New to the Herd

We just added two new books to our shelves. The blog gives a chance to highlight them as they come in, instead of waiting until we put out an e-newsletter.

The first is The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation, by Elizabeth Letts. Many of us recall the book about Snowman, the marvelous showjumper of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Bought off a slaughter van for $80, Harry de Leyer trained and campaigned him against the best, all the way to Madison Square Gardens.

The Eighty-Dollar Champion, by Elizabeth Letts

Now Elizabeth Letts brings us an updated and detailed biography of the former plow horse and his Dutch immigrant rider and owner, in The Eighty Dollar Champion. Not unlike Seabiscuit’s effect on the nation, Snowman inspired all with his rise to stardom from humble beginnings. The story of Harry de Leyer, the “Flying Dutchman”, rivals that of Snowman, having emigrated to America following the Nazi occupation of Holland in World War II.

Letts gives us wonderful details of this twosome’s miraculous ride, including family photos and insights gleaned from interviews with de Leyer himself, as well as extensive research of media coverage from the period. While at times the storyline meanders on tangents, those side trips often add other interesting pieces of history — with forgotten images of a young George Morris, or background glimpses of the USET showjumping pantheon of horses and riders from the period. This is a book that will appeal to fans of Snowman, those wanting to relive a wonderful part of showjumping history, and anyone curious about that post-war period in the American horse world.

Team Roping 101, by Kayla Starnes

Our second new title is Team Roping 101: The Complete Sport from Header to Heeler, by Kayla Starnes. Nowadays, you’ll find me in the Maine woods and fields in an English saddle, or bareback… It’s been years since my barrel racing and cutting pony days as a teen, but I found myself wishing I could try the sport after reading this book.

If you’ve ever considered trying team roping, this book is sure to get you started on the right foot. Endorsed by the US Team Roping Championships, the governing body of the team roping sport, it is a careful introduction to everything involved, from how to select a rope (and what varieties are available), to roping technique and horsemanship skills.

When you attend a competition — a great way to learn more about the sport — you’ll already understand the principles and rules, so you won’t stand out as a greenhorn. There is advice — well-illustrated — regarding choice and fitting of tack, roping exercises from the ground and mounted, and training for your horse. Clinton Anderson contributes his methods of fine-tuning a horse’s soft response to rider cues. And of course there is sound advice on how to prepare for competition. There’s a lot of work behind the successful runs of a roping team, and Starnes has not only filled in all the blanks, she makes you want to give it a try!

Tags: Book Reviews