Book Description
"This book is a welcome addition to the literature in the field of horse training and should be in the library of any serious, caring horseperson."
—Gincy Self Bucklin

Author of What Your Horse Wants You to Know and How Your Horse Wants You to Ride: Starting Out, Starting Over

With unique insight based on years of experience, author Sarah Blanchard describes horse training based on positive motivation and cooperation instead of subservience and domination. The Power of Positive Horse Training: Saying Yes to Your Horse helps you understand your horse's agenda and explains rewards-based training. It goes beyond theory and:

• Helps trainers and riders create a logical, consistent system of requests, responses, and rewards
• Teaches communication skills and methods that build respect and a rewarding relationship
• Describes nine specific, progressive exercises designed to improve communication and cooperation between horse and rider
• Explains how to use positive training techniques to solve six common behavioral problems

This book helps you forge a bond of understanding and trust with your horse that leads to enhanced responsiveness and teamwork. . . . and make riding a pure joy.Download Description
The key to harmonious horse-human partnerships What would compel a half-ton animal to obey a mere human? In The Power of Positive Horse Training, expert trainer Sarah Blanchard presents concrete answers from the horse's point of view. Harnessing the equine system of logic, she shows owners, riders, and trainers how to satisfy their horse's needs and desires through rewards-based training. Blanchard presents a series of practical exercises for positive reinforcement in specific training situations, both on the ground and in the saddle. Readers then learn how to use their new ""horse's-eye view"" to solve a series of basic behavioral problems that all equestrians face. Sarah Blanchard (Hilo, HI) is a horse trainer and riding instructor with four decades of experience and special expertise in dressage and combined training. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Horse Lover
This book gives good incite to the person who is trying to partner with their horse.Trying to find your way when everyone has an opinion is hard.This approach is a balanced approach, good for you and the horse.

Great 'undersaddle' training hints.
I did thoroughly enjoy this book.I have done and read a significant amount of natural training methods so some of the ground work stuff was fairly elementary and sometimes not as 'natural' as I would like - found it to be a little incongruent with the 'positive' and 'saying yes' part of the title.

None-the-less the under saddle trainingsuggestions - especially teaching the half halt and circle work - were invaluable and made this book a worthwhile purchase.Like any book I its important to take away what is useful to you and not be too critical of the remainder which may work very well for others.

One of the Top Two Books To Own
What a great book! With so many books available on natural horsemanship, horse behavior and training it's easy to accummulate a whole equestrian library rather quickly. There are really only two books you can't go without though:
Gincy Bucklin's What Your Horse Wants You to Know and Sarah Blanchard's The Power of Positive Horse Training.
Not only are both books full of great suggestions but more importantly they help bridge the language barrier between horse and human. Wonderful books to own, easy and interesting to read and great reference tools and morale builders when you and your equine partner hit a road block. ... Read more

Book Description
In 1872, Isabella Bird, daughter of a clergyman, set off alone to the Antipodes 'in search of health' and found she had embarked on a life of adventurous travel. In 1873, wearing Hawaiian riding dress, she rode her horse through the American Wild West, a terrain only newly opened to pioneer settlement. The letters that make up this volume were first published in 1879. They tell of magnificent, unspoiled landscapes and abundant wildlife, of encounters with rattlesnakes, wolves, pumas and grizzly bears, and her reactions to the volatile passions of the miners and pioneer settlers. A classic account of a truly astounding journey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

very good review
This book arrived in top condition and in time. In a college book store this book cost a lot more, so I am very pleased to be able to buy it from this seller.

descriptive
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the descriptive way the author wrote.I have been through Colorado and have seen the beauty she described.Also enjoyed the story because there wasn't a lot of violence and if there was any sex, it was only in our imagination which is the greatest kind.I was amazed at how the lady rode for miles in rugged wilderness without seeming to get lost.The fact that she could subsist on meager food was also interesting.

Well-written account of an incredible Rocky Mountain experience!
I bought this book while visiting Estes Park, CO...hungry for books about life in the West that may not be so readily available here in NJ.I found it to be one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read!Isabella's descriptions of the Rocky Mountains and the climate through which she travelled are vivid and gripping.But more than that, she gives a detailed and honest account of what life was like for settlers on the frontier.How she managed to ride thru the mountains where the only "trails" were tracks of wagons or animals, when often those were covered with the seemingly constant snow, boggles the mind.Her love for Colorado sings out in every word she writes.I too was deeply touched by its beauty, and hope to return again, this time with an enriched appreciation due to this wonderful recounting of Isabella Bird's journey.

Don't overlook this
For many years I saw this book in National Park bookstores and passed it by thinking it would be an example of the overwritten, rather tedious journals of other Victorian travelers.When I finally found it at a used bookstore and rather reluctantly bought it, I was surprised to find out how exciting and relevant her story was.

Because I live in Colorado, I recoginize and travel through many of the places she describes.Just this weekend as we traveled along Highway 67, my husband and I remarked on the likelihood, that this was the same route she'd taken out of Colorado Springs.

