Building a training library? Here are a few books to add to your ‘must-have’ list.
Rider’s Mind
Zen Mind Zen Horse: The Science and Spirituality of Working With Horses, by Allan J. Hamilton, MD.
List price: $24.95; electronic version available.
This thought-provoking book by Harvard-trained brain surgeon Allan Hamilton, MD, is where natural horsemanship meets up with spiritual understanding. Hamilton applies the practice of “chi” to horse-human communication, including the spiritual act of grooming and the “power of infinite patience.” It’s a book firmly grounded in practice and principles of horsemanship, while recognizing the deep connection between horses and humans.
Build Complete Confidence With Horses: Beat Fear and Excuses and Attain Your Riding Goals, by Kelly Marks.
List price: $29.95
Whether you’re returning to riding after a long absence, or you’re a beginning rider, you may be finding yourself facing fears or hesitation with your horse. Kelly Marks, a former champion jockey and show jumper, offers a progressive program to help riders deal with anxiety or other obstacles to riding goals. She uses real-life case studies, along with exercises and assignments that help you face your worries, work through them, and get back in the saddle with confidence.
Win With Bob Avila, by Juli S. Thorson.
List price: $29.95
Go beyond the basics with Bob Avila’s advice on what it takes to compete and be successful with your horse. It’s not a how-to training manual, but a wise look at everything else that goes into making a winner. This blueprint for winning includes what separates horse-world achievers from also-rans; what it takes to succeed as a breeder, trainer, or competitor; the secrets of selecting outstanding horses; inexpensive ways to outclass your competition; and more.
Books That Inspire
The Eighty Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation, by Elizabeth Letts.
List price: $26.00
The inspiring story of Snowman, a plow horse bound for slaughter who ended up under the lights of Madison Square Garden.
Gallop to Freedom, by Frederic Pignon & Magali Delgado.
List price: $29.95
Published by Trafalgar Square, this book features beautiful photography and was written by two of the equine artists from Cavalia.
Horses, Photographs by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, with Jean-Louis Gouraud.
List price: $25.95
This 336-page book features some 200 art-quality photos of horses ranging from Quarter Horses to Clydesdales.
The Legendary California Hackamore and Stock Horse, by Bobby Ingersoll, photographs by David Stoecklein.
List price: $50.00
This beautiful book combines the masterful training expertise of Bobby Ingersoll with the clear vision of photographer David Stoecklein, for a book that is both a training manual and a coffee table book.
Still Riding at 80, by Helen Hills.
List price: $17.95
Profiles of 20 senior riders will inspire you, while Hills’ tips and encouragement will motivate you to keep riding no matter what your age.
Cowboy Gear: A Photographic Portrayal of the Early Cowboys and Their Equipment, by David Stoecklein.
List price: $60.00
Filled with Stoecklein’s remarkable photography, this book offers images and information about the gear and equipment that was part of every early cowboy’s life.
