This book provides an overview of the field of Equine-Assisted Therapy and Learning and gives a powerful account of a research study charting the experiences of seven 'at-risk' young people attending a pioneering Therapeutic Horsemanship centre in the UK. The book includes a foreword from Leif Hallberg, author of Walking the Way of the Horse .

Saddles is the first complete work on the subject to appear in print. It is an exhaustive survey, in words and more than eight hundred illustrations, of the one indispensable item of horse equipment, whose history began about the time the horse was domesticated, in the dim mists of unrecorded time.More than history, Saddles also explains the construction of the basic saddle, describes the different saddle types, and explains how they have been altered to meet the changing needs of riders down through the centuries. Those who work with horses for pleasure or profit, from novices looking for suggestions on buying saddles to professionals who want to round out their knowledge, will find this book useful, absorbing, and a delight to the eye. It covers virtually every aspect of saddlery, saddle measurement, selection, and care, plus tips from a knowledgeable horseman on the intricacies of fitting horse, rider, and saddle into a dynamic whole. The aesthetics of the craft are also presented in detail: the uniquely American leatherwork of the show saddle, the elaborate use of silver (now undergoing a revival), the adoption by American saddlemakers of useful accessories from other lands (the tapadero from Mexico, for example). The construction of the saddle is described and illustrated in careful detail, along with descriptions of the many accessories of early and modern times. The section on famous saddles shows now-priceless gem-studded examples of the saddlemaker's skill. The first compilation of American saddlemakers is given in the appendix. A glossary of saddle terms and a thoroughly researched bibliography conclude the book. In undertaking the enormous task of compiling this work, one of the author's underlying purposes has been to enhance interest in the few surviving old saddles as collectors' items and as artifacts of American history. For, as he says, ""Much of that history was made on horseback.""

Following UNbridled and UNtamed, the final in this trilogy explodes to a dramatic conclusion in the author's native Australia. The stories collide to a tumultuous ending, showing how one suicide can change the lives of so many. UNscripted's protagonist Mike Bradley returns to Byron Bay and finds his girlfriend has left him. His shadowy past, coupled with his shock, ignites a journey to hell as a heroin addict. After a brutal beating, a famous retired doctor becomes the catalyst for Mike's dramatic recovery. Mike lives with Doc and his family for three years until tragedy strikes, jolting Mike back to reality. Mike leaves in search of his true love. He takes a train ride on the Indian Pacific across the rugged outback to Sydney. There, he reunites with his best friend Burton Phillips and ruthless polo patron Jack Keating. Mike finds himself enmeshed in the rich and famous world of polo. The Hunter Valley in Scone becomes the backdrop as the story lifts the shroud of mystery surrounding polo in a shocking manner, resulting in a massacre. As the country prepares for the Australian Open, competition and greed gain power, contributing to a senseless death. For more information on the trilogy series please go to: www.samanthaelphick.com

Before trucks and tractors, draft horses performed the heavy work of pulling wagons, plowing fields, and hauling logs. But the internal combustion engine did not entirely replace these animals; they are still used in many parts of the country for agricultural and other jobs. The Book of Draft Horses is a celebration of these "gentle giants," as well as a practical handbook on breeding, care, training, competition, and working horses.

Donkeys are gaining in popularity across the country. They are used in trail riding, as pets, to guard livestock from coyotes and wild dogs, and as show animals. Donkeys are also used to breed mules, which are a hybrid produced by crossing a male donkey with a female horse. In The Book of Donkey, Donna Campbell Smith will cover the origin and history of donkeys world-wide. She will include chapters on breeds and types, care, housing, breeding, training, and the use of donkeys in the same format as her previous three books with Lyons Press. The Book of Donkeys will stand alone as an introduction to the world of donkeys and donkey keeping.

In 1987, former naval intelligence officer Jonathan Jay Pollard was sentenced to life in prison for passing classified information to the Israelis-the only person ever to be so severely punished for spying on behalf of an American ally. Why was his sentence so harsh? This fascinating, intensively researched book, by investigative journalist Elliot Goldenberg, finally reveals the whole story. After numerous interviews with top intelligence operatives and government insiders, Goldenberg is able to make a strong case that Pollard's sentence was not due to the severity of the damage he inflicted on the security of the United States, contrary to assertions by the Justice Department and the Pentagon. His greatest crime, Goldenberg insists, was that Pollard inadvertently stumbled upon and threatened to expose secret dealings between President Reagan's most-trusted advisors and Saddam Hussein. Pollard, realizing how much of a threat this might mean to Israeli security, took it upon himself to pass on vital information regarding these U.S.-Iraqi dealings to Israeli security. Pollard's information eventually helped Israel target Iraqi military establishments for strikes during the Gulf War.
The Hunting Horse (the Israeli code name for Pollard) provides a rare glimpse into what may be the greatest cover-up in American history, a world of secret agendas and covert operations that is too often kept hidden from congressional oversight and public scrutiny.

Equine Color Genetics, Fourth Edition presents a detailed examination of the color variation in horses and donkeys and the genetic mechanisms that produce color variations. * Thoroughly covers the basic colors in horses, including bay, chestnut, black, and brown * Details the genetic basis of the colors built from the basic coat color, including dilutions and white patterning * Provides an explanation of genetic mechanisms that determine coat color * Presents a thorough revision and update, including new advances in molecular genetics, biochemistry, molecular mechanisms, genetic loci, coat colors before domestication, and more * Offers a new introduction describing the principles of genetics and genomics research to help outline how knowledge is discovered and to assist the reader in understanding concepts covered in the book

Black Beauty is a novel that changed our world. Intended to ‘induce kindness’ in a Victorian audience who relied on horses for transport, travel and power, it remains a dearly loved children’s classic. Writing Black Beauty is the story of the remarkable woman who wrote this phenomenal book. Born in 1820 to a young Quaker couple, Anna Sewell grew up in poverty in London. She was 14 when she fell and injured her ankle, leaving her permanently disabled. Rejecting the limitations that Victorian society forced on disabled people, she developed an extraordinary empathy with horses, learning to ride side-saddle and drive a small carriage. Rebellious and independent-minded, Anna left the Quaker movement as a young woman but remained close friends with the women writers and abolitionists who had been empowered by its liberal principles. It was not until she became terminally ill, aged 51, that she wrote her own book. It was published in 1877, but Anna tragically died just five months later. After modest success in Britain, Black Beauty was taken up by American activist George Thorndike Angell, who made it one of the bestselling novels of all time. Using newly discovered archive material, Celia Brayfield shows how Anna Sewell developed the extraordinary resilience to rouse the conscience of Victorian Britain and make her mark upon the world.

Since prehistory, horses have given us assistance, close companionship and artistic inspiration. Horses offer everything from practical help to brisk exercise to the sheer exhilaration of galloping together across open country. They provide entertaining antics when we're bored and quiet understanding when we need it most. To poets in particular, these beloved creatures are the most wonderful muses, as they neigh, whicker and nuzzle, reflecting back at us our heartfelt tenderness and high spirits. Horse Poems offers a selection of verses in praise of the horse by some of the most celebrated poets of all time. The perfect gift for literary horse fans.

'A letter is handed to you. In broken English, it tells you that you must now vacate your farm; that this is no longer your home, for it now belongs to the crowd on your doorstep. Then the drums begin to beat.' As the land invasions gather pace, the Retzlaffs begin an epic journey across Zimbabwe, facing eviction after eviction, trying to save the group of animals with whom they feel a deep and enduring bond - the horses. When their neighbours flee to New Zealand, the Retzlaffs promise to look after their horses, and making similar promises to other farmers along their journey, not knowing whether they will be able to feed or save them, they amass an astonishing herd of over 300 animals. But the final journey to freedom will be arduous, and they can take only 104 horses. Each with a different personality and story, it is not just the family who rescue the horses, but the horses who rescue the family. Grey, the silver gelding: the leader. Brutus, the untamed colt. Princess, the temperamental mare. One Hundred and Four Horses is the story of an idyllic existence that falls apart at the seams, and a story of incredible bonds - a love of the land, the strength of a family, and of the connection between man and the most majestic of animals, the horse.

As pleasure riding becomes increasingly popular, more riders are contemplating buying their own horse. However, the cost of maintaining the animal at a boarding stable can be off-puting, leaving potential horse owners to wonder if it's possible - and practical - to keep a horse on their own land.According to experienced backyard horsekeeper Joan Fry, the answer is yes. Beginning with the basics, Fry helps readers to consider whether they have sufficient and suitable land, access to a veterinarian and farrier, and available feed supplies. She also carefully leads the prospective backyard horsekeeper through constructing and furnishing a small barn, paddock, and corral; locating and purchasing the horse; as well as feeding, grooming, and otherwise tending to the animal's creature comforts. Backyard Horsekeeping will easily lead the way to maintaining and enjoying your very own horse on your very own property in no time.

The inside story of the crisis within the country’s most classic sport—horseracing—and why money is killing thoroughbreds at the top of their game.

Every year, hundreds of horses die on the racetrack. Why?

In this deeply reported and propulsive narrative, CNN reporter Katie Bo Lillis shows how two high-profile cases lay bare the ills facing the sport: the abrupt, industry-rocking indictments of top trainers Jason Servis and Jorge Navarro, and the untold story of Bob Baffert, the most successful and recognizable horse trainer in modern history, and the allegations he faced after a string of mysterious horse deaths and the high-profile disqualification of his latest Kentucky Derby winner for a failed drug test.

Death of a Racehorse delves deep into the horse racing world, offering intimate access to dozens of top trainers, owners, breeders, veterinarians, lab specialists, and more. The mainstream perception has been that rampant drug use is forcing these horses to run past their natural ability, resulting in heart attacks and broken legs. But this doesn’t paint the full picture.

That picture is driven by class tension between the affluent old stables and an ambitious new guard. This upstairs-downstairs drama shows blue-blooded families on a quest to restore horse racing to the good old days that never existed, versus those like Bob Baffert who are still viewed as outsiders—fantastically successful, but coming from less pedigreed backgrounds and experience. The privileged few, determined to save the sport, seem to hold a powerful suspicion that the sport’s brash, pioneering working class could not possibly be doing so well on their own.

Lillis shows how the breeding industry prioritizes making millions over breeding a sound, durable horse. A disjointed race schedule, created by racetrack operators that are trying to maximize betting opportunities, makes it impossible to manage a horse’s athletic career safely. In this purely capitalistic industry, the brute force of winning and the money that follows has taken the place of a responsible husbandry of the animal that is its beating heart.

Death of a Racehorse is a cutting, on-the-ground investigation into the morally ambiguous behavior at the industry’s glamorous center, raising nuanced questions about the relationship between animal and human—and offering a hopeful path forward for one of America’s oldest and most treasured sports.

The official companion title for Dreamworks' Spirit Untamed movie Team up with Pru, Abigail and Lucky - the PALS - as they go on their biggest adventure yet. Headstrong Lucky Prescott, who is forced to move from her big-city home to a small frontier town, where she's a complete fish out of water. But her life is changed forever when she makes new friends and forms an inseparable bond with a wild mustang named Spirit. When Spirit's herd is captured by rustlers, the girls and their horses must undertake the adventure of a lifetime to save them. The perfect book for fans of horses and ponies.