Her accounts lend life to the grey, weatherbeaten cabins, abandoned roads and rusting rails that we see.Even though many parts of Europe and the US were relatively modern at the time of her adventures, it is surprising to read just how primitive and precarious was the life of many Colorado settlers.

Even if you aren't from Colorado, read this book to become aquainted with a Victorian woman who found a way to live life fully.Read it to learn about life in the west.Read it just because it's a good read.

Free Bird
Did you ever read any of the BEANY MALONE novels by Lenora Mattingly Weber?In them I first read about Isabella Bird and her remarkable life in the American West.Beany's older brother, Johnny Malone, is a teenager when the series begins, a young Denver boy with a remarkable passion for unearthing the memoirs and daguerrotypes of Colorado pioneers and taking notes on the old-timers who settled the state.Their colorful lives make his ordinary life seem rather pastel, so he often sinks into a nostalgia of the past, while his family members tease him about the dreamy look in his eyes.He helps a veteran journalist, Emerson Worth, complete his magnum opus, OUR CITY HAS DEEP ROOTS.And among the pioneers Johnny obsessed about was none other than Isabella Bird, so when I found this book on a recent trip to Boulder, I added it to my rucksack.

If you are reading on horseback, as Isabella Bird did, this is perhaps the ideal book to carry with you.She was a woman used to the English-style horse with its Ascot breeding and high carriage.What she found in Colorado were, naturally, the horses of the West, more perfectly adapted to the mile-high atmospheres, but slung somewhat lower than anything she's been used to and slightly swaybacked.Bird adapted quickly, and the fun of her autobiography is to see her taking in her stride a series of calamities and hardships that would have Job complaining bitterly!No matter if it's an insect infestation or tumbling right through a sheet of ice into zero degree river chills, for Isabella Bird it's all part of a day's fun.Travel writing in the 19th century was, of course, the leading genre of prose.From no other source were English-speaking readers able to find out more about other people's lives, and the curiosity was immense.

You'll like Isabella, and her crazy love affair with Colorado.She remains very much a lady, but will challenge your preconceived notions of what a lady is and isn't.Most of all you will thrill to follow the course of her journeys up and down the mountains through which, now, there are some better trails but still the same amazing sunrises which she describes with the thrill of one for whom every day's an adventure. ... Read more

Book Description
Theodore Winthrop set out to travel across Washington Territory in the early 1850s.The 25-year-old was a recent graduate of Yale and a confirmed East Coast intellectual.

This book paints a vibrant picture of frontier life in the Pacific Northwest and covers the authors travels among both pioneers and Indians, whose picturesque descriptions are found within the pages of this historic travel account.A treasure to read, this book will be of interest to students of both the horse and history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Canonical Book of Pacific Northwest History
Theodore Winthrop went off and got himself killed in the Civil War before he could ever fully develop the raw brilliance of his writing talents.Luckily, however, he did leave us this invaluable diamond-in-the-rough peek into daily life in the Pacific Northwest on the eve of the Euro-American subjugation of this beautiful region.

Modern historians have turned their backs upon Winthrop, largely because he refrained from exercising their politically correct terminology and sensitivities.Winthrop's work expresses all the grit and honestly one would expect from an adventure traveler's diary, where a man chose to travel alone amongst the native populations and immerse himself in their culture.Winthrop also had a tremendous vision of the fateful changes that were soon to befall the region, for better or for worse, and he expresses them with a magnificent range of vocabulary and fluidity of composition.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Winthrop was awed by the incredible natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.He was, not unlike the better known John Muir, an early convert to the worship of wild wilderness that is the origin of the modern environmental movement.Winthrop's descriptions of the Pacific Northwest volcanoes are without parallel in any other written source.The famous Mountaineers of hiking-book fame would have done better to follow his advice and respect the indigenous names ofgeographical features.Indeed, the greatest crime of those who ignore Winthrop is certainly the fact that they have buried his ardent pleas to respect those indigenous appellations. ... Read more

Book Description
This manual, the third of the United States Pony Club Manuals of Horsemanship, builds on the fundamentals covered in Basics for Beginners/D Level and Intermediate Horsemanship/C Level. Whether you are a Pony Clubber who has passed the C Level tests, a rider who has mastered the same skills, a riding instructor or a stable manager, this manual will enable you to increase your skills and teach you what you need to know to ride with correct, classical technique in advanced work on the flat, over fences, and in the open; to evaluate and school horses; to teach horsemanship; and to manage a stable efficiently. Written for the North American horseman, this manual emphasizes sound fundamentals and classical methods based on knowledge of the horse and its systems. Whether you wish to compete in dressage, show jumping, combined training, or other horse sports; to train horses, teach riding, manage a stable, or simply enjoy horses and horsemastership at an advanced level, The United States Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship: Advanced Horsemanship/B, HA, A Levels will give you a clear and understandable guide. The USPC B Level is for active Pony Clubbers or horsepersons who are interested in acquiring further knowledge and proficiency in all phases of riding and horse care. The A, the highest rating, is divided into two parts: the HA, which covers teaching, training, and stable management, and the A, which covers advanced riding and schooling of horses at all levels. Many A Level Pony Clubbers have gone on to qualify for the United States Equestrian Team in various disciplines.
The Howell Equestrian Library ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

USPC Manual B, HA, and A
This book has helped me so much! I began reading and studying it at age 10 when I was still a C2, and throughout my ratings and progression it has answered my endless questions and supplemented the material from the D and C manuals. While the B, HA, and A manual is very informative, it should only be read by those who can thoroughly comprehend and extract inportant information from the text. I was alwaysa very mature reader, but at times I even had to reread pages to be sure I understood correctly. This book has helped me through my B, HA, and just recently helped me pass my A, so this book is the best way to go to becoming a good rider!

