Horses: Riding, Training and Behaviour

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General, including healthcare
Riding, training and behaviour

Perfect Manners

Kelly Marks
Ebury Press
ISBN 0091882702

Kelly Marks was a champion jockey and show jumper, and here she passes on the benefits of her experience to other horse owners. This is a wonderful book for riders at all levels, funny, informative, and it makes you see horse-human relationships in a new way, helping you to get the best out of your horse.

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The British Horse Society Manual of Equitation (revised edition)

Kenilworth Press
Islay Auty (ed)
ISBN 1872119336

This is a comprehensive manual for training riders and horses. All levels are covered, from novice to advanced riders, and from foals to advanced training for adult horses, as well as various activities, including cross country events, and jumping. A solid reference work for anyone seriously interested in riding, and of course this is the key text for those riders who are taking British Horse Society examinations.

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Dressage Tips and Training Solutions

Petra Holzel, Wolfgang Holzel and Martin Plewa
Kenilworth Press
ISBN 1872119352

This is a very useful manual which explains German training methods, which have brought international success for teams from that country. Concepts such as losgelassenheit are explored, the emphasis on managing horses with a light touch. There is help on training horses at different levels and for different activities, as well as help for riders who want to improve their performance, with an emphasis on psychological preparation. An invaluable reference manual for riders involved in competitive events.

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Down to Earth Dressage

Carl Hester and Bernadette Faurie
Kenilworth Press
ISBN 1872119204

This is a very enjoyable guide to dressage training which stresses the need to motivate the horse, and maintain his enthusiasm, an approach which helps make dressage more enjoyable for the rider as well. Carl Hester draws on his own experience, and the book is illustrated with photographs showing him at work training and riding horses at different levels. Riders are reminded that one reason we like being with horses is because it's fun, and if you take this approach, you can achieve a great deal.

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Talking With Horses (new edition)

Henry Blake
Souvenir Press
ISBN 0285629980

Henry Blake is a well-established writer on equine issues, and a pioneer in the field of horse psychology. His books are fun to read, with lots of anecdotes, and his sympathy for horses is evident. The case studies provide vehicles for understanding equine viewpoints. He is highly rated, both for the insights he provides, and because of his gifts as a storyteller.

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The Behaviour of Horses: In Relation to Management and Training

Marthe Kiley-Worthington
J A Allen & Co Ltd
ISBN: 0851316883

Marthe Kiley-Worthington has written a very useful, up-to-date guide to equine behaviour, which is of practical help for owners seeking to tackle behavioural problems, as well as improve their training techniques. This book is well worth reading, both for experienced owners, and it's accessible enough to fascinate and be of use to novices.

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Horse Behaviour

George H. Waring
Noyes Publications
ISBN: 0815514840

George Waring's book is a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of horse behaviour, bringing together findings from many international researchers, and looking at both domestic and feral horses. There is help with using this information to provide insights into managing horses. The second edition has new section on ecological influences, and there is an updated appendix which sets out behavioural symptoms and possible reasons for horses behaving in these ways. The book is well illustrated. This is the most comprehensive guide to horse behaviour available, so it is a good investment, though it's a quite pricey book.

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Know Your Horse Inside Out: A Clear, Practical Guide to Understanding and Improving Posture and Behaviour

Sarah Fisher
David & Charles; 2nd edition (2009)
ISBN-10: 0715330012
ISBN-13: 978-0715330012

Sarah Fisher's 'Know Your Horse Inside Out' is a very helpful guide to tackling behavioural problems in horses through teaching owners how to recognise underlying physical problems. By learning how to 'read' your horse, you become better able to work as a team. There are practical exercises to help tackle problems and strengthen your relationship. Sarah Fisher also gives good advice on preventing problems and helping your horse recover from accidental injuries. This book can also be read for sheer enjoyment. There are many interesting anecdotes, and Sarah Fisher gives you a lot to think about. She is not only very well qualified to help owners understand their horses, she can also write in a very clear and entertaining way. 'Know Your Horse Inside Out' is a real treat, as well as a very useful practical guide.

