Avoiding the Pitfalls, written by Richard E. Dennis, is a must for the first-time equine buyer or investor. The book instructs newcomers in the horse business and warns them about the pitfalls. Subjects such as making your love of horses a business or a hobby, selecting a horse, equine drug testing, selecting a horse boarding facility, selecting a trainer, the skinny on non-profit horse organizations, equipment and their applications, hiring a farrier and horse showing, the health and care of the horse and horse safety.

It is written by Richard E. “Rick” Dennis, whose background includes being a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs training school, a drug enforcement agent, working undercover for the Office of Drug Abuse and Law Enforcement, conducting forensic audits, K-9 instructor/trainer specializing in explosive, narcotics and law enforcement, a law enforcement officer, drug testing and combining law enforcement with private security.

However, later he learned the art of breaking, training and showing a horse “the right way” from legendary trainer, Greg Ward, of the Ward Ranch in California. He competed for three years in the West coast reined cow horse industry, producing multiple-event stock horses for work, pleasure or the show arena. With show earnings of over a half million dollars, he is also an instructor, with him or his students winning a remarkable 10 World Championships, two Reserve World Champions, an NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity finalist, three NRCHA Superiors, an NSHA Superior and an AQHA National Top 10 cow horse limited rider, among other titles.