Thank you so much for making this Manual!
Love,
Anna

Teaches you about the horse and how to manage a horse.
This book is great for learning about the body systems of a horse.It also briefly explains how to manage a stable with things such as how to make a stall have good drinage. It is the best book to get if you want to meet therequirements of Pony Club levels A, HA, or B. But I recommend getting thisbook only if you are at the advanced levels in riding and horsemanshipbecause otherwise you will find that the book overwhelms you withinformation.I may suggest that people buying this book should considerbuying Pony Club Manuals on levels C and D before or perhaps in addition tothis manual.Overall, a good book for learning about the horse.

Excellent book for advanced horsemen of any age.
This is a great follow-on to the first two volumes of the USPC manuals. Together, they are the best "curriculum" on horsemanship available, bar none. (I say that, owning 900 horse books! The three USPC Manuals are the most useful of all.) As another reviewer said, it's not "complete"--one should read the first two volumes, first, as, like the USPC Standards of Proficiency, the Manuals build upon each other. I am a long-time riding instructor (over 22 years), especially with the US Pony Clubs. The three-volumes of the USPC Manuals would be a solid foundation of a good equestrian library.

A book with a lot of info.
This book is very informitave and helped me alot. I am only a D-2 but it still answered alot of the questions I had. It covers everything from teaching horsemanship to jumping and yes even vet care. The jumping part helped me to understand alot of things that helped me train my horse. I recomend that you buy it.

A book for serious horsefolk, who wish to acquire expertise
This is the third of a series of three volumes of the United States Pony Clubs' Manual of Horsemanship.While similar in scope to the British Horse Society's one-volume book of the same title, the USPC has taken the approach that the horseperson can read one volume when starting out, a second when they have assimilated a bit more, and finally this third volume when they feel like they know just about everything there is to know.I can promise you that no matter how much practical, useful information you had before you pick up this volume, you will put it down having acquired much more.While it is very readable, it is not a "page-turner".I found that I would read two to five pages, go off and think about it for a day or two, and come back again for more.If you liked the first two volumes in the series, you will like this one.If you approach this book without reading the first two volumes, you will probably find the book incomplete and coverage spotty.The book is written to match the Pony Club standards, and provides the necessary information to advance to the highest ratings -- remembering that the higher ratings in Pony Club build on the lower ones.It is hard to believe that anyone in America today could consider themselves a serious horseman without digesting this volume.Bravo to the USPC for the whole series!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I have a piece of the art of Edward Algerton Stuart Douglas'
I want to see more of jis work as illustrated in thisbook.I am interested in new or used copy. It is an excellect book on this phase of Art and covers many artists.Plese contact me. ... Read more

Book Description
In a book studded with revealing photographs, the legendary author of Hunter Seat Equitation analyzes the American style of show jumping and teaches riders the techniques that set the standard for the world.

B & W photographs and illustrations throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fabulous review and comparison resource!
This book is my favorite. It is well worth waiting for. If you can get it, read it twice, study the pictures and reap the rewards!George has a way with teaching riding. Do not miss out. click -http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385410824/mcfarm. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Equestrian Events( True Books)
Equestrian Events is an informative book about olympic events involving horses.It has wonderful color photos and has a great overview ofinformation. It describes each daily event and some other popularequestrian contests that are not in the Olympics.It would be great forthe young rider who wants to know more about horses.

This book is one ofa series.I think it is a wonderful way to make the Olympics a learningexperience and introduce each event well.

I would disagree with the agesuggestion.I would encourage this book for a 6-9 year old.The largeprint and the overview vs details is more appealing to younger children. Itwould also make a good book to read aloud to a classroom. ... Read more

Book Description
A spectacular loop around the largest alpine lake in North America, the Tahoe Rim Trail crosses volcanic peaks and stark granite basins, lush meadows and pine forests; it traverses two states and numerous wilderness areas and parks. The author divides the 150-mile trail into eight segments and gives you directions to trailheads and detailed route descriptions; he clues you in about special concerns along the way, like water, weather, vegetation, and natural highlights. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

"A horse believes that everything will eat it until proved otherwise"
The author clearly knows and loves the area; a good thing because The Tahoe Rim Trail is the only guide out on this recently completed trail. Both planning and take with you information are in the book. When you are ready to go, just cut out the trail descriptions to take with you. I would also buy a Tom Harrison Lake Tahoe Recreation Map. The book's maps are good, but not convenient for map and compass work.

