The Nature of Horses


Stephen Budiansky - 1997
    Yet only in very recent years have scientists begun to turn the tools of modem science on this remarkable animal that has been so wrapped up in human dreams and legends. Now modern scientific research is beginning to explain long-standing mysteries about the true nature of the horse. How well can horses really see? What causes breakdowns in racehorses? How intelligent are they compared to other animals, and are some breeds smarter than others? Does nature or nurture matter more in creating a great sport horse? What causes cribbing and other vices? In this beautifully illustrated, compelling narrative, Budiansky tells the story of the origins, behavior, intelligence and language of the horse. For the first time, horse lovers will have access to cutting-edge research on topics of interest including new information on horse vision, horse biology and movement. Introducing the latest archeological findings, Budiansky presents a fascinating discussion of how the horse evolved as well as a dramatic and provocative history of man's use and abuse of the horse from prehistoric times to today. In a revealing chapter on horse intelligence, he debunks the commonly held belief that horses are stupid and also presents compelling new scientific information on horse language which will greatly benefit the horse rider and trainer. Finally, drawing together the latest research on horse physiology, genetics and biomechanics, Budiansky asks the million dollar question -- what makes for a winning racehorse? Anyone who loves horses will find this an invaluable resource as well as a fascinating read.

Duel for the Crown: Affirmed, Alydar, and Racing's Greatest Rivalry


Linda Carroll - 2014
    Alydar, all muscle with a fearsome closing kick, was already the popular favorite to win the Kentucky Derby. Affirmed, deceptively laid-back streamlined elegance, was powered forward by his steely determination not to settle for second place. In the Sport of Kings, the Triple Crown is the most valued prize, requiring a horse to win not just one race, but three: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. And 1978 would not be just for the record books, but also one of the greatest dramas ever played out in the racing world. There were names to conjure with, worthy of the Sport of Kings. The bloodline of Native Dancer. The teen wonderboy jockey Steve Cauthen. The once unbeatable Calumet Farm—the Damn Yankees of the racing world—now in eclipse and hoping for a comeback. The newcomer Harbor View Farm—owned by brash financier Louis Wolfson, who wouldn’t let even a conviction and a prison sentence for securities violations stand in the way of his dreams of glory. And the racetracks themselves: Belmont, Saratoga, Pimlico. And, of course, Churchill Downs. It has been thirty-five years since Affirmed and Alydar fought for the Triple Crown, thirty-five years when no other horse has won it. Duel for the Crown brings this epic battle to life. Not just two magnificent Thoroughbreds but the colorful human personalities surrounding them, caught up in an ever-intensifying battle of will and wits that lasted until the photo finish of the final Triple Crown race . . . and Alydar and Affirmed leaped into the history books.

Fortune's Fool


Mary Pagones - 2015
    Even Simon's mother told her son he was crazy to buy the horse. But Simon never listened to other people, otherwise he wouldn't have decided to forgo going to college to become a working student at an eventing barn in the first place. Simon has always struggled--with fitting in, with being a poor boy in a rich man's sport, and also with his sexuality. To be a rider, after all, is to be...Fortune's Fool.

The Art of Horsemanship


Xenophon
    Morgan's 1893 translation.

Gallop to the Sea


Sharon Siamon - 2006
    Kelsie is the spirited protagonist who tries to rescue a rebellious horse named Caspar. Kelsie plans to swim this horse to Mackay's Island, a mysterious deserted island with a dark past, before the horse's owner, Hank Harefield, ships him off for auction. Along the way a violent storm puts Kelsie and Caspar in grave danger. Will they make it to shore safely? Will Hank discover and foil Kelsie's plan?

Complete Horse Care Manual


Colin Vogel - 1995
    Attractive full-color photographs throughout the book illustrate every facet of horse care.

