Nov '07 The author has been using eco-farming techniques in Australia for the last 50 years. She says conventional veterinary medicine is not a cure-all. Good health for your horse starts with good nutrition. Poor land produces poor feed with a lack of necessary nutrients and minerals. She explains how conventional farming practices can compromise livestock health. Chemical fertilizers make the soil acidic and prohibits plants from seeking the minerals they need. The author says lack of calcium and/or magnesium in the soil is the major cause of leg and bone problems in horses who are fed plants grown on this soil. The answer, of course, is to add dolomitic lime to the soil. Other minerals that may be missing or unavailable in the soil are baron, copper, cobalt, zink, seliniam and sulfer. If your pasture is covered with buttercups, you may be sure that the land needs more organic matter, calcium and lime. Trying to reseed such a pasture would be a waste of money until the necessary minerals are added. Ideal pH levels for pastures are 6.0 to 6.5, and when those levels are reached, more desirable plants will grow. The author goes on to explain the benefits of herbs and other natural remedies for different problems. For example, adding apple cider vinegar to drinking water will correct a potassium and pH imbalence. I found this to be a suprisingly informative book. Its cost in bookstores is $20, but you can get it from Amazon for $10.99. Thank you to Sara Knoble for loaning me this book.


Oct '07Tom Moates, was always interested in writing and farming. He grew up on a thousand acre dairy farm. He became a leading writer on the topic of renewable energy and homestead living. He did not discover his latent love of horses until the age of 35 when his wife bought a Quarter Horse / Arab crossbred gelding. He soon purchased another horse for himself, a Tennessee Walker mare in foal. When the resulting foal was injured, Tom wrote a detailed story and submitted it to Equus magazine. Not only was the story accepted, but Tom was asked to produce more articles for the magazine. Soon he became a contributing writer with his name on the masthead. His book, "Discovering Natural Horsemanship," is the story of his experiences with his own horses. From being a rank beginner to, in his own words, "still a beginner; for riding and training is a never ending search to improve and horses will always present ne w challenges." This book is available in bookstores for $24.95, or at Amazon for $18.21.

Sept '07Older horses were once thought to have little value, so few research dollars were spent on their problems. But veterinary medicine has advanced dramatically in recent years, and some problems of aged horses may be treatable today. A little extra care of your older horse may extend his lifetime for years. The author's own horse, Flagpole, lived to be 42. The author says that a horse can begin showing it's age as early as 15 years. By that, he means that there may be symptoms of disease or degenerative changes. By becoming a team with your veterinarian, you may be able to keep your older horse healthy. Have the vet do a blood test, soundness exam, and check the horses teeth. Provide clean drinking water and proper feed. Make sure your horses shots are up to date, and set up an aggressive deworming schedule. Physical changes may require that you take up less demanding sport with your horse. Some possible problems of older horses, that are covered in the book, include Cushing's Disease, heart disease, kidney problems, liver problems, sway back and other muscle and joint problems, including arthritis. If you have an older horse, this would be a handy book to have on hand. At book stores, the price is $14.95, but you can get it from Amazon for $10.17.

Feb' 07 Ah, the horse. If horses had never existed, the development of cultures and nations would be very different. The roles they have played in human societies since they were first domesticated have been crucial to our own development. In both war and peace,horses have been servants, companions and sources of artistic inspiration. Our book for this month is "Horses History Myth Art." Author, Catherine Johns was inspired to create this book after viewing collections in the British Museum on Horses In Human Culture. Without the horse, mankind would not have been able to wage war, enlarge territories, travel quickly and spred their culture, language and way of life. From the earliest cave paintings to modern times, humans are drawn to include the horse in their artwork. This book shows examples of the horse in art from many different eras of history and prehistory, and from many different parts of the world. Ah, the horse. We are who we are because of him. Amazon has this book for $23.10, or look for it at your local Library.

Jan '07 . Everyone is talking about natural these days. Horses are naturally large, powerful, emotional animals wrapped up in an appealing visual package. As humans, it is natural for us to want to borrow their size (status), power and beauty for ourselves. Natural horsemanship tries to work with the emotional side of horses. Our last newsletter mentioned natural hoof care. What a coincidence that I just finished reading two books on the topic. "Horse Owners Guide to Natural Hoof Care," by Jaime Jackson (Amazon - $19.77), and "Making Natural Hoof Care Work For You," by Pete Ramey (Amazon - $17.79) are both concerned with keeping the feet of horses natural. Pete Ramey is a student of Jaime Jackson, and his book builds on the information given in his mentors book. Both contain information on trying to keep your horse in as natural a method as possible, in other words, outside, where they have room to move around. Both authors stress that horses are healthier and sounder without metal shoes, as long as the hooves are kept trimmed as nearly as possible to the hoof of a wild horse. Domestic horses don't get to travel as much as a wild horse, and probably do not have such rough country to keep their hooves short. Therefore, they must be trimmed, usually as often as every 4 weeks. When first starting a horse on the natural trim, it may be necessary to use hoof boots until their feet toughen up. Some of our members are already "going barefoot." I hope we can get a speaker on this topic at one of our future meetings.