About the review lead: I was just reading along, checking out the background information chapter, and the flora and fauna chapter, then hit the Lets All Get Along chapter. On this multiuse trail, hiker, horse and mountain bike interactions are common. The Sharing the Trail With Horses section led off with "A horse believes that everything will eat it until proved otherwise"(from Sonja Willits, TRT Newsletter). That phrase made me smile and instantly simplified the horse-hiker rules I have heard. It is now engraved in my brain. I - a non-biking hiker, appreciated the Dirt User's Hints (for bikers). The chapter was rounded out by the Inconsiderate Backcountry Blockhead rules for how to be a bad hiker.

Good information in Weather, Water and When to Go chapter. This is where the author's local knowledge is obvious. Snow is a factor for many months, Lightning for others. Some of the paragraph leads: Elevation, Which Way the Mountain Faces, Lee of the Mountains:..., The Wind..., Dehydration, Hypothermia, Avalanches.

The Users Guide chapter has info on, for example: what to take, where to fish, where to take the kids, lists the trailheads, and is addressed to horse people and mountain bikers as well as hikers.

The meat of the book is the Trail Descriptions chapter. The author has organized it so that the entire 165 trail can be completed in eight trips varying from about 15 to 30 miles each. Each trip write-up follows the same format, a Tom Harrison map of the route, paragraph(s) on Difficulty, Best Seasons (when to go), Highlights, Heads Up! (cautions - water, etc.), Tips for Mountain Bikers, Getting There, and the actual Trail Description.

The Trail descriptions are detailed - example: turns north and in .8 mile, switchbacks down... Sidetrips to interesting places off the TRT are boxed off from the normal text. Finally, Alternative Routes are discussed.I am familiar with the 50 mile part of the TRT that coincides with the Pacific Crest Trail and found those descriptions quite accurate.

After the trail description chapter is one on Other Tahoe Area Attractions where the author has brief information of some of his favorite trails in the area. Not the end of the book though. The book winds up with information on Resources, Recommended Reading, Mileage Tables, Tim's Top 5 Places...

Nice job on the book design - black and white photos, maps, white space and illustrations make the book pleasant reading compared to most trail guides.

An essential resource for anyone planning to hike the TRT.

Not just the perfect guidebook
Having just completed the Tahoe Rim Trail I must say that Tim Hauserman's book was, as many Appalachian Trail hikers say of Bryson's Into the Woods, my bible.The book was great for two reasons.

First and foremost, it is a truly comprehensive guide that allowed me to carefully plan my trip.For each segment he includes useful maps, dead-on descriptions of each segment, directions to your start and end points, difficulty assessments and tips for mountain bikers.The highlights described for each section give the reader just enough to whet one's pallet and make them go out and hike.His suggestions for side trips are a great way to plan longer more enjoyable journeys into the glorious Tahoe surroundings.

Tim's way of writing is both humorous and informative.This unique style makes his opening chapters a fun and pleasant read.In covering a wide array of topics such as trail history, flora and fauna, when to go and the not to be missed "getting horsey on the TRT" Tim gives his readers a taste of Lake Tahoe, back country culture, and crucial tips.

The books only flaw is that weighing in at 15 oz. no thru-hiker would actually want to carry it with them on the trail. However for a day hiker I recommend taking out the relevant pages, or perhaps making photocopies.

All in all I think this book is well worth it.In addition to being the perfect guidebook, it is a great read.

Perhaps too much of a good thing
It's nice to see Tim Hauserman come out with a guide to the Tahoe Rim Trail so soon after the trail's completion.The Tahoe Rim Trail is destined to be one of the elite distance hikes in the West, right next to the High Sierra Trail, John Muir Trail, and Skyline to the Sea Trail.Having been to the Tahoe area, and recently finished reading the guide, I am already planning a thru hike on the trail for next year.

This book has a number of excellent features.The use of Tom Harrison maps (and the expertise of Jeffrey Schaffer) in the trail description chapters give the prospective hiker far more detail than typical guidebooks do.This is especially important in planning the logistics of a 150+ mile hike.In addition, Hauserman has done an excellent job of breaking the trail down into managable day-hikes and/or overnight trips.Those who, like my wife, want to complete the trail in 2 or more summers will find his organization useful.Finally, the trail description of each segement begins with helpful notes on water sources, camping locations, etc, which will greatly assist both thru hikers and those sampling the trail on a day hike.

