From the recent spate of equine deaths on racetracks to protests demanding the removal of mounted Confederate soldier statues to the success and appeal of War Horse, there is no question that horses still play a role in our lives--though fewer and fewer of us actually interact with them. In Precarious Partners, Kari Weil takes readers back to a time in France when horses were an inescapable part of daily life. This was a time when horse ownership became an attainable dream not just for soldiers, but also for middle class children; when natural historians argued about animal intelligence; when the prevalence of horse beatings inspired the first animal protection laws; and when the combined magnificence and abuse of these animals inspired artists, writers, and riders alike. Weil traces the evolving partnerships established between French citizens and their horses through this era. She considers the newly designed "races" of workhorses who carried men from the battlefield to the hippodrome, lugged heavy loads through the boulevards, or who paraded women riders, "amazones," in the parks or circus halls--as well as with those unfortunate horses who found their fate on a dinner plate. Moving between literature, painting, natural philosophy, popular cartoons, sport manuals, and tracts of public hygiene, Precarious Partners traces the changing social, political, and emotional relations with these charismatic creatures who straddled conceptions of pet and livestock in nineteenth-century France.

Janet Rising has written sixteen pony books for young readers including, with Carl Hester MBE, FBHS, the life story of Valegro, the greatest dressage horse that has ever lived. Although no stranger to writing fiction for adults, this is her first book for that audience: a hilarious, hair-raising and often thought-provoking look back at over fifty years of equestrian memories. Older readers will find themselves reminiscing about their own horsy memories; younger readers will marvel at how times have changed - but all will share a common empathy with the author's love of all things equine. Janet Rising refused to allow the fact that she was born in the suburbs, with no hope of ever owning a pony, to prevent her from making horses her life. Her equestrian career included teaching riding at various riding schools, working for a top class donkey stud, and 20 years as an equine journalist and editor of Pony, the magazine for young riders. For anyone who has ever wondered how teenage riders in the 1970s stayed alive despite hair-raising lessons and the absence of health and safety, about riding attire fashioned without stretch fabrics, how a love of horses makes for female empowerment, whether Pony Club mums make good riding sons, ideas on being an equestrian dominatrix, how not to clean tack, whether Happy Hackers need a re-boot and why riding bareback is not a good idea (and riding without a bridle even worse), this book will provide the answers. Included are equestrian tales throughout the 1980s and 1990s, why going posh might not be all its cracked up to be; the pitfalls of clipping and bewildering rug wardrobes, unconventional riding holidays in Spain and hair-raising African safaris; the pitfalls of teaching riding and the story of a small bay mule who captured the author's heart. There are highs, there are lows but always there are laughs. Written with wry humour and packed with surprises on every page, this is an equestrian memoir like no other - a horsy life you couldn't make up!

The autobiography of one of the World's leading Welsh Cob Breeders. A fascinating insight into the life of Ifor Lloyd. Welsh cobs are world famous. Ifor details some of his dealings; showing and exporting animals to far flung lands and the challenges of making a living as a breeder. -- Welsh Books Council

Originally published in 1905, this book presents a history of horses and equidae, especially with regard to their relationship with humans. Ridgeway includes photographs of modern-day horses, which he describes as 'the most important ... of all the animals domesticated by man', as well as photographs and drawings of ancient artefacts featuring images of horses or relating to them. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in horses and the history of the immensely profitable human-horse relationship.

Horse lovers are insatiable in their quest to learn more about their favourite animals, and it's no wonder: Horses are powerful, graceful, communicative, beautiful, and fascinating. "Knowing Horses" captures all the mystery and magic of horses, for both devoted equestrians and non-riders, answering such questions as: What flavours do horses like best? Are all Appaloosas spotted? How do you read a horse's body language? What's the difference between neighing and nickering? Who was the fastest Thoroughbred racehorse ever? What's the difference between trotting and pacing? How are movie horses trained to fall while galloping? Presented in a friendly Q&A format, the book is as informative as it is entertaining. It addresses temperament, abilities, physiology, diet, behaviour, and the deep, long-standing relationship between horses and humans. It explores the mind of the horse and demystifies the animal's quirks and idiosyncrasies. Like the animal it celebrates, "Knowing Horses" is sure to capture the hearts and imaginations of horse lovers everywhere.

There are many books and DVDs devoted to the technical training of horse and rider - how to perform movements correctly, clear obstacles, communicate efficiently, and in other ways attain the idealised image of an athletic partnership that results in competitive success. But this book is different: its focus is how the rider and trainer can make it easier for the horse to perform optimally. This includes improved understanding of what are reasonable expectations for a particular horse at a certain level of schooling, how to improve his fitness (including strength and conditioning), as well as background on how injuries may develop as a result of interaction between internal and external factors, such as genetics, conformation, management, and training. Relying on her veterinary background, in-depth research, and dozens of interviews with top riders and trainers from around the world - including Beezie Madden, Carl Hester, and Pippa Funnell, to name just a few - Lonnell provides guidelines for nurturing a happy, healthy equine athlete. With special focus on conscientious pacing when building the horse's physical capability over time, diversification of schooling practices, detail-oriented management and care, and putting the horse's needs above competitive ambition, readers are given a solid grasp of what it takes to truly reach the pinnacle of equestrian sport - and remain there - on a consistent basis. Throughout, gorgeous colour photographs of world-class horses and the people who work with them visually demonstrate the success of these methods.