Dec '06 - Many of our members are trail riders. Some like to drive their horses on the trails. However we do it, there is no doubt that we like to get outside the ring once in a while and see some new country with our horses. Now, imagine for a moment, that your horse (your single horse) is pulling a wagon which contains nearly everything you own. Would you be a pioneer, or one of the Traveling People? Traveling People, you ask. Why Gypsys of course, just like in the old stories. But some of those stories are not that old. Our book for December is "Gypsy Horses and the Traveler's Way The Road to Appleby Fair," by John S. Hockensmith. On the first weekend in June, Gypsies, traveling for days and dozens of miles in decorated wagons pulled by colorful cobs, converge on the township of Appleby in Northern England, just as they have for over three centuries, to buy and sell horses. The Gypsies welcomed author Hockensmith and his camera as a guest to travel with them to Appleby Fair in 2005 and 2006. His resulting book contains excellent photographs, lively prose and even some poetry to show the joys and hardships of a unique culture. The Gypsy culture is not usually open to outsiders, so this book is a rare glimpse into their lives; stories around the campfires, the caravans and, of course their special horses. King James II charted Appleby Fair in 1685, granting the Gypsies the right to camp each June. The fair has opened without fail ever since. To be fair, Gypsy horses are not the only kinds of horses sold at Appleby Fair. It is a true horse fair with horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. The Gypsy Horses are known by many names, including Gypsy Cobs, Tinkers, Vanners, and so on. One misconception is the Drum Horse. This is not really a breed. A Drum Horse is the horse that is trained to carry a large drum in the Queen's band, traditionally a pinto, but it may or may not be a Gypsy. True Gypsy Horses evolved through selective matings with Shire, Clydesdale, Fell and Dales ponies. Some Friesians may also have been used. The Gypsy Horse is usually thought to be a piebald, that is a black and white pinto, but they can be any color of pinto, or even solid black, bay, gray or white. Some Gypsy Horses are even spotted like an Appaloosa. A Gypsy Horse is a small, drafty animal of 13 to 15:2 hands in height. American buyers prefer the larger horses, and British buyers prefer the small ones. Most of these horses have long manes and tails and heavy feathering on their legs. Some of the horses have noticeable mustaches on their upper lips. Gypsy breeders do not keep written records of their horse's pedigrees. It is all in their heads, and so, subject to error. Whatever their background, they are, without a doubt, something unique and different. When I first went looking for this book, I could only find it in two locations. One was at www.applebyfaircompany.com, and the other was www.finearteditions.net. I didn't buy it at the first one, because I did not know the conversion rates between British pounds and US dollars. At Fine Arts, the cost for the book was $49.95. Now, I am happy to report that it is available at Amazon for $32.97. Check it out, and remember, "The road is the destination." Happy Holidays.