If the book has a problem, it is the amount of space it devotes to introducing the Tahoe area and the trail.Less than half the book is devoted to trail description.While the rest of the material made for fascinating, and sometimes funny reading (Hauserman has a great sense of humor) it does add to the weight of the book.I appreciate this in my armchair, but will undoubtably be less happy with it on the trail.Other Wilderness Press Guides to similar sized trails are more compact (and still have great maps).Despite this small criticism, the book is an excellent buy and Hauserman has done a good job summarizing what will surely be one of the premier hiking trails in the years to come. ... Read more

Amazon.com
"If you love horses and want to know as much as you can about them, then The Way of the Horse: How to See the World Through His Eyes is for you." Beginning with a thorough discussion of the equine background, including the evolution of horses, their heritage, hot- and cold-blooded breeds, and life-span characteristics, editor Jane Kidd proceeds to the senses in chapter 2--sight and hearing, horse as herbivore, balance and coordination, intelligence and survival--then horse behavior in chapter 3, and health and fitness in chapter 4. The final chapter is in Q&A format, with topics ranging from specific behavioral problems and health concerns to grooming techniques and gender-specific issues. Filled throughout with more than 300 full-color photographs and illustrations, this beautiful book is perfect for the devoted horse owner and those who admire this magnificent animal from afar.Book Description
Anyone who rides, owns, or simply loves horses will want this lavishly illustrated book that explains their fundamental nature.The Way of the Horse first traces the evolution of the equine from a small animal no bigger than a fox to the magnificent creature we know today.Then it addresses such topics as how a horse sees and hears but also how heritage and anatomy affect his balance, coordination, and behavior.Young riders especially will find the Questions Answered section fascinating. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Buy this one first!
Of all the books that I have read (a lot) since I got back into riding, this is the one that was most worth the money.The explanations of horse behavior, the reasons and what the response of the human should be arewritten in such a special way that isn't clinical or condescending to thereader. The beautiful photos are an added bonus to an already worthwhilebook.

Absolutley wounderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I reccomend this book to every one, it has stunning pictures, and correct information. I think this book was worth every penny and it answerd questions many horse people have. I have reccomended this book to all myhorsey friends and they have all reccomended it to thier friends, with allof them coming back with the same answer, 'WHAT A GREAT BOOK!!! ' You haveto have this book if you're a horseman!! ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Travel America, published by Thomson Gale on September 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1953 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Fox-trotting through the Ozarks; saddle up for equestrian adventures in the mountains of southern Missouri.(Fox Trotter horse breed)(RS Ranch)
Author: Barbara Gibbs Ostmann
Publication: Travel America (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 21Issue: 2Page: 48(3)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
Knowing about horse conformation, movement and soundness is important to any horse owner, whether you are selecting a horse, judging horses, or evaluating a horse's strengths, weaknessess, and ultimate potential.

The USPC Guide to Conformation, Movement and Soundness clearly explains and illustrates good, functional conformation and movement, faulty movement, conformation defects, blemishes and unsoundnesses, their causes, and how they affect the horse. This guide will be helpful to Pony Club and 4-H members, instructors, horse owners, and anyone interested in learning about evalulating horses' conformation, soundness and way of moving.
The Howell Equestrian Library ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great for quick reference
"Back in the good old days" the pony club manual was all one book, but this guide still gives easy to understand diagrams and explanations of what everyone riding needs to learn.I think it's great for adults and kids alike.

Basics for Beginners--Old news
This is a basic primer for beginners and children, but it is reminiscent of books I read thirty years ago.The sketches are good and the explanations clear.I wanted more detailed information.You can find this info along with a lot more basic information from other books.I felt it was drasticly overpriced, unless funds go to some charity as a fund raiser. I expected more than this book delivered for the money.

What horse people really need to know!
This is where to find the information on horses that you really need but no one ever properly explains. This book puts it more clearly than any other source. When you take lessons or go to shows, you hear about conformation, movement and soundness, but you really need a primer like this to understand what people are talking about. After you read this book,you could converse with a judge like an expert.

Great book for Pony Club kids
With my daughter being in Pony Club and me being joint DC for our club this book is recomended reading for our members.I can see why it is very helpful and an easy read.So people that don't know much about conformation will be able to get it. I give this book 5 stars as well as her other books. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

This is the best book on hunter/jumpers ever written!!
I love this book. It is a compilation of articles written by the best of the best in the business.The information is inspirational, insightful and pertinent.Though the last printing was in 1989 it never looses its relevance!

A Gotta Have Book
It is a real shame that this book was allowed to go out of print. A paperback version should be produced. It contains a myriad of approaches in training the hunter and the jumper, from some of the best trainers in the country, including Olympic level. Very little of this book is out of date, and there is nothing in print or out of print with as much information, clearly written and with photos, to compare. If you can get a copy, do it!

Practical Horseman's Book of Riding, Training, and Showing H
I have borrowed a copy of this book from the library, and after I simply looked at it, I knew I had to have a copy. It covers every aspect of hunters and jumpers and is more than an excellent reference. It is basically a must. Covering everything from lunging to drills, I highlyrecommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Unless you're familiar with the sport, you're probably intimidated! This practical book helps you get your child off to a positive start. It answers your questions, helps you avoid common pitfalls, shows you how to get your child into the saddle without saddling yourself with debt, and helps you ensure that your child has a rewarding, enjoyable experience. It takes you step by step from the initial "get acquainted" period through decisions and purchases you need to make as your child progresses, covering:

