My passion is horses, and running my own small Arabian horse stud (Marywood Arabians) is what I love the most. So in order to produce happy people friendly horses my search has led me to a philosophy depicted by the well known 'natural' horseman such as Pat Parelli, Tom and Bill Dorrance and Sid Gustafson.This week I have provided brief reviews of books available on topics from basic natural horsemanship, starting young horses and imprinting foals.
An excellent resource and product store
This site provides free information on a number of horse issues and links to established on line store with significant discounts on almost any horse product.
Building Your Dream Horse: Charles Wilhelm's Ultimate Foundation Training
"True horsemanship training is about people first."--Charles Wilhelm
Charles Wilhelm's Ultimate Foundation Training has transformed thousands of horses into more responsive, mannerly companions. In this book, Wilhelm trains you to use his tried and true principles in training your horse. Go inside the horse's mind to see how he thinks and learns, so you can communicate in a language your horse understands. Discover why and how foundation training works. Wilhelm's uniquely successful methods will help you build a relationship that's more rewarding for both you and your horse--one that lasts a lifetime.
* Discover why working with your horse should be fun--and why you should stop if it isn't
* Learn to identify your horse's emotional level and personality type
* Find out the ten secrets your horse wishes he could tell you
* Understand why consistency is essential in establishing desired behavior
* Communicate with your horse using the right combination of pressure and release, patience, persistence, and conscientious follow-through
* Recognize why it's never, ever the horse's fault
About the Author Charles Wilhelm (Castro Valley, CA) is one of the top six general horse trainers in the country right now. After five decades, Charles Wilhelm's skill in communicating with horses and people has earned him praise. John Lyons, Richard Shrake, and Donna Snyder-Smith are but a few of the better-known clinicians who have commented on Charles' amazing abilities with horses.
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He’s a featured trainer at all major horse expositions and holds clinics and demonstrations at his own facility in Castro Valley and throughout California
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He has been featured in print and online magazines and authors monthly columns for four major equestrian magazines
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He has appeared numerous times on television
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He is known for his success in working with "problem" horses. Colt starting and eliminating performance issues comprise the majority of his work
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His own diverse horsemanship education includes working with John Lyons, classical dressage trainer Major Miguel Tavora, Olympic Dressage Medallist Steffen Peters, and western pleasure expert Richard Shrake.
Customer Reviews
Compared to Downunder Horsemanship
This is a very solid new training book that came out shortly after Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship. There are a many similarities in the two trainers' approaches, including:
* every encounter with a horse includes training
* extensive groundwork is key to success under saddle
* exercises on the lunge line emphasized more than pure round pen work
* endless flexion exercises are important to condition a horse to respond to very light rein pressure
* one-rein stop is key to safe riding; how to train for it.
Wilhelm has good advice on buying a horse, complete with a sample sales agreement. There is some very good stuff in the pages he devotes to problem solving. He deals with the usual issues of bucking, rearing, trailer loading, etc. I especially appreciated his description of how to use a tie ring to cure horses from pulling back when tied, and the exercises to overcome buddy sour behavior.
One area where I can't fairly rate Wilhelm is his clarity and thoroughness in describing his foundation techniques. I bought Anderson's book after seeing him at a horse expo, so his book made sense to me immediately. Since then I've viewed Anderson's Riding with Confidence video series -- easily the most helpful and well-produced of any training series I've seen. So I recognize I'm handicapped in comparing the books fairly, but there were a number of times I didn't feel I was quite grasping Wilhem's approach, especially in applying the techniques over an extended period of time.
Certainly Anderson's book is a better bargain by the pound. Both list for $24.99, but Downunder Horsemanship is almost twice the size, and filled with huge beautiful color photographs.
Wilhelm has a three paragraph rant about trainers "selling the benefits of their magical equipment." I've never heard a trainer do that, and I was amused when I went to Wilhem's web site to see that he has his own large inventory of products for sale, including the tie ring that is essential to his technique for curing pullback. In my experience, most of the stuff these guys sell is good quality and fairly priced, and they don't need to be so defensive about it.
The bottom line for me is that Building Your Dream Horse is a fine book, but Downunder Horsemanship is better. Either one would be more useful in combination with seeing the authors in person or viewing their videos.
Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship: Establishing Respect and Control for English and Western Riders
“This is an enjoyable book to read, with a lot of useful information to offer.” -- American Quarter Horse Journal
From the Publisher
Native Australian Clinton Anderson offers his training methodology for “real life” horses and their owners. Beginning by stressing the importance of a fundamental understanding of horse psychology and “why they do what they do,” the author introduces readers to safe and specific ways to approach training or behavioral problems, then guides them through basic groundwork and under–saddle exercises. Throughout, the book features two “real horses” with “real riders” and “real problems,” their experiences with Downunder Horsemanship, and how it improved confidence, established respect, and provided “real solutions” for all involved. Clinton Anderson trains, tours, and conducts clinics across the United States. He stars in a weekly satellite television program called “Downunder Horsemanship TV,” where he works with untrained and “problem” horses. He is based in Sterling, Illinois.
Customer Reviews
Best of it's type
The first book I bought on horse training was "There Are No Problem Horses, Only Problem Riders" by Mary Twelveponies. Then I bought "Lyons On Horses" by John Lyons. Then I subscribed to Lyons' "Perfect Horse" magazine. Then I attended a community ed horse training class. Then I bought "You Can Train Your Horse to Do Anything!: "On Target" Training -- Clicker Training and Beyond" by Shawna Karrasch. I've skimmed Pat Parelli's stuff. I've seen Monty Roberts on DVD and in person. I've seen John Lyons' video series. Just so you know where I'm coming from.
The only purchase I regret is the Mary Twelveponies book. I can't think of a single solution in her book that isn't better solved by the others, and some of her advice is questionable. Lyons is great, but spend your money on his magazine instead of his book. Clicker training is very useful (I solved a bridling problem in one day after reading the book) but Karrasch wastes many pages prattling on about the science of operant conditioning. I read B.F. Skinner is college; I didn't need the history lesson. She does the same thing in the related video -- exceedingly disappointing. Monty Roberts can do anything as long as he has enough panels and mechanical contraptions and a big strong gentle well-trained saddle horse to work alongside the horse he is training. If his ego and use of terms like "Join-Up" and "Language of Equus" doesn't put you off, you can learn a lot from Roberts. Parelli always seems to be having more fun with his horses than anybody else, but I can't figure out what he's doing half the time. (see update on Parelli, bottom)
Which brings us to Clinton Anderson. What I especially appreciate about his approach is its effectiveness. Anderson excels in two areas: his techniques give rapid results and he is an exceptional communicator. Most of his clinics are not the standard get-a-green-horse-in-the-round-pen-and-be-on-him-by-the-end-of-the-day. Instead, he works with riders who are having problems with their horses, and teaches the riders to be trainers rather than doing the work for them. That approach has helped him refine his techniques and appreciate all the ways we are likely to apply them incorrectly.
For the book, Anderson recruited two riders with problem horses and put them through his program. Each chapter describes the technique, its purpose, how to apply it, how to deal with bad reactions from the horse and mistakes from the rider. It was especially helpful to read the comments from the two women on how their horses reacted and how they had to overcome their own mistakes.
I've only done one session with my horse and the results were dramatic enough to make a believer out of me.
For a sample of his techniques go to his web site, scroll down to the bottom, and click on articles. There's some good stuff there that isn't in the book.
If you have a horse that doesn't always know what you want or won't always do it, or you're a little afraid of it, this is the best book I've found. I highly recommend it.
Clinton Anderson's Lessons Well Learned: Why My Method Works for Any Horse
Through personal insights and dynamic color photographs, this engaging handbook examines the unparalleled effectiveness of the Downunder Horsemanship® method of horse training. Influenced by lessons learned from the horses themselves, this guide explains how the training process developed and entertains as it educates. Written in basic, practical language, this manual clearly demonstrates how to apply the knowledge to everyday equestrian activities and shows how Downunder Horsemanship® works for any horse.
Customer Reviews
Clinton Anderson's Best Book Yet: It's an easy read for those of us time-challenged multi-taskers who rarely have time to finish an entire "conventional" horse-training book.
It's a GREAT guide to the progression of Clinton's training method and covers what Downunder Horsemanship MATERIALS (videos in particular) one should study at each step of the way. I like it a lot more than his first book - this one should be called "DownUnder Horsemanship for Dummies" (or "The Ten-Minute DUH Manager") - it is so well-organized and will make a terrific reference manual for those of us who want to go back and fill in the "holes" in our horses' educations. Maybe they will come out with a small-format paperback we can keep in our pocket at all times.
It lists 20 lessons horses have taught him and that you will need to understand in order to teach YOUR horses. For those of us who are Mark Rashid fans, Clinton's new book strikes a chord; each lesson kicks off with a story about a particular horse whose particular "issue" or "issues" added another building block to Clinton's education.
Plus, though I've read the story of Clinton's evolution from "just a normal kid" to the leading trainer of SEVERAL generations, somehow this book clarifies that progression in a very entertaining and illuminating manner. I am ever so much more in awe of his talent than I was before, and yet the book isn't written in a bragging manner. In fact I'm not sure even CLINTON realizes how remarkable he is.
What I love about it is that at times you actually believe that if YOU apply yourself to the study of horsemanship as assiduously as did Clinton, you might grow up to be famous. Me, I'd happily settle for being able to train TWO horses to a decent degree of accomplishment - MY two. This book will help a LOT. And I'm only halfway through it.
I love the title of the last chapter - truer words were never spoken - something about most people who hope to turn the corner in their horsemanship quit before they ever get to the corner.
In my estimation this book will definitely take you AT LEAST to the corner. Read it, keep it handy as a reference tool, apply its lessons to your own horse and you can, like Clinton, go wherever your dreams may take you.
Finally a book that encourages trainers too!!!
I try to keep an open mind and use various horse training methods as a professional horse trainer. Clinton Anderson has the easiest program by far for me to show my clients how I work with their horses, thus they can continue learning and teaching their horse when they leave. His first book showed each exercise, word for word as well as photos, which is excellent for the beginner horseman and professionals alike.
This second book I feel helped me to keep on track as a professional, and how to communicate training to my clients in a better, more productive way. And also to help clients wishing to purchase a horse when the client just doesn't get that even if they pay $50,000 for a horse, the horse's training still has to be maintained, or the horse isn't going to continue to perform at the level they expect. And, if they have a bad minded horse, 'rescue' etc, do they have the time, knowledge, and experience to train the horse? He makes the reader ask themselves a lot of hard questions that many horse owners don't want to know the answers to.
The ideas and suggestions he gives will keep me motivated to keep trying to help newbies in the horse industry by giving them this book to helping them to understand their questions, ideas, and thoughts once they have left our farm with either a training horse or a newly purchased horse. Great product Clinton! Thank you for not going over the same boring thing like other authors! Any professional in the business, or any new horse owner will be able to use your concepts, and get a better working communication with their horse as well as the horse industry as a whole! I highly suggest both books!
The Faraway Horses: The Adventures and Wisdom of One of America's Most Renowned Horsemen
"I've started horses since I was 12 years old and have been bit, kicked, bucked off and run over. I've tried every physical means to contain my horse in an effort to keep from getting myself killed. I started to realize that things would come much easier for me once I learned why a horse does what he does. This method works well for me because of the kinship that develops between horse and rider. Horses and life, it's all the same to me."
--Buck Brannaman
Buck Brannaman's method of training focuses on communicating with horses, reading their body language, and making them feel safe so that horse and rider can achieve a true union. He considers himself a horse gentler, not a horse breaker, and in THE FARAWAY HORSES, he shares the knowledge he has cultivated over a lifetime. And he provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse of Robert Redford's movie The Horse Whisperer, for which he was the technical advisor.
This moving, inspiring, and often humorous book tells the story of Buck's life, and gives horse owners the keys to understanding their animals.
From the Back Cover
Nearly every week of the year, Buck Brannaman is on the road, conducting horsemanship clinics in which he teaches horse owners how to better understand and work with their animals, creating a relationship based on trust and respect rather than force. Buck's skills have become legendary in fact, the main character in Robert Redford's film The Horse Whisperer was based largely on him, and he served as the director's technical adviser during the shoot.
"These principles are really about life - about living your life so you're not at war with the horse, or with other people," Buck writes. At heart, this rich and rewarding autobiography is ultimately a prescription for living a harmonious existence - whether it involves horses or not.
