Books and DVDs

When you were a little girl, did you dream of horses, choosing Breyers over Barbies-plastic horses over plastic dolls?

For the past several decades, has your life been more about taking care of others than taking care of yourself while your dreams have gathered dust on long forgotten shelves?

Are you at that point in life when you've begun to wonder whether you'll ever find the courage to do all the things you wanted to do someday?

Offering horses as both metaphor and solution to the natural malaise that often rears its head just about the time we blow out that "midlife" birthday candle, this is the book that will help you ask (and answer), "What about my dreams?" and "Is it my turn yet?" and "If not now, when?" and best of all, "If now, how?"

Melinda Folse speaks to those women whose hearts yearn for reconnection at a time when life seems to have run its own course and childhood dreams of playing with horses are only a vague memory. She not only helps you rekindle the possibility of bringing a little equine energy into your life, she also takes you on a gentle journey of small steps to help your childhood passion become a reality.

Anne Kursinski's Riding & Jumping Clinic gives you a step-by-step course for Winning in the Hunter and Jumper Rings. 319 page paperback book featuring Olympian Anne Kursinki guiding you through your jumper through basic flat work, basic jumping exercises, advanced flat work and advanced jumping.

Written by Isabell Werth, an Olympian and multi-time German, European and World Champion. A sourcebook for dressage including how movement should look, common mistakes and how to avoid them. A meaningful gift for dressage riders.

Denny Emerson, USEA Hall of Famer, reveals seven factors that lead to success in any Equestrian sport.

How to read horse behavior and develop a better partnership by balancing leadersip with friendship.

27 simple body checkups you can do on your horse. A do-it-yourself method of determining WHEN and WHERE your horse hurts.

Wendy Murdoch, an internationally recognized equestrian author, instructor, and clinician for over 23 years, teaches her students how to do what great riders do naturally. Her fascination with the mind/body connection between horse and rider has led her to explore courses outside the equine world and bring that information to her students.

Kerry Thomas and Calvin Carter's "Horse Profiling: The Secret to Motivating Equine Athletes" teaches riders about horses' emotional makeup, behavioral genetics and herd dynamics. This horse-training book also discusses how these factors can be used to choose training methods, improve riding performance and develop competitive strategies.

This book is a good resource for anyone coaching or riding over fences. Section 1 consists of 25 ground pole exercises, from the basic figure-eight over a pole to not-so-basic figure-eights over poles, to an entire course of poles with pace changes. Later exercises incorporate the ground-pole exercises into grids and work at the canter with lead changes. Far from being the required "boring stuff" that is presented before you get to the actual jumping, the pole work is fresh and challenging and will be a welcome addition to anyone's training schedule.

As the book progresses, exercises get increasingly challenging. There is something for all levels of riders, from 'D' Level Pony Clubbers to those preparing for 4' jumpers. Just as valuable as the exercises are the in-depth explanations and directions. Problem-solving, double-check, and tip boxes are provided for each exercise. Benefits are also clearly explained.