• Sampling the sport, including package deals that give your child exposure without necessitating a commitment
• Choosing a stable, riding style, instructor, and course of lessons
• Comparison shopping to save on equipment and apparel
• Proceeding through more advanced training
• Participating in horse shows or other competitions
• Buying a horse (or not)

On the Fence gives you the inside scoop on how to help your child get started and progress as a rider.It shows you how your child can enjoy horseback riding in a way that suits her, your family's lifestyle, and your budget. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

All The Answers You Need!
So, your child wants to ride a horse. Here then, in comprehensive detail, are answers to the multitude of problems and questions you will face. Learn how, where and when to best get started--how to find appropriate resources while keeping within an affordable budget for this expensive sport. The author has thoroughly researched and provided answers to every question you or your child will have in beginning, sustaining, and enjoying this very special endeavor. This book provides an unique opportunity to learn all you need know while saving endless time and recurrent difficulties. You'll savor it!

Inside scoop on horseback riding - what are kids thinking?
This book by Janet Barrett demonstrates an insiders knowledge of a child learning to ride. What is particularly helpful is that Ms. Barrett knows what is going on in the child's head. Thus the parent knows what to expect when the child suddenly wants to buy a horse or stop lessons for a while. This is a great manual that takes the parent step by step through the process from casual interest to wanting lessons, finding a stable and performing in shows. I would recommend it highly to any parent who hears those words for the first time: mom, I want to ride a horse!"

A Valuable Resource
I can't imagine any parent starting their son/daughter in the sport of riding without reading and owning a copy of this book to refer to continuously as they go. It is not only informative on a day-to-day basis, but it is a valuable resource in understanding your child's progression through the sport from the first lesson onward (and yours from even before that!) Throughout, as your child moves from beginner, to intermediate and beyond, the information is explicit and clear. I suggest that anyone whose child wants to ride get this book and keep it as their "bible"!

Highly Recommended!!
This book starts with the one's child saying: Mom, I want to ride a horse!Overwhelmed by fears of what you don't know and the expense of an activity you are afraid your child will give up too quickly (or not quickly enough), this book addresses all the questions parents face as they face them.Very easy to read and nicely laid out, this book provided the answers we had as our daughter was deciding if this was "the sport for her".As I knew little to nothing about horseback riding and nothing about stables or lessons, this book helped me make the right decisions at the right time and kept me from rushing into buying more equipment than I needed.

Before you go down this path, read this book! ... Read more

Book Description
Although 23-year-old barn manager Steve Cline doesn't expect to stray far from the horse world, he has enrolled in a private investigations course and is working on the final project. But when his father, racehorse trainer Chris Kessler, invites him to Louisville on a two-week, all-expense-paid vacation that will culminate with the running of the Kentucky Derby, how can he refuse? Except, it isn't really a vaction. Kessler has a Derby runner and needs a reliable fill-in when one of his employees is injured.

With only two horses to care for, the workload is light, and Steve decides to get that class project out of the way--a simple records search. But the very act of initiating the project triggers a chance encounter that plunges Steve into the world of the ultra rich. A world where greed and revenge and ambition drive some men to commit unspeakable acts amid the pageantry and glamour of thoroughbred racing.

In quick order, Steve finds himself the prime suspect in a murder investigation and the target of brutal thugs. From the relative security of the backside to the Derby festivities that transform downtown Louisville into Party Central to the opulence of a Lexington horse farm, Steve deals with his own personal demons and strained relationships as he attempts to stop a murderer before a power play culminates in shattered dreams and a bloody triple cross.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

WOW!!
Is all I can say.This author is supposed to be the next Dick Francis, and although I was doubtful, I now have to agree.The language is a bit salty for me, but it is a racetrack story, and at least you're not beat over the head with cursing.I've been to Churchill Downs, and the place is MAGIC. Kit Ehrman captures it completely, creating the whole racetrack establishment in your mind for the action to seat in--this is total immersion in the "backsiders" world, the most interesting place on a track.Louisville is also well represented here, and the excitement of big business and corporate espionage adds up to a thrilling story.I hated this book to end, hated leaving the world of Steve Cline and his foray into the Private Investigator business. Hated leaving the horses and the thrill of racing.I now have to go back and read Ehrman's other Steve Cline mysteries and hope they're as good as this one.

Steve Cline goes to Kentucky for the Derby
It's Derby Week in Louisville, Kentucky; Steve Cline is there as a favor to Chris Kessler, his father.Steve is also taking a class pursuant to a possible career as a P.I.In order to complete an assignment, he has to do some background checking on a stranger.He picks, for no real reason, Nicole Austin.This turns out to be a big mistake.

Steve is mugged at a party he's been invited to by Rudy Sturgill, someone with money and clout.Nicole Austin disappears without a trace and her apartment is searched.When Steve continues to ask questions about her, he is threatened by yet another man with money and clout, the man his father works for.Cline doesn't back off, and events continue to go from bad to worse in the ever-increasing frenzy of Derby week.

