BOOK REVIEWS - Comparing Titles from One Part of the Herd...
Ground Work & Play
Here’s a look at books on one theme: Groundwork with an element of play. These books are all training titles, recently arrived on our shelves and each focuses in its own way on working in harmony with your horse. They will help you grow as a trainer as well, because you’re going to master body language communication as the horse learns each new skill.
Click here for Ground Work & Play Review.
BOOKS on SCHOOLING EXERCISES
There's a wonderful variety of books on schooling exercises for horse and rider. Whether you're looking for ideas to spice up the daily training of your dressage or reining horse, or you're seeking new ideas for the Pony Club kids you teach, there is something here to stimulate your imagination! The books are grouped roughly according to their use. Hopefully you can better see the merits of each book and select which would be more useful for you.
Click here for Schooling Exercises Review.
BOOKS on FITNESS
It’s that time of year again– when your resolutions to get in better shape and finally master the sitting trot are thwarted by adverse weather conditions. Luckily, our shelves are full of books with exercises and training regimens to fill the winter months and to help prepare for the upcoming riding season.
Click here for Fitness Review.
LEADERS in OUR HERD
These are our top choices in major parts of our Herd of books. They are among our best selling titles, as well as ones that stand out as foundation references in their fields. These can form a starting point for your research. To broaden your choices, use the Search box in the Shopping area to search by author or keyword in the title or subject. (When searching, less is better: e.g., "Swift Center" will find Centered Riding by Sally Swift.)
Riding - Basic Equitation
This section includes manuals for those just starting to ride as well as guides for more experienced riders working to improve their riding skills. Many books apply equally to Western and English riding disciplines.
Training & Behavior
Successful horse training requires understanding how horses think and herd dynamics work. Titles in this section cover solid initial training manuals (from first contact with foals through initial training under saddle, as well as remedial training). In addition we include our favorites on equine behavior.
Dressage
Books in the Dressage list offer guidance both on training and riding. Many of them present solid foundation training for other disciplines as well, like jumping, eventing, driving, and even some Western disciplines.
Driving
The Driving list covers everything from the basic skills needed, to choosing equipment, to preparation for advanced and competitive driving.
Jumping
These titles include our favorite training books for horse and rider in hunt seat, show jumping and eventing. There are also some excellent works devoted to schooling exercises for jumping.
Western
Our Western list covers training for horse and rider, including natural horsemanship styles, as well as training guides for competitive Western sports and good advice on trail riding.
Horsekeeping
Horsekeeping is that less glamorous, but no less essential, area of horsemanship. It includes care and feeding horses, design and maintenance of barn/stable and pasture, and health care for horses. We've picked the titles that we believe will get the most use and offer the best guidance in these areas, from simple "for dummies" advice for non-horsey weekend care-givers, to in-depth veterinary care manuals.
DVDs - all disciplines
It's an eclectic selection of how-to's for many disciplines, traditional and alternative vet care, and documentaries on competitions. More than books, the DVD market changes without warning, so it's not unusual when a popular video suddenly disappears.