Nov 06The book for November is "Conquerors - The Roots of New World Horsemanship," by Deb Bennett, Ph.D. As we all know, horses evolved in the Americas, but migrated over the Land Bridge to Russia between the ice ages. For long periods of time, there were no horses in North or South America. There were also no cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, cats or rats until the Spanish Conquerors introduced these animals. The Spanish had spent nearly 800 years fighting the forces of Islam in Iberia and were some of the world's best fighting men and horsemen. When they turned their eyes to the New World, it quickly became a case of invasion and conquest. This book outlines the development of basic horsemanship, the origin of bloodlines and the European and Asian development of breeds. It covers the invention of bits and saddles and the development of weapons and armor, and of fighting techniques suitable for use with horses. The Spanish were conquerors, but they were also colonists. They brought to the New World their animals, their religions, architecture, domestic and military technology, and they freely intermarried with the indigenous peoples. Their horses were essential to conquest, and also thrived in what was once their native land. Wherever grass and surface water was available, the horse could survive and increase in numbers, leading to large bands of feral horses. The Spanish Jennet contributed to the ancestry of all horse breeds originating in the Americas. Although the Quarter Horse, American Saddlebred, Morgan and Tennessee walker all have some Spanish background, this book deals mostly with Mustangs, Criollos, Coralleros,Baguales, Pasos, Llaneros and other lesser known breeds, as well as the Andalusian. Among these breeds, some individuals trot, and some amble (pace). Some are able to use both gaits. Mounted soldiers throughout history most preferred a horse who could show 5 gaits; who could amble in a comfortable march, yet gallop well in the charge. Even those persons who were not soldiers preferred a horse who ambled, for posting to the trot was not developed until the middle of the 18th century. Draft breeds, Arabs and Thoroughbreds have always been trotters. The Arabian people used their horses at a full gallop for battle, but for general transportation, they rode ambling camels. In England, during the reign of Henry VIII, the Thoroughbred was developed, and ambling horses decreased. They are now rarely found in the Old World. Next, came the bull fight. To the Spanish, the mounted bullfighter is exhibiting a high form of art with man and horse moving as one, leaping, pirouetting, dodging and prancing against the earthbound bull who is deadly, aggressive and brave. Bull fighting was connected with battle training. In the middle ages and Renaissance, all bullfighting was done from horseback by hidalgos (noblemen) and caballeros (gentlemen). The first bullfights in Mexico City took place less then 40 years after the arrival of Columbus. The slaves and servants of these noblemen were not usually educated in the skills of highschool horsemanship. They became the first cowboys. In Argentina, the Gaucho of the Pampas believed that the noblest effort of man was to raise himself off the ground and ride instead of walk, and that the print of the human foot on the ground was the very symbol of debasement. I could go on and on, but this gives you just a taste of what can be found between the covers of this book. I borrowed this book from the Tompkins County Public Library. Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate it anywhere else. It can be obtained through an Interlibrary Loan from your local Library. It was produced by the Equine Studies Institute and was published by Amigo Publishers in Solvang, California.

Oct '06-- It's October, and time to wean the calves from the cows, and time to cut out the big steers and send them to market. For this job, you need a good cuttin' horse, such as those described in the book, "Some Horses." Author, Thomas McGuane, is a real cowboy. His work is ranching. His play is cutting horse competitions. He dedicates his book to his friend and mentor, Buster Welch, who is responsible for developing the modern cutting horse style. Buster Welch is also credited with perfecting the present use of the round pen to prevent cattle, or horses, from getting stuck in corners. The round pen permits the cowboy to "keep um movin'." The portable round pen can be transported in the pickup and set up anywhere on the open range. McGuane has written a series of essays (chapters) about his experiences with cutting horses. He says, "Years ago, I took a 12 year old broodmare to a cutting horse clinic. She was out of shape and I didn't know what to expect, but I knew she had once been a cutting horse. When my turn came, I felt her alertness. The reins required a lighter and lighter touch. Finally, one cow stood in front of us. The mare's attention was riveted, and I no longer needed the reins at all. When the cow tried to get back to the herd, I knew I would ride cutting horses the rest of my life." Friends, it's hard to argue with passion like that! Check out the book. It's price is $22.95 at book stores, or $12.44 at Amazon.

Sept '06 Have you been struggling with getting into the prefect form to keep your riding instructor satisfied? Maybe you are trying too hard. I recommend the book "The Natural Rider" by Mary Wanless. We all know riding is a physical activity, but it is also a mental activity. You can focus your attention onto different parts of your body to achieve that natural balance by using some of the exercises in this book. We are all different sizes and weights. Older riders may have bone or muscle problems that cause pain. This leads to tension and stiffness. When the body can achieve the balance that is natural for its particular shape, riding becomes easier. There are a few rules that are absolute for everyone. This book can be purchased from Amazon for the very reasonable price of $9.98. Although directed towards dressage riders, there is something of value to all riders in this book.

June '06 I just finished an interesting book called "Horse Housekeeping," by Margaret and Michael Korda. Margaret Korda runs a private stable, and her primary interest is in show jumping. This book is primarily for the horse owner who has always boarded his/her horse, but would like to keep it at home. Sometimes the term backyard horse is associated with a tacky, rundown stable which is poorly operated. But it doesn't have to be that way. The authors live in the northeastern part of the United States, so their suggestions are appropriate for our area. Michael Korda states that in the past, before there were cars, everyone one had a horse, kept it at home. Horses were stabled everywhere there were people, even in cities. Manure was always a problem. Basic needs to keep your horse at home include a stable, barn or shed, not only to protect your horse, but to protect your tack and to keep such stuff out of your house. A horse requires a pasture, or at least a paddock which is free from trash and with safe fences. Fences require maintenance. Pastures require rotation and to have the weeds mowed. You will need a place for hay storage. Your horse will need clean, safe drinking water. Your house guests may assume you will let them ride your horse and will not understand the cranky old mare or the highly trained show horse. Become a friend of your vet. You will see him on a regular basis. And there is so much more, as those of us who already have horses at home know so well. This book gives a good look at the basics, and covers things that many may not think about. It can be purchased at Amazon for $16.98.