Customer Reviews
Of Horses and Humans This book is not only on how to help horses but on character,from begining to end it gives us lessons on how to help not only the troubled horse ,but on our own troubles as well .
We see from early on what shaped and formed the man of today,the abuse he and his brother suffered as children,the long road to true unity with the horse,the faliures along the way ,the tragedy of his first marriage and how as we say in the horse world he got back up and got on again ,all along we can see were many people would have thrown in the towel and quit ,Buck did not and in so doing showed strength and character .This is all written in a unvarnished way that I find refreshing
I found myself near tears at times and laughing at others ,some of what has happened in his life hits close to home for myself,as a lifelong horseman I have struggled to find unity and peace with the horse ,I have lost loved ones and struggled on,in reading his book I found new ways to deal with some of lifes problems and with my own love of the horse.
To say I enjoyed the book is an understatement,it will be something I will go back to time after time and I hope others will also.You do not have to own horse or be from the horse world to find something in this book that will help you either with your family or life its self.
The gentle art of people and horses
Distance is everything to Buck Brannaman.
Time and space have made all the difference. Whether it's the 30 years since his harrowing childhood, or the nearly imperceptible space that constitutes trust between a horse and its rider, it's all been important to the horse-whisperer whose life and work helped breathe vitality into a gentle method of training animals. Now he's telling his own story in "The Faraway Horses."
Brannaman recounts his sometimes horrifying, occasionally funny adventures. He describes his training technique, built on trust and respect, not force. He writes about horses he's learned from, including Bif, the rank outlaw who became one of Buck's most trusted mounts. And he tells of owners he's taught, including the trainer who abused her show Arabians to make them look "spirited."
But the roots of his special connection with troubled and wild horses lie in his own childhood.
"I want people to be entertained, but there are some real stark realities out there," Brannaman says. "I hope it just doesn't go away after they close the book and put it on their shelf, but that the book's with them, maybe for the rest of their lives."
An amazing & real illustration of life and horsemanship.
The story of Buck Brannaman's life is truly phenomenal. From surviving childhood abuse to becoming one of the foremost experts on natural horsemanship, this is a compelling story of survival and lessons learned. His simple lesson of working with the horse by offering him/her a "better option" is really common sense, and he offers examples from his own experiences to illustrate his knowledge. While this is not a book full of techniques and advice from Buck, it is an excellent read for how he came to be where he is today.
The Ultimate Horse Behavior and Training Book: Enlightened and Revolutionary Solutions for the 21st Century
A superbly illustrated instructional manual offering groundbreaking, step-by-step solutions for hundreds of horse behavior, health, and training problems.
Drawing from her decades of working with horses and studying their physical, mental, and emotional characteristics, and with the warmth and humor that has gained her a devoted international audience, Linda Tellington-Jones demonstrates how her famous Tellington Method of healing, training, and communicating can influence and alter equine behavior. In many ways a compendium of the scores of "Tellington TTouches" and exercises that Tellington-Jones has discovered and proven effective over the years, this book promises that a new generation of readers can learn to avoid or solve the problems that so commonly interfere with progressive training and the horse-human relationship. Linda Tellington-Jones is an internationally recognized animal behaviorist and equine expert. She has authored six books and produced numerous video programs. Tellington-Jones lives in Hawaii.Customer Reviews
if you love your horse(s) as much as we do, get this book!!! Even if you have a whole shelf filled with books on horses,and you're lucky enough to have at least one of these magnificent creatures to care for, this book is a must have. we are still practicing a few of the technics currently on our mare.She loves the contact(and touching).
and the author also covers the issues of horses who do not like to be handled or touched due to accidents, abuse,etc. and how to gain their trust.And most importantly,it makes you more attuned to their needs in general.
Great reference and training tool
I have several of Linda Tellington-Jones other books, but this one is going to be my 1st choice as a go to reference. I love the A-Z Problem section. Covers most anything you can think of and refers you to the section with tools/exercises needed to overcome the problems. I love how her methods result in a relaxed, eager to please horse.
Wonderful Training Guide
Excellent teaching aids and easily follwed directions. Even experienced horse trainers will find tips in this book to make training horses a less stressful experience on all concerned.
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