Ehrman has been compared, for obvious reasons, to Dick Francis.Francis, for the most part, wrote stand-alones, which gave him the luxury of not having to stretch in order to place his protagonist in a setting that could convincingly contain a murder.Ehrman, because this is a series, has to work at getting Steve into these situations; that work is not obvious.Each story has been plausible.Steve continues to grow as a character while the readers gets to learn more about horses and the various ways people can work in conjunction with them.TRIPLE CROSS is another well-written entry in Ehrman's series.

Excellent Horse Racing mystery!
This is the best yet in this 4 (so far) book series. I was really caught up in the story, and stayed up most of the night to finish it. I tried to read slower, to make it last longer, but I just couldn't put it down!
Won't go thru the plot; just read it for yourself! It's well worth it.

fine horse racing mystery
Twenty-three years old Maryland barn manager Steve Cline is working with his dad as they prepare their horse Gallant Storm for the Kentucky Derby.His father trainer Chris Kessler feels he has a solid shot of winning the most prestigious racing event and many pundits agree.Steve joins him in Louisville.

However, Steve has plenty of idle time on his hands as the race is two weeks away and his time serving on the racing team is minor.To his credit he avoids race groupies as he remains faithful to his girlfriend Rachel.However, he fills his time studying from the mail order private investigator course he is enrolled in as he tries to make practical applications while hiding what he is doing from Rachel, who detests Steve's aspirations to become a sleuth.He soon finds himself in the middle of a real homicide of a woman whose relationships leave behind plenty of people with motive, means and opportunity.

Steve is a roguish charmer who readers will like in his fourth appearance (see COLD BURN and DEAD MAN'S TOUCH) and the horse racing sequences especially the preparation for a race insightful and clearly a winner.However, the murder mystery track is muddy as some conclusions seem questionable.Still Dick Francis would enjoy racing with Steve as he tries to complete his correspondence class project without getting killed.

Harriet Klausner
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Book Description
Concise Guide to Tendon & Ligament Injuries in the Horse is part of a series of books that provides in-depth information about a variety of health-related subjects of interest to owners and riders. This book describes the most common tendon and ligament injuries that affect all sport horses. It explains how to recognize an injured tendon or ligament in a horse, and it evaluates a range of possible treatments and their effectiveness and limitations. With this information, owners can better understand what it will take to make their horses sound again. Also in this Series Concise Guide to

• Medications and Supplements for the Horse
• Colic in the Horse
• Navicular Syndrome in the Horse

Customer Reviews (2)

Helps alot
This book is a general explaination of injuries in the horse. It gives a good look at the anatomy of the legs, and it helped me to understand better what my horse is going through with his injury.I do have some knowledge of these injuries, so it was more of a refresher course on the subject. It also gave me some information I did not know.A good book to use as a quick reference guide, but not to be used as a complete understanding of these types of injuries.Not an indepth look at the tendon and ligament injuries, but a good start into helping someone understand them.I will probably get more books on the subject, but then that's just me.

Excellent book on the how & why but ...
I am, I guess, disappointed that there isn't anything specific he says that can be done to treat these injuries that doesn't have side effects, or in his opinion, has any good effects!Other than cold therapy with ice, Iam disappointed in traditional therapies, i.e., pinfiring, blistering (ashe is also).What are we to do for our horses, other than rest &recuperation?I guess I was looking for the ultimate answer..if there isone.David is definitely a vet who has to have scientific proof thatsomething works, be it traditional or alternative therapies! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Land Between the Lakes Handbook
I have backpacked the north south trail twice.Spent several days on the lake fishing and skiing.This handbook is the best book anywhere I have looked for mileage, campsites and boat ramps.I would like better maps than what it has.Mileage of trails are right on! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Glimpses Of Remote "Old" China
The formal reasons for Clark's 1949 journey in Qinghai (surveying uncharted mountains; archeological excavations; and aiding escape of Nationalist Chinese) may be mere rationales for his archaic 19th century-style expeditions.But the former OSS major certainly found adventure, with arduous conditions, bandit raids and political machinations recounted in melodramatic but serviceable prose."Marching Wind" has useful ethnographic and scientific data from eastern Greater Tibet, though some critics doubt its accuracy.Clark briefly enjoyed fame because his flawed calculations suggested that the Anye Machin range had peaks higher than Everest, but the bulk of the book holds up better.Its main value may lie in detailing the tensions between the end of "old" China (already vastly transformed, as the presence of foreign devils like Clark confirms) and Chinese efforts to avoid or adapt to the impending Communist new order.The story often alternates between the anxieties of officials and communities loyal to the Guomindang, and the routine--not timeless--activities of people for whom epochal changes in China proper seemingly had little relevance.Despite use of a station wagon (no kidding) in the early stages, this Equestrian Classic will find readers among the growing number of trekkers to these remote regions.Owen Lattimore's slightly earlier travels and writings offer a substantive contrast to Clark's rather self-absorbed, but still worthwhile, account. G. Rowell, "Mountains of the Middle Kingdom" assesses Clark and other explorers of China's Far West, with many stunning photos.