May '06 This month's book is "Shetland Ponies," by Valerie Russell. This book was published in Great Britian. Even the least horsey of people can recognize a Shetland Pony by their small size and abundance of mane and tail hair. Shetland Ponies come from the Shetland Islands which are just over 100 miles north of Scotland. There are about 100 islands in the Shetlands, with only a dozen or so inhabited. The islands consist of rolling hills and moorlands with rocky outcrops and cliffs. There are very few trees or bushes. No point in the islands is more than 4 miles from the sea. Ponies have very little shelter from the harsh gale force winds and rain, sleet and snow. Therefore, their small size and double layered winter coats were necessary for survival. Pony fossils have been found dating back to the Bronze Age, as well as later Viking and Norse discoveries. This shows that there have been ponies in the Shetlands for well over 2,000 years. The Shetland people were mostly small subsistence farmers and fishermen. Their sheep and ponies roamed on unfenced common land. There were no roads in the islands until the end of the 19th century. All transportation was by riding ponies - even the adults. Carts were unknown until about 1839. Peat was the only fuel, and was packed back to the home on the pony's back. In England, in 1842, an Act of Parliament made it unlawful to employ children under the age of 10, or women to work underground in the coal mines. Soon, small, sturdy Shetland Ponies were in demand. The poor Shetland people welcomed a new source of income - selling ponies. Unfortunately, often the best animals were sold. The population of ponies in Shetland was decreased by half. Finally a few landowners began to take pony breeding seriously, and established studs. The best stallions and all of the mares were retained. Other males were sent to the mines. The ponies which were used underground pulled tubs of coal which ran along rails. There was considerable noise, and no fresh air. Most ponies were kept in underground stables, and never again saw the light of day. Some tunnels were so low, even small Shetlands had to be provided with head guards, and sometimes their backs were skinned on the low tunnel roofs. The last of the pit ponies were not retired until 1994. Ponies were used in the mines for about 300 years. The Shetland people never referred to their mounts as ponies. They were called horses. Today, small Shetlands leave Britain, and arrive in the USA as Miniature Horses. Serious British breeders are concerned over the increasing breeding of miniatures for market, where conformation and type are giving way to smaller size. Indeed, the British Shetland standard is still looking for a pony of about 36 to 40 inches in height, with good bone, correct teeth and jaws and strength and hardiness with weight carrying ability. Blue eyes are not allowed in the British standard, but any color is allowed except spotted (like an Appaloosa). There is so much more information in this book, but space doesn't permit going into it here. This book can be purchased from Amazon.com for $34.95, or look for it at your local library.

Apr '06 I found a new horse book in the Library for this month. The book is "Dales Ponies," by Iona FitzGerald. This book was published in England. The Dales and Fell Ponies are from the North of England and up into Scotland. Both were once known as Galloways, and are still referred to by that name on their home ground. Dales and Fell ponies were once considered to be two types of the same breed. The two Stud Books did not separate until after World War I. The Galloways were used for packing out lead from the mines until the time of the Romans. When roads were built, they were still used for lead mining, but then they were able to use carts. The thrifty farmers would use the animals for all farm work, and for hauling ore, fuel and lead. Throughout the history of Great Britain, from the Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and to Viking and Norman conquests, each group of people brought their own horses and ponies which had an influence on the Galloways. In turn, the Galloways contributed to the founding of other breeds, such as the English Thoroughbred, Norfolk Trotter, Cleveland Bay and Welsh Cobs. Galloways were so popular for crossbreeding, that the numbers of pure blood were becoming rare. Then, World War II reduced the number of breeding animals even more, as the ponies were put to pack work and Mountain Artillery. In 1977, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust listed the Dales Pony as rare. Now the numbers are slowly beginning to increase, and Dales Ponies are appearing in major shows in England. Dales Ponies are 13 to 14.2 hands tall, and resemble small cart horses. They are very broad across the chest, and have drafty looking hindquarters. Very little is known about the breed in the United States, so I found the book to be very interesting. Purchase price at Amazon is $34.95. I would recommend that you look for it at your local Library.