My First Pony


Katrina Kahler - 2013
    Yes, she is a horse mad girl and when she gets her first pony...all her dreams come true..."When I first saw Sparkle, I knew that she was the pony for me! As soon as she cantered across the paddock, I think we both knew that we were meant to be together. But I certainly wasn't prepared for the exciting adventures ahead." My First Pony will take you on a ride filled with fun, friendships and even near disaster - the true story of a totally horse mad girl and a beautiful palomino named Sparkle. It is suitable for "horse mad" girls aged from around 8 to 12.Book 2 - Diary of a Horse Mad Girl: Pony Club Adventures and Book 3 - Pony Pals are both now available on Amazon. If you liked book 1, I know you'll enjoy books 2 and 3. Thank you for reading my books. I love horses!Katrina

Horses Don't Lie: What Horses Teach Us About Our Natural Capacity for Awareness, Confidence, Courage, and Trust


Chris Irwin - 1998
    Based on more than twenty years of working with, training, and observing horses, Irwin explains why trust and honesty are essential elements in building relationships with horses, and why the sensitivity and awareness that characterize a horse's perception of the world are qualities we can use to enrich our own lives. "A horse knows what you know," Irwin reminds us, and in Horses Don't Lie his message is clear: Horses have a great deal to teach us about how to communicate with empathy and patience -- not only with them, but also with each other.

Angels on Horseback


Norman Thelwell - 1957
    This edition contains Thelwell's invaluable advice to aspiring equestrians on how to get into the saddle and stay there; each item illustrated with inimitable and deadly clarity

Spirit Horses


Alan S. Evans - 2009
    When a mysterious mustang shows up on his farm, Shane doesn't know how--or why--the horse appeared, but the horse's distinctive brand identifies her. She is one of the Spirit Horses, a rare, wild herd that runs free on the Shoshone reservation in Wyoming. Watched over for centuries in the tribe's ancestral valleys, these exquisite horses, according to belief, provide a link to the afterlife. When tragedy strikes in his life, Shane nearly loses his will to live--but for one promise he made to his young son: to return the mustang to her rightful home. On this bittersweet journey, Shane finds a world where tradition reigns, and ancient beliefs transcend modern logic. In this magnificent expanse of blue sky and wide open spaces, love is alive, but hate, intolerance, and greed threaten to close in. To make good on his vow, Shane must face the danger that threatens these horses, the tribe's legacy, and his destiny.

For Horse-Crazy Girls Only: Everything You Want to Know About Horses


Christina Wilsdon - 2010
    You'll learn everything from the different breeds of horses, to how a horse's body works, to the quirky little things that make the horse the BEST animal ever. Author Christina Wilsdon even shares ideas for horse-themed parties, and suggestions for the best horse movies to watch with your friends. And that's just the beginning.

Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash


Bev Pettersen - 2012
    But when the Thoroughbred Wellness Center experiences a hostile takeover headed by a charming but ruthless corporate shark, both her heart and career are in jeopardy.

Minna's Quest


K.M. Peyton - 2007
    And when her fort is threatened by blood-thirsty pirates, the fate of her people depends on Minna and her beloved horse alone, as they set out on an impossible journey to fetch help.

Man & Horse: The Long Ride Across America


John Egenes - 2017
    With a hundred dollars in his pocket, a beat up cavalry saddle, and a faraway look in his eye, John Egenes saddled his horse Gizmo and started down the trail on an adventure across the North American continent. Their seven month journey took them across 11 states from California to Virginia, ocean to ocean.. As they left the pressing confinement of the city behind them, the pair experienced the isolation and loneliness of the southwestern deserts, the vastness of the prairie, and the great landscapes that make up America. Across hundreds of miles of empty land they slept with coyotes and wild horses under the stars, and in urban areas they camped alone in graveyards and abandoned shacks. Along the way John and Gizmo were transformed from inexperienced horse and rider to veterans of the trail. With his young horse as his spiritual guide John slowly began to comprehend his own place in the world and to find peace within himself. Full of heart and humor, Egenes serves up a tale that's as big as the America he witnessed, an America that no longer exists. It was a journey that could only have been experienced step by step, mile by mile, from the view between a horse's ears.

Totally Horse Mad


Kathy Helidoniotis - 2006
    But she can't afford one, her parents don't know anything about horses, and there just isn't room in her tiny back yard in the city. So, when Ashleigh's parents tell her that she can finally have a horse of her own, she thinks it's the best thing ever. But the good news comes at a price. Ashleigh's family is leaving the city and heading for the small country town of Shady Creek in rural Australia.Ashleigh's life is about to change, and her adventures have just begun.About the Horse Mad series:When horses are at the heart of a series, it's pretty much guaranteed that every book will also feature fun, adventure and friendship. This series follows Ashleigh, an Australian girl, who's finally about to get her own horse. But she has to move from the city to the country and leave her friends and life behind.