment for both horse and rider to learning to ride and competing in riding competitions. The first section of the book is a directory-style approach to the full range of horse equipment. Saddles, bridles and bits; training aids and gadgets; clothing and protective equipment are all discussed in detail. The second section is a step-by-step presentation of riding techniques, and the final section covers the world of horse riding competitions. This section examines the wellknown sports of show-jumping, polo and dressage, as well as the more obscure competitions, such as endurance riding, vaulting and driving.

Handbook of Equine Parasite Control, Second Edition offers a thorough revision to this practical manual of parasitology in the horse. Incorporating new information and diagnostic knowledge throughout, it adds five new sections, new information on computer simulation methods, and new maps to show the spread of anthelmintic resistance. The book also features 30 new high-quality figures and expanded information on parasite occurrence and epidemiology, new diagnostics, treatment strategies, clinical significance of infections, anthelmintic resistance, and environmental persistence. This second edition of Handbook of Equine Parasite Control brings together all the details needed to appropriately manage parasites in equine patients and support discussions between horse owners and their veterinarians. It offers comprehensive coverage of internal parasites and factors affecting their transmission; principles of equine parasite control; and diagnosis and assessment of parasitologic information. Additionally, the book provides numerous new case histories, covering egg count results from yearlings, peritonitis and parasites, confinement and deworming, quarantine advice, abdominal distress in a foal, and more. A clear and concise user-friendly guide to equine parasite control for veterinary practitioners and students Fully updated with new knowledge and diagnostic methods throughout Features brand new case studies Presents 30 new high-quality figures, including new life-cycle charts Provides maps to show the spread of anthelmintic resistance Handbook of Equine Parasite Control is an essential guide for equine practitioners, veterinary students, and veterinary technicians dealing with parasites in the horse.

In this book, David Morgan, the expert who made the whips for the Indiana Jones movies, shows how to braid simple projects quickly. With close attention to detail and a little practice using the methods described here, novices can produce attractive and enduring items from precut lace or a skin or side of leather. Braiding Fine Leather was written to help the beginning braider acquire basic skills. After completing some simple projects that can be done well at an early stage, the braider will develop the confidence to attempt more involved types of braided work, from handsome clothing accessories to practical livestock-handling gear. The book begins with an overview of materials, tools, and fundamental braiding methods. Then seven projects are presented, each adding something new to the skills already practiced. Photographs taken in sequence are used to illustrate the instructions, giving the new braider a close-up look at each step in the braiding process. The techniques used in this book come from those developed in Australian whipmaking shops, which are well-recognized for the high quality of their work. The craft had been carried to Australia by thongmakers from England, who were familiar with the thongs used on finely braided carriage whips. Kangaroo leather, one of the finest leathers available for braiding, provided the material for high-quality work, and a large and discriminating market in Australia led to highly refined techniques. Providing complete, straightforward instructions and close-up photographs showing each step in the process, David Morgan has created an excellent book for those who want to learn to braid leather.

The Equine-Assisted Therapy Workbook gives readers the tools they need to increase professional competency and personalize the practical applications of equine-assisted therapy. Each chapter includes thought-provoking ethical questions, hands-on learning activities, self-assessments, practical scenarios, and journal assignments applicable to a diverse group of healthcare professionals. The perfect companion to The Clinical Practice of Equine-Assisted Therapy, this workbook is appropriate for both students and professionals.

The pioneering oral historian, George Ewart Evans, began to record the farming ways of East Anglia in the 1950s by listening to old men and women whose memories went back more than fifty or sixty years. Many were agricultural labourers, born before the turn of the century, who had worked on farms before the arrival of mechanisation.

It was assumed at that time that horses would soon disappear from the farms, and that this was the last chance of recording the part they had played for centuries. It later became clear that this forecast was too pessimistic and in Horse Power and Magic (Faber, 1979) Ewart Evans describes in fascinating detail some important farms where horses continued to be beneficially used more than thirty years later. He discovered that the traditions of the older horsemen had not died out but had been passed on, in only slightly attenuated form, to a younger generation keen to farm with horses, proving that the day of the heavy horse was by no means over. He also describes vividly the ways of horse-tamers whose skills had a touch of 'magic' about them.

'Taking his works a whole, there is no doubt that George Ewart Evans will survive as a fascinating pioneer of the extra-academic recording of human history...he has found a dimension all his own. This is indeed the very stuff of history.' "Sunday Times"

Over time, horses (like people) acquire postural habits, compensate for soreness and injury, and develop poor movement patterns. This limits performance ability, causes unsoundness and health issues, and ultimately undermines the horse's overall well-being. Jec Aristotle Ballou has made a name for herself advocating for the horse and providing sensible instruction in his schooling, conditioning, and care. Her bestselling books and popular clinics are designed to enable any horse person to correctly apply proven principles that bring measurable progress while avoiding boredom and confusion. In her latest collection of mounted and unmounted corrective exercises, Ballou demonstrates how we can actively work to improve the horse's posture and movement, whether he is an active performance or pleasure mount, an aging or older horse that benefits from gentle exercise, or one being rehabilitated following injury, illness, or lack of conditioning. Ballou's positive cross-training techniques are free of shortcuts, and her guidelines for analyzing the horse's posture and way of going help readers gain a new awareness of the equine body. Applicable for all disciplines, this is an integral collection that optimizes how the horse uses his body and helps ensure he stays sounder and healthier for more years of his life.