Superb adventure story!
This is truly a well-written, great adventure. Although I think that Clark embellishes the dangers of his trip, you definitely get a good feeling of the difficulties and potential threats.
(Immediate post WW-II period, during Chinese Civil War). Basically, it details Clark's expedition to explore Amne Machin, which he suspected to be higher than Mt. Everest. The probable real mission was however to map the region and prepare for a retreat of the defeated Chinese Moslem/Nationalist Army through Tibet. In any case, it makes for exciting reading, and Clark is a fine writer, with a good sense of humour and insightful comments. He's not a scholar, but a true adventurer; nevertheless, he seems to exhibit detailed knowledge over many subjects and appears to be an astute observor.
I first read this book (hardback edition from the 1950s) some 30 years ago, and was quite pleased when I discovered that LongRiders has re-issued in paperback form. The paper and binding seems pretty decent, and the only real negative is the poor quality of the photographs, which are not reproduced on glossy paper. The other minor quibble is the fact that since this is a reprint, an introduction/retrospective would have been useful. This could have included some info on the fate of the author (he died under somewhat mysterious circumstances in the late fifties in South America) or Amne Machin (it's not higher than Everest) or even some info on the Qinghai region today. But again, these are minor points that shouldn't detract from a great story...

an adventurer from the past
I noticed this book on my parent's book shelf when I was growing up.My 5th grade class had studied Tibet and I always meant to read it.Well, many years later, I finally got around to it and it turned out to be a rather interesting book.What makes it interesting is this glimpse at the many different people who make up the vast area of Tibet.

The author, Leonard Clark, is a rather archaic type of fellow to read in the 21st century.It's somewhat akin to reading about a 19th Century explorer 50 years ago.The man, fresh out of World War II intrigue in this general area of China, decides that he wants to explore the area of a sacred mountain.The name of the mountain is Amne Machin and it is located deep in the thinly explored areas of Tibet.Mr. Clark briefly explains the background to his quest and, before we know it, he is on his way to Tibet with a mere $1200 to finance his travels.He is an odd sort of fellow who reminds you of a middle-aged bachelor British nobleman who explores for a living.His rare reflections on life indicate a rather detached point of view.

We sense his quest to find and measure the height of Amne Machin although I didn't feel particularly excited about this aspect of his travels.I was most interested in the many different tribes of peoples and their remoteness from the rest of the world.Many of these different tribesmen are Mongols who date back to the original Horde.Mr. Clark has convinced the local military leader of the need to find an escape route from the unstoppable advance of the Red Chinese.Thus he is able to explore this lawless area accompanied by a small army.Mr. Clark is an astute observer of the many different tribes, flora, fauna, customs, topography and travails of the area.I found myself shivering with him in the many blizzards he seemed to encounter.I also found myself wondering if I, too, could survive on the various forms of food and drink that he subsisted on.

This book didn't exactly grab me once I started reading it.In fact I kept it at the office and would read a bit of it several times a week during my lunch break.It left me wondering about whatever happened to these many tribes of people rather than wondering whatever happened to the author.

The Marching Wind
Although The Marching Wind was written in the late 40's, this non-fiction story is still very intriguing in today's world.It relates the story of traveler/explorer Leonard Clark and his yak caravan journey through Tibet.Clark convinced the Chinese Nationalist leaders that he could find them an escape route through Tibet as the communists approached.At the same time, Clark plans to measure a mountain in Tibet that is reputably higher than Everest.
The book is written as a detailed travel log of the expedition through the wilds of forbidding Tibet during incredibly cold weather for which none of the modern equipment used for extreme weather is available.The caravan is constantly on watch for the fierce Ngolog tribe members reputed to be highly aggressive and murderous.It is a well written andexciting story. ... Read more

Book Description
Reprint of a classic travel account.Download Description
"The Vale of Kashmir is too well known to require description. It is the 'happy hunting-ground' of the Anglo-Indian sportsman and tourist, the resort of artists and invalids, the home of pashm shawls and exquisitely embroidered fabrics, and the land of Lalla Rookh. Its inhabitants, chiefly Moslems, infamously governed by Hindus, are a feeble race, attracting little interest, valuable to travellers as 'coolies' or porters, and repulsive to them from the mingled cunning and obsequiousness which have been fostered by ages of oppression." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Left Out in the Cold in Tibet
I was somewhat disappointed in this book. Certainly, the noble Ms. Bird had made this remarkable journey (and many others) in a time (the late 1800s) when 'women didn't do such things'. For that I applaud her spirit and determination.
While interesting, in my opinion, most of the book comes across as fairly uninspired. She seems unable to share the sense of wonder one must feel when in the presence of such dramatic physical geography. Her description of the local citizenry is, to my mind, also fairly unimaginative. While her narrative is certainly straight forward and no doubt accurate, it seems she never really 'gets into it'.
There are several moments in the story when we are given an insight into Ms. Bird's character and we see her as an enormously resilient and self-reliant person. There are also interesting glimpses of her Victorian roots as portrayed in her comments regarding local Tibetan customs and habits.
All in all, I would recommend this book but I would caution the reader not to expect 'Lost Horizons'.
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