Mar'06 The weather this winter had been unusual, but I cannot complain too much. Still, I am looking forward to spring. I am sure many of you are also looking forward to a new foal. Which brings me to the book for this month. "Bringing Up Baby" by John Lyons may be just what you need for handling that new foal. This book contains 20 ground work lessons especially designed for the young horse. The lessons are divided into weanling and yearling sections, and will help you to build a foundation of trust and respect with your foal. This book sells for $24.95 in bookstores, or for $16.47 at Amazon.

Feb '06 - February's book is "Bombproof Your Horse, " by Sargeant Rich Pelicano of the Maryland National Capital Park Police. By bombproof, Sargent Pilicano means to accustom your horse to many different circumstances, noises and objects. The purpose is to produce a horse who is more pleasurable,submissive and confident and therefore, a safer mount. The intention is to make a horse more able to focus on his work instead of everything else. This is accomplished with a great many objects to practice with while working a horse, first from the ground, and then in the saddle. Probably every horse could benefit from some of these exercises. The selling price is $24.95.

Jan '06 Happy New Year to all. I am starting the new year with a review on the book "The Horses in My Life," by Monty Roberts. This is not a book on training or riding; rather it is a collection of short stories about some of the most memorable horses that Mr. Roberts has worked with. The horses range from mustangs to western show horses to racing Thoroughbreds. Mr. Roberts says that all the horse portrayed in this book have contributed something unique that has affected his approach to any horse. This book sells for $29.95 in bookstores or $19.77 from Amazon.

Dec'05 Does your horse respect you? In his book, "Downunder Horsemanship," Clinton Anderson says that some people abuse their horses, but some people allow their horses to abuse them. Horses can be spoiled just like children. Both need to know who is in control; who is the leader. It is not abuse to insist that your horse (or child) respects you. In this, the newest of Clinton's books, he takes us through training for respect on two very different horses, and their owners. His instructions are very clear and easy to understand. Each horse owner also adds her comments after every lesson for more clarification. I can hardly wait for spring to try some of his concepts on my own horses. This book sells for $24.95 in bookstores or for $16.47 at Amazon.

Nov '05 This British author takes a holistic approach to horse care. Her chapters on the various parts of the horse, and how they work are surprising detailed. Some of these chapters are concerned with digestion, muscles, tendons, bones, feet, gaits, hair and skin, hearing, vision,smell, taste, touch and so on. In her few pages that are devoted to training, she is strongly in favor of Monty Roberts methods. She also has strong opinions about how some horses are being handled which (in my opinion) may not be accurate. For example, she thinks all breeding should be by pasture breeding, with the stallion running with his mares. Any other method of breeding horses, she calls rape. But, perhaps, you should read the book and draw your own conclusions. The price is $19.99.

Oct '05 I have chosen "The Noble Horse," by Monique and Hans Dossenbach for this month's review. This is a big book. I found it on the oversize shelf at the Library. The book has over 3000 excellent pictures and photographs, showing virtually everything you can imagine concerning horses. The first pictures in the book start with museum bones of eohipus. It goes on to show the prehistoric cave art of France and Spain. From Greece and Rome to present day, it covers most aspects of breeds, work, sports, and racing. The text is equally extensive. I was especially interested in translucent pages that could be flipped up to show, in layers, the muscles, digestion system, circulation system and finally the bones of the horse. The book points out that because of the ice ages, isolated herds developed into different "breeds," even before the influence of man. The four basic types or "breeds" were the primitive pony called equus gracilis, the drafty equus robustus, the Barb type and the Arab type. Crossbreds from these four basic types have created all of the breeds in the world today. There is a section on modern crossbreds to produce Warmbloods. Warmbloods are big, strong horses, yet are still fast and athletic. They are usually used for racing, jumping and dressage. I would suggest you may want to look for this book at your local Library, or it can be purchased at Amazon.com for $21.50.

Sep '05 - I hope you have all had an enjoyable summer. I would like to introduce the author Desmond Morris. He was the author who wrote "The Naked Ape," in the sixties, which was about the behavioral science of human beings. He has also written "Dog Watching," and "Cat Watching," about those two kinds of animals. Now he has come out with "Horse Watching." Mr. Morris points out that the horse has been granted nearly mythical status at different times throughout history because he is a dignified beast, yet allows himself to be subordinate to the will of man. The horse has been responsible for much of the civilization, trade and cultural exchanges of man. Throughout all of our long history with horses, we still have problems understanding how and why they react as they do. Mr. Morris' book tries to explain and make clear many of the actions of horses. We all know the different things that may be indicated by the position of a horses ear, but did you know that the equine ear is controlled by sixteen different muscles, that can move the ear about 180 degrees? The human ear must look like it is always pinned and angry to a horse. The horse's vision and sense of smell are different then ours too. And then there is the vast amount of body language that a horse can employ to communicate. This book is worth taking a look at. The purchase price is $16.00