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Complete Horse Riding Manual

William Micklem
Dorling Kindersley (2012)
ISBN-10: 1405392754
ISBN-13: 978-1405392754

William Micklem is well known in competitive equestrian circles, as a top-ranking coach, trainer, and writer on equestrian topics. His 'Complete Horse Riding Manual' is probably the best guide for riders who are interested in competing with their horses. There is help with every stage, from novices learning how to ride and compete at basic levels, to dressage, cross country, and advanced showjumping. This book really does what it says on the cover, gives comprehensive coverage of what you need to know to become a skilled rider. There is a focus both on the rider, such as how to stay fit and gear yourself mentally for competitions, and on training and preparing the horse. The troubleshooting tips are also very handy for when you encounter problems. The book is clearly written, and the illustrations help to explain the text, making it very easy to follow.

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Considering the Horse

Mark Rashid
Skyhorse; 2nd edition (2010)
ISBN-10: 1616081562
ISBN-13: 978-1616081560

Mark Rashid has become very popular as a result of his chatty style, which rings bells with people who own challenging horses. Critics may argue that he sometimes appears just to be offering anecdotes rather than teaching, but this approach gives space for readers to think for themselves, and make their own conections. He argues that riders should earn the respect of their mounts, so that horses choose to follow them. This means that spending a long time developing a relationship of trust with a horse is all important. 'Considering the Horse' stresses the viewpoint of the horse, while 'Horses Never Lie' (see below) goes on to develop his ideas on passive leadership. People who are interested in learning how to read their horses, and learn from them, are likely to enjoy Mark Rashid's books, though if you want a book that is more of a 'how to' guide, you will probably find Sarah Fisher's book more rewarding.

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Horses Never Lie

Mark Rashid
David & Charles (2004)
ISBN-10: 0715318411
ISBN-13: 978-0715318416

Mark Rashid's 'Horses Never Lie' makes more sense if you have already read his 'Considering the Horse', in which he explains how riders can learn from their horses. In 'Horses Never Lie', he explains how riders can become the sort of leader that horses choose to follow, rather than a rider who simply tries to impose his or her will on the horse. Riders have to be leaders, or senior partners, but you can choose your leadership style. A good leader is capable of listening, and of empathy, or having an understanding of the feelings of the horse. By becoming aware of what your horse is telling you, it becomes possible to build trust, and develop a two-way dialogue. This isn't, then a book with simple instructions on how to train, rather it is about developing a good relationship that makes it possible both to tackle problems, and go on to major achievements. Horses are likely to be spooked by heavy-handed attempts to dominate them, and that can be  counter-productive. Through developing trust, you and your horse can achieve more. This is a great book if you want to focus on your relationship with your horse, and are interested in understanding what 'passive leadership' means, though Sarah Fisher's 'Know Your Horse Inside Out' is more helpful if you want simple instructions.

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Chosen by a Horse

Susan Richards
Constable (2008)
ISBN-10: 1845297164
ISBN-13: 978-1845297169

Susan Richards’ 'Chosen by a Horse' is an autobiographical account, rather than a 'how to' book, but she does show very clearly how building a relationship with a horse involves understanding ourselves, as well as the horse. Susan Richards' own experiences had been very harsh before she met a skinny mare, who had also been through hard times. The mare chose her as a human who might provide a safe haven, but the mare's previous experiences with humans had led her to be wary. Susan Richards' efforts to build trust with this mare helped her to come to terms with her own past. This is a feelgood story, in that both the human and the mare ended up benefiting from the relationship, though Susan Richards also had to confront difficult emotions to achieve an understanding of herself and the mare. There is plenty in this book to interest owners of challenging horses, and it is also a heartwarming tale which appeals to people who have never owned a horse.

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