Howell Equestrian Library

With a rugged yet romantic mystique, western riding is as American as the Old West, Roy Rogers, and John Wayne. Whether you're more at home on the range, exploring the trails, or competing in the show arena, The Classic Western Rider will help you hone your skills. From America's proud cowboy heritage to today's training methods and competitive events, it covers: * "Make or break" information about equipment, especially the saddle * A guide to training--cowboy style * The subtle skill sets of winning western horsemanship, including six common rider faults and how to fix them * Nurturing a partnership with your horse * The ins and outs of western competitive sports and events such as reining, western speed contests, and team penning With photos and drawings and advice from industry professionals Bret Brokcte, Nancy Cahill, Suzi Drnec, Linda Huck, and Linda Morse, this primer is ideal for the new riding enthusiast or the more experienced western rider who wants to fine-tune his or her skills. Happy trails to you!

Techniques to help riders fine-tune their communication and riding skills This follow-up to How Your Horse Wants You to Ride helps intermediate to advanced riders improve their communication with their mounts and polish their overall riding skills. Readers get a complete tutorial–much of which can be found nowhere else–on taking their riding skills to the next level.

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.

The definitive guide to dressage, the art, science, and secrets of graceful horsemanship for riders who want to exude natural elegance in the saddle. Dressage has been described as "a beautiful ballet on horseback." It embodies an innate grace, a seemingly effortless flow, and an easy harmony between horse and rider. Dressage elevates riding from a sport to an art form. One of the fastest growing equestrian sports in America, it appeals to competitive riders as well as those who simply want to improve their mounts and their skills. Because the principles of dressage encompass the art and science of horsemanship and every aspect of the horse-rider relationship, dressage training enhances other equestrian disciplines. The exercises and patterns help improve the horse's overall balance and athleticism and make the mount more responsive. Ideal for beginning enthusiasts or people who simply want to appreciate the elegance and finesse of classical riding, Deciphering Dressage unlocks the secrets of classical, precision riding. It covers:* Choosing and caring for a suitable dressage horse* Buying tack and riding apparel* Sitting the horse correctly and using aids or subtle signals to cue the horse* Preparing for competitions* Riding a dressage test* Competition and scoring* Recognized shows, schooling shows, ride-a-tests, and eventing. Complete with over fifty photographs and drawings, as well as step-by-step explanations of exercises and maneuvers, this guide helps riders master the basics of this exceptionally demanding and rewarding discipline.

The Howell Equestrian Library is a distinguished collection of books on all aspects of horsemanship and horsemastership. The nearly fifty books in print offer readers in all disciplines and at all levels of competition sound instruction and guidance by some of the most celebrated riders, trainers, judges, and veterinarians in the horse world today. Whether your interest is dressage, show jumping, or western riding, or whether it is breeding, grooming, or health care, Howell has a book to answer your needs. Get to know the books in the Howell Equestrian Library; many are modern-day classics and have achieved the status of authoritative references in the estimation of those who ride, train, and care for horses.

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.

A Plain-language Medical Guide for Horse Owners and Trainers Painful and potentially debilitating tendon and ligament injuries are among the most common and serious physiological problems facing performance horses. The severity ranges from minor injuries to those that end careers or even the horse's life. However, with proper treatment, these injuries can be overcome, and permanent damage minimized. Writing in concise, accessible language, equine veterinarian Linda Schultz provides the most up-to-date information on identifying, treating, and managing tendon and ligament injuries. You'll review basic anatomy, understand how and why these injuries occur, and discover the effects of horseshoeing on tendons and ligaments. You'll see exactly what you should (and shouldn't) do during the critical healing process-plus, you'll learn to communicate effectively with your veterinarian to ensure your horse is soon back on his feet and doing his job. * Features the latest treatment options and alternative therapies * Includes a sample controlled exercise schedule and guidelines for recuperation times * Explains treatment of acute injuries and directed therapy, as well as the current surgical techniques * Discusses the benefits and drawbacks of support wraps, boots, and bandages