May '05 - By the time this goes to print, the 2005 running of the Kentucky Derby will be history. But with the racing Thoroughbred in mind, I have selected "The Thoroughbred Business," for this month's book. Raising Thoroughbreds for racing is more of a gamble then going to the track to bet a few dollars. Behind every racing Thoroughbred, successful or not, there are breeders, trainers,owners, agents, auctioneers, transporters, advertising agencies, insurance companies, lawyers, accountants, veterinarians, grooms, and those who bet on the horses. All of these people are hoping to make money on the horse, and there are no guarantees of success. American Breeding has flourished because many wealthy people use the business as a tax shelter. The IRS requires the breeding operation to be run in a businesslike manner, and expects a profit within seven years. In Britain, the commercial stud farm is a business, but racing is considered to be a hobby, and is not taxed. Race horses fall into four rough classes. At the bottom of the cost scale the horses are able to race for a mile and a half. This was once the most sought after kind of racehorse the sprinters. The stayers are horses w in Europe. The most popular racehorses of today are the seven to eight furlong horses. The final class of horses are those who can run seven to ten furlongs, yet might be able to go on to win Europe's top races of over one and one half miles. The best known stallion in the last class was Northern Dancer. "The Thoroughbred Business" was published in Britain, and may be difficult to find new in this country. Amazon sells the book, used, anywhere from $7.99 on up, depending on condition.

The book for April is "The International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds." Author, Bonnie L. Hendricks has done an outstanding job of research in compiling her book. Information was obtained from breed authorities around the world and not borrowed from other books. Therefore, a great deal of new information is presented, and many breeds listed have never been documented in any previous book. In the back of the book is an Appendix with the addresses of the breed associations where the author obtained her information. The book covers 390 breeds, including their history, use, size and any other relevant or interesting information that she could find. Each breed is also listed as common, uncommon or rare to show the population of each breed. Another 109 breeds are listed that the author knows of, but could not gain much information about them. Ms. Hendricks says that national pride confuses classification of breeds. For example, in Israel, they have their Native Horse, which is basically an Arab. But the word Arab is nearly a dirty word in a Zionist State. The Spanish have their Andalusian and the Portuguese have their Lusitanian. Both breeds of horses are nearly identical, but each country insists that only their own is the genuine article. Another interesting section concerns the background of the Thoroughbred Horse. Most people believe that the three famous foundation sires of the Thoroughbred were pure Arabian. The true story is that the term Arabian was loosely used to cover all horses of Oriental breeding in Syria, Turkey, Persia, Iraq, Iran, Arabia and North Africa. The Darley Arabian came from a Syrian horse market at Aleppo in 1704. The Byerley Turk was a Turkmene horse, most likely a Akhal-Teke, and was captured at the Seige of Vienna in 1689. The Godolphin Arabian was really a Barb and came from Morocco in 1730. Many other imported horses also contributed to the Thoroughbred. The stories of the many other breeds in the book are just as interesting. Each breed has its special job at which it excels, and no one breed is best at everything. This book is quite pricy at $65.00, but can be obtained from www.amazon.com for $40.95.

March '05  - I thought that I knew quite a bit about the evolution of horses, until I read "The Nature of Horses," by Stephen Budiansky. New research shows there is more to the story then a straight line from little eohippus to our modern day horses. Evolution is full of branches, dead ends and blind turns. All modern hoofed animals except for pigs depend on a diet heavy in cellulose. These animals must form a symbiotic relationship with gut bacteria to break down the cellulose into a form that the animals can digest. It is a lengthy process that requires a fermentation chamber. A cow has a stomach with four chamber to handle this task. A horse has an organ known as the cecum. The rumination of a cow makes more efficient use of the food matter taken in then a horse because the cow takes longer to digest its food, including the process of regurgitation and chewing the cud. The horse pushes the food matter through the cecum nearly twice as fast as the cow. Early ancestors of the horse first appeared in North American. Eohippus ate brush and leaves. After the ice age,there was a period of vast grasslands and the horse evolved to the available food stuffs. If it were not for migration over the land bridge to Europe horses would have become extinct when the Americans became covered with forests. Europe also began to become forest land, and to survive, horses were pushed eastward. It is now believed that the horse would have become extinct in Europe and Asia too if not for one thing - domestication. As humans began to clear land and plant crops, horses began to hang around human settlements to rob crops from the fields. The first human use of the horse was to kill them for meat. The last remnant of the Asian wild horse, Przewalski's Horse, survives only in captive populations. The Przewalsi's Horse has 66 chromosomes, and modern horses have 64. It appears that two of the chromosomes in domestic horses are simply fused versions of four smaller chromosomes in Przewalski's Horse. The basic genetic information they carry is the
same. In the Dereivka region, north of the Black Sea, has been found the the remains of a people who lived 6000 years ago. These people hunted horses extensively for food. But they also may have been the first people to domesticate the horse. One horse, a stallion, was buried in a ritual grouping of bones and artifacts including two dogs, clay figurines, and two pieces of antler tines pierced with carefully bored holes. The antler tines served as cheek pieces in a bit, and the stallion had wear patterns on his teeth showing that he carried a bit in his mouth. It is interesting to note, that the wheel had not yet been invented, so this horse must have been used for riding. I guess I could go on and on about this book, but due to lack of space I must bring this review to a halt. The book sells for $30 or at Amazon for $18.90. What a wealth of information.
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February '05 - I selected the book "Riding From the Heart," by Ian Stevenson, for this month's review. This is another New Age type of book, and rather confusing. The author has tried to pack a lot of different kinds of things into one concept. He talks about Yin/Yang, the labyrinth, and the 7 Chakra positions (colors and sounds) of Yoga.  He also has conversations with imaginary friends over the problems and progress of his riding students. The only useful information that I was able to get out of the book had to do with body position in the saddle, balance and regular breathing to bring about calmness. The cost of this book is $14.95, but if you really want to reach the heart of your horse, spend your money on apples and carrots
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December 04 - The holidays are fast approaching. At holiday time, I think of family, of the small family farm and of course, I think of the horses with which we share our lives. With this in mind, December's book is "Thistle Soup," by Peter Kerr. This book is an autobiography and tells the story of young Peter growing up on his Grandfather's small farm in Scotland. The time period is the late 1930s and 1940s. This was the time of World War II. Grandfather worked his small farm with the help of Granny, Big Jim, Little Petey and his beloved Clydesdales, Fanny and Duke. Grandfather wasn't one to let the war bother him if he could help it. There was no point in raising your blood pressure over what might happen tomorrow, when your day's work is governed by the steady pace of your horse. Grandfather felt that working with horses was a magic time that could never be replaced by any machine. He took great pleasure in patiently training the young horse; introducing it to the feel of the harness, teaching it the rules of the reins, pulling logs, and then reassuring it as it pulled a cart for the first time. But the government wanted farmers to plow up as much grassland as possible, to grow food for hungry troops. Land that had been in pasture for thousands of years, was put to the plow. The government provided tractors, but it was found that the tractors could not plow much of the rough, steep and rocky land. Fanny and Duke were kept very busy throughout much of the war. The book is full of good humor and in some cases, strong language. Thistle Soup is available for $21.95 in book stores, or for $15.37 from Amazon.com.
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November 04 - Our book selection for October is "The Way of the Horse." It is a good, basic book for the beginning horse person to understand how horses think and act. The book covers horse evolution, how the five senses work in the horse, behavior, health and fitness. There are also sections on color, markings, body language and herd behavior. The book is filled with beautiful, full colored pictures. Cost of the book is $29.95, or look for it in your local Library.
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October 04 - Is there anything really new or special about Natural Horsemanship? Probably not. Training horses requires patience and common sense, lots of patience and common sense. Then what's up with all of these modern trainers who are making big names for themselves? Maybe we just need to be reminded to use patience and common sense, or perhaps common sense isn't so common anymore. One of the big names in the modern horse training world is Pat Parelli, author of "Natural Horse Man Ship." Like other modern trainers, Mr. Parelli puts on a good show and keeps his audience entertained. He has come up with lines, which are easily recognized by almost everyone, such as you need 6 keys to train a horse. They are attitude, knowledge, tools, techniques, time and imagination. The problem with all of this is that it dwells too much on theory. The book is 223 pages long. The first 88 pages are all theory and hype. So is this book worth your time to read? Yes. Once you get beyond the sales pitch, there is some real meat in this sandwich - real things you can practice with your horse that will make his training better. And we all want our horses to be better, don't we? "Natural Horse Man Ship" is published by "Western Horseman" magazine, as sells for $17.95
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September 04 - This month's book is "The Undisciplined Horse," by Ulrik Schramm. "The Undisciplined Horse," and "The Trouble With Horses" were first published in Germany in 1983. The new edition of "The Undisciplined Horse" is a combination of those two books, updated and with new color pictures. The book points our that riding cannot be a pleasure if the horse does not understand the rider's instructions or refuses to obey them promptly and cheerfully. In equestrian sports, the horse must be treated as a teammate and must be able and willing to participate. Usually the worst fault in a rider is inflated ego and may lead to lack of cooperation on the part of the horse. This book strives to show the causes and corrections of equine insubordination. The author seems to be primarily interested in dressage, and the book would be most useful to dressage riders. The cost of the book is $35.00.
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November 03 - This month's book is "The Horse Doctor is In," by Brent P. Kelley. It is a Kentucky Veterinarian's Advice and Wisdom on Horse Health Care. As the author states, he wanted to write a book on horse health that was not boring, and he was successful. Sure there are still long words, but he pretty much explains what they all mean. He also adds little personal instances that happened during his practice concerning his horse patients, and the people who own them. It sort of reminds me of another vet/author, this one from England, named James Herriot, who wrote "All Creatures Great and Small." The only thing that seemed to be lacking was information on HYPP (Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis) which is a genetic defect, common in a lot of Quarter Horses. " The Horse Doctor is In" sells for $19.95 and is well worth the money.
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December 03 - Happy Holidays. It appears that winter has arrived, as we had about six inches of snow this morning. It's a great time of year to settle down by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book. This month, I would like to recommend "Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul." This book contains short stories of about two to three pages long about special horses and the people who love them. Many of the stories are about special needs children and their riding programs, but the book covers a wide variety of horse related topics. The price of the book is $12.95, or check it out of your local Library.
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February 04 - I very much enjoyed reading this months selection for the Book Review - "Life Lessons from a Ranch Horse," by Mark Rashid. This is Mark's fourth book. He also wrote "Considering the Horse," "A Good Horse is Never a Bad Color," and "Horses Never Lie." In Life Lessons, Mark points out that great teachers come in all shapes, sizes and species. One of his greatest teachers was an uncommonly intelligent horse named Buck. During the fifteen or so years of Mark's relationship with Buck, he came to understand that nearly all problems with horses, or in any other area of his life should be met with six basic rules. These are: be non-confrontational, plan ahead, be patient, be persistent, be consistent and fix setbacks and move on. Sounds simple, but it is not always easy to stick to it. Mark reminds us that our horses already know how to be horses. We don't need to teach them that, but we can learn from their wisdom. At $16, this is a very reasonably priced book, and well worth your time.
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March 04 - Did you see the movie, "Seabiscuit"? Well, guess what - the book really is better. Author Laura Hillenbrand did a marvelous job of research to compile the true story of the racehorse, Seabiscuit, and also of the general condition of the American public during the depression. Thanks to President Roosevelt's Rural Electrification Administration which began in 1936, electricity became available to America's farmlands. Rural families typically made the radio their second electric purchase, after the clothes iron. When Seabiscuit began racing, two thirds of the nation's homes had radios. At the pinnacle of his racing career, that figure had jumped to 90 percent. Racing was ideally suited to narration, and became a staple of the airwaves. In 1938, the year's number one news maker was Seabiscuit. Franklin Roosevelt, Hitler and Mussolini were back in the field, and Pope Pius XI, Lou Gehrig, Howard Hughes and Clark Gable didn't even come close. Seabiscuit was a midlevel stakes winner in the hands of a trainer that no one had ever hear of, and a jockey that no one remembered. As he made his way up the ranks, radio recorded his every move. The American people were struggling to make a living. It was no longer true that one could get ahead by hard work. Seabiscuit caught their attention, and provided hope that the little guy still had a chance to make it. Seabiscuit became a cultural icon. When he raced, his fans choked roads. "Seabiscuit Limited" trains traveled cross-country. Hotels were packed and restaurants sold out of food. As many as forty thousand fans mobbed tracks, just to see his workouts, and seventy eight thousand people witnessed his last race. Even when Seabiscuit was retired to stud, he still received fifty thousand visitors over the years, with as many as fifteen hundred at a time. Seabiscuit died on May 17,1947 at the age of fourteen from an apparent heart attack. His owner, Charles Howard, died three years later, also of a heart attack. It's a simply amazing story, and the book sells for $15.95.
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April 04 - This month's book is "Healing for Horses," by Margrit Coates. The author has a clinic in Britain, where she claims to be an animal clairvoyant. She uses chakra points, similar to Yoga. Her practice also uses Reike, crystals and gemstