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.

Renowned horse trainer Jec Ballou takes up her pen in The Unscheduled Dismount to reflect on flashy breeches, tattooed trainers, hormonal mares, disheveled breeders, and everything in between. Ballou's perspective is forged from a lifetime in the equine industry and tickles both the heart and funny bone of anyone who has fallen in love with horses.

Charming and witty, this collection of essays chronicles the often-bizarre nature of life with horses. It covers everything from an ordinary day at the barn to the frustrations of training and riding lessons. In The Unscheduled Dismount, Ballou draws from her personal experience to create these accounts. "Does this Spandex Make Me Look Fat?" provides a fresh perspective on the outdated, unfashionable, and sometimes absurd riding apparel. With tongue-in-cheek humor, "Greener Pastures" laments California's lack of wide open pastures for the horses to romp in and roll in the dirt. In "Move Over, Hank Williams," Ballou confesses her love of country music, which is synonymous with equestrians.

Ballou, both a professional equestrian and award-winning journalist, captures the ups and downs of this industry with a perfect combination of reflection and laugh-out-loud humor.