"Walking with Houyhnhnms", published in 2017, is a true adventure story along the Roman Military Way, in the shadow of Hadrian's Wall. Follow the exploits, often humorous, of three previously free-living ponies - Roamer, Thorn and Solo. After enduring pack-animal training, they share an epic, once-in-a-lifetime quest, coast to coast, westwards. Discover the unique emotional connection, bonding and interdependency that is possible between houyhnhnm and human. As Solo says, "It was a momentous time." Targeted at a 15+ and general adult audience, the 400-page, 114,000-word, largely present-tense narrative transcends faction: this factually accurate travelogue diary, told in a unique fictional style, is a story of friendship, mutual reliance, perseverance and survival. The author - with contributions from more than 100 schoolchildren met en route and from 12 teenage artists - describes, through the senses of non-human, philosopher companions, an expedition of illumination not attempted previously in the modern era. Explore informally, during rendezvous with experts, inspiring geographical, historical and archaeological facets of changing landscapes partially shaped by the ancestors of modern-day native houyhnhnms. Understand why Britain's remaining virtually wild equine herds are facing imminent extinction in their semi-natural habitats and how we might protect them. Should we redefine the term "biodiversity" in recognition of a view that places humans at the periphery of world ecosystems? As your journey continues, you may sense a new meaning to our relationship with wild and virtually wild species. "One day," insists Roamer, "you might enjoy walking with houyhnhnms." Copyright D A Murray 2018

Last Chance Mustang is the story of Samson, a formerly free-roaming, still wild-at-heart American mustang that was plucked from his mountainous Nevada home and thrown into the domestic horse world where he was brutalized and victimized. After years of abuse, Samson had evolved into a hateful and hated, maladjusted beast until the day he found his way to a rural Illinois farm, an ill-equipped owner, and one last chance. Mitch Bornstein's task was to tame the violent beast whose best defense had become offense. He had twenty years of experience fixing unfixable horses, but Samson would be his greatest challenge. Through the pair's many struggles and countless battles, Samson would teach Mitch about the true power of hope, friendship, redemption and the inspiring mettle of the forever wild and free American mustang. Last Chance Mustang will move the reader to both tears and laughter. Part history lesson, part training manual, and part animal narrative, Samson's is a story that all readers will be able to relate to: a story of survival, trust, and ultimately, finding love.

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.

Give your horse a gorgeous look! Charni Lewis provides step-by-step instructions for 30 mane and tail braids for both casual outings and specialized events of all riding styles. Full-color photographs and detailed illustrations bring every twist and turn to life, while also clearly demonstrating proper hand positioning. Get inspired and experiment with a Scalloped mane braid or a Four-Strand Weave for the tail. Not only will your horse look great, the time you spend braiding will help develop that special bond between you and your horse.

Foals imprint on their mothers and are guided by instinct. But over time they get accustomed to humans and can be reared to become trusting, faithful playmates and companions. Therefore, establishing good behaviour at the outset is fundamental to creating a well-adjusted adult horse. The authors, using their extensive experience and personal stories, explain how to balance natural behaviour with training methods to develop a well-behaved horse. The approach is knowledgeable and patient and is based on mutual respect between horse and rider. Key exercises are explained in the text by a great variety of photos, and can also be used with older horses. Practical topics covered include vaccination, hoofcare, herd behaviour, feeding and housing. The reader is guided through the health, well-being, training, education and attitude of the first three years of a horse's life, with a focus on building trust throughout. Foals and Young Horses is a good companion guide for horse owners, riders and especially breeders. It will also be of interest to equine science students and para-professionals.

Horses are expensive as every horse owner and rider knows. This book guides you through 99 ways to save money and even make a few dollars. Each one of these 99 ways are a great option for any horse owner to take advantage of .

Final Calls to Absent Friends is a collection of newspaper columns and personal reminiscences in tribute to numerous jockeys, horses, and people related to horse racing.

The New Forest Pony is a unique breed & one of its outstanding characteristics is its good-natured temperament. This, combined with its muscular frame, makes it an excellent riding pony & has been exported widely around the world. This text reveals the special 'spirit' of the ponies through photographs taken by Mike Read.

An un-raced young ex-race horse is sold on to a private owner where he faces a life of neglect; where he is found and rescued by someone despite experts advising he may not recover or make it. This book documents his road to recovery; his and his owner's ups and downs, with photographic images, showing the development of a unbreakable trust and bond between horse and owner despite the previous neglect. The remarkable character that shines through as doors are opened and he is chosen to star in a film.

In the wake of World War II, as turmoil and chaos were giving way to a spirit of optimism, Americans were looking for inspiration and role models showing that it was possible to start from the bottom and work your way up to the top-and they found it in Stymie, the failed racehorse plucked from the discard heap by trainer Hirsch Jacobs. Like Stymie, Jacobs was a commoner in "The Sport of Kings," a dirt-poor Brooklyn city slicker who forged an unlikely career as racing's winningest trainer by buying cheap, unsound nags and magically transforming them into winners. The $1,500 pittance Jacobs paid to claim Stymie became history's biggest bargain as the ultimate iron horse went on to run a whopping 131 races and win 25 stakes, becoming the first Thoroughbred ever to earn more than $900,000. The Cinderella champion nicknamed "The People's Horse" captivated the masses with his rousing charge-from-behind stretch runs, his gritty blue-collar work ethic, and his rags-to-riches success story. In a golden age when horse racing rivaled baseball and boxing as America's most popular pastime, he was every bit as inspiring a sports hero as Joe DiMaggio and Joe Louis. Taking readers on a crowd-pleasing ride with Stymie and Jacobs, Out of the Clouds -- the winner of the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award -- unwinds a real-life Horatio Alger tale of a dauntless team and its working-class fans who lived vicariously through the stouthearted little colt they embraced as their own.