The Suffolk Punch - that sturdy, compact draft horse of noble ancestry - was, until mechanisation, the powerhouse of the East Anglian farming community. In The Horse in the Furrow (1960), renowned social historian George Ewart Evans explores this potent symbol of a bygone era, and the complex network - farmer, horseman, groom, smith, harness-maker and tailor - which surrounded it. Evans charts a fascinating course, demonstrating the connectedness of husbandry, custom and dialect, and arguing for an organic, inclusive study of these aspects of rural life. In particular, the section on folklore sheds light on some of the most obscure practices, with the Punch standing proudly at its centre. With beautiful illustrations by Charles Tunnicliffe, The Horse in the Furrow is an engaging and subtle portrait of an animal at the heart of its community

Horses have been our companions in work and leisure for thousands of years. As a species we have profited immeasurably from their resilience, strength and intelligence. In The Horse, Wendy Williams travels the globe to discover the history of our noble companion, one which stretches back fifty-six million years. From the streets of Vienna to the rugged terrain of Galicia, Williams demonstrates the horse's intelligence and strength. Blending profound scientific insights with remarkable stories, The Horse is a unique biography of the animal which has carried us across plains and into battle, and whose fascinating past and finely-nuanced mind are brought to life here in this masterful work of narrative non-fiction.

What would rodeo look like if we took it as a record, not of human triumph and resilience, but of human imperfection and stubbornness?"" asks animal historian Susan Nance. Against the backdrop of the larger histories of ranching, cattle, horses, and the environment in the West, this book explores how the evolution of rodeo has reflected rural western beliefs and assumptions about the natural world that have led to environmental crises and served the beef empire. By unearthing behind-the-scenes stories of rodeo animals as diverse individuals, this book lays bare contradictions within rodeo and the rural West. For almost 150 years, westerners have used rodeo to symbolically reenact their struggles with animals and the land as uniformly progressive and triumphant. Nance upends that view with accounts of individual animals that reveal how diligently rodeo people have worked to make livestock into surrogates for the trials of rural life in the West and the violence in its history. Western horses and cattle were more than just props. Rodeo reclaims their lived history through compelling stories of anonymous roping steers and calves who inspired reform of the sport, such as the famed but abused bucker Steamboat, and the many broncs and bulls, famous or not, who unknowingly built an industry. Rodeo is a dangerous sport that reveals many westerners as people proudly tolerant of risk and violence, and ready to impose these values on livestock. In Rodeo: An Animal History, Nance pushes past standard histories and the sport's publicity to show how rodeo was shot through with stubbornness and human failing as much as fortitude and community spirit.

Visitors to the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge often stop to admire the majestic and powerful Chincoteague Pony stallion known as Miracle Man. But this island favorite wasn't always a dominant herd sire. Here's the story of the orphaned foal found near death on Assateague Island, and Cynthia, the little girl whose faith and dedication helped him survive after her father rescues him from Black Duck Marsh. Cynthia's determination to save the tiny pinto colt begins the moment he is brought to their island farm. She spends every day in the barn, giving him his medicines, bathing his injuries, and wrapping his leg. She takes him on long walks along the bay and ruffles his spiky mane, and each time there is a setback Cynthia aches for the foal. But, no matter what they do, the colt's leg will not heal. Finally, the vet suggests they throw away all the medicine and let nature take its course. Cynthia is afraid. How will the little colt survive? All ages.

Step into the world of the Chincoteague ponies of Virginia's Assateague Island. From birth to Pony Penning, their stories are told in amusing detail and more than 200 color images. Find out how an orphan foal became a herd sire. Share the love story of a Maryland stallion with the Virginia mare. Whether portrayed in a painting or a photograph, the beauty of these animals will captivate you. Travel through the seasons with them as you learn about their history and living conditions and how they share their wetland environment with an array of wildlife. Learn the names of the herd members and see for yourself what it takes to survive on a wild island. This is the perfect gift for any horse lover and a great resource for animal and wildlife historians.

Horses of all breeds, colours, shapes, and sizes are perennially fascinating to equine enthusiasts of all ages. Collected in a perfect little pocket guide no horse lover will be able to resist, here are images of 96 breeds that call North America home - galloping, playing, grazing, working, or simply striking a pose. For each breed readers will find a full-page photograph accompanied by at-a-glance conformation and historical facts. A small map shows where the breed originated, and additional information includes the horse's special qualities and its most common uses. Home grown favourites such as the Morgan, Appaloosa, and the less- well-known Nakota and Florida Cracker horses are featured along with imported breeds that have influenced native equine bloodlines, such as the Thoroughbred, Arabian, and Percheron. From the very large (the mighty Shire) to the very small (the tiny Miniature), and everything in between, never has such a range of horse fact and photography been packed into such an appealingly small gift book. This 96-breed survey covers North America's remarkable diversity of horse breeds, from the popular and well- known to the rare and obscure.

From Jec Aristotle Ballou, author of Storey's best-selling "101 Dressage Exercises", comes "Equine Fitness", a guide to getting a horse in shape and maintaining his overall fitness, regardless of age or discipline. A horse's health is a critical concern for every equestrian - from the backyard owner who wants to enjoy her mount for many years to the show rider who needs her horse to perform at consistently high levels. Conditioning will improve soundness, stamina, quality of motion, and longevity. "Equine Fitness" provides owners and riders with expert instruction for assessing, monitoring, and maintaining the health of their horses. In addition, "Equine Fitness" features individual and group exercise routines specifically designed to enhance strength and agility, geared to horses of differing ages and abilities. Clear step-by-step instructions and detailed illustrations make the information easy to follow and implement. There is even a set of handy, pocket sized cards for owners and riders to consult directly while working with their horses.

Ask someone who works with horses how best to communicate with a balky colt and she will tell you that horses do not respond to human cajoling. To be successful the human must understand and work with, not against, the horse's instincts, needs, and fears. When a trainer resorts to human teaching methods -- reasoning, begging, bribing, even hugging and kissing -- the horse will become confused and unable to respond appropriately. But if horses are treated respectfully with methods they understand, everyone involved -- animal and human -- will be happier, safer, and more productive.
Horse trainer and instructor Cherry Hill believes that every human/horse relationship benefits from a greater human understanding of what motivates horses, how they experience the world, what makes them happy, and what worries them. Journey through the equine mind with Hill as she explores all that makes a horse tick. How do his basic needs dictate his behavior and mood? What touches and tastes appeal to his senses? How does his "flight or fight" instinct dictate his response to sudden movements?
Hill offers interactive experiments -- fun for both horse and human -- that bear out her findings on horse behavior. And her final chapter presents simple training methods that draw from the insights and information presented throughout the book.

Prized for their stamina and their acclimation to the harsh conditions of the Arabian deserts, the ancestors of the horses that are now recognized as the Egyptian Arabian purebred horse entered Egypt centuries ago, establishing the valuable bloodlines of the breed there. The breeding programs in Egypt therefore became the root source for the finest Arabian horses, attracting passionate enthusiasts from all corners of the world. Artists, poets, and historians have for centuries been inspired by their great beauty and romantic legacy. Nasr Marei is the third-generation owner of a stud farm in Giza, Egypt. His love for and knowledge of the Egyptian Arabian horse, coupled with his sensitive and striking photography, have inspired this visual tribute. His extraordinary photographs, accompanied by text that traces the history and evolution of the Arabian's journey into Egypt, celebrate the lineage of this living treasure of Egyptian heritage.

The Difficult Horse provides many insights as to why a horse may develop unwanted behaviours. 'Problem' behaviour is usually more of a problem for the handler than the horse, which is likely to have established patterns of behaviour as a way of helping himself feel safe in situations he finds mentally and/or physically stressful. As well as explaining the reasons for a horse's reactive and sometimes dangerous responses, this book suggests a number of practical exercises that can help to address a wide range of commonly encountered issues. Even if you consider your horse to be problem-free, these exercises will still be invaluable in helping you and your horse to develop a closer, more pleasurable and successful relationship.

In recent decades, knowledge in the field of equine physical therapy has accrued as different types of bodywork have steadily gained acceptance in the horse world. An understanding of anatomy and biomechanics, and a grasp of the variable options available to both keep the active equine healthy and rehabilitate following an injury or layoff have become integral aspects of general horse health management. Equine physical therapy expert Helle Katrine Kleven understands the need for a reference that supports the horse owner as she strives to keep her horse sound in body and mind, and at the top of his game. In this highly illustrated book, she begins with a comprehensible introduction to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, as well as an instructive conversation covering biomechanics basics, then explores the major areas of therapy in detail. Readers will find practical how-to guidance in the most popular therapeutic modalities, as well as cutting-edge alternatives that are currently gaining ground: fascia work, stretching, massage, stability and strengthening exercises, laser therapy, kinesiotaping, and much more. With this incredible course in preventive and rehabilitative techniques, horse owners and professionals will be thoroughly prepared to ensure their horses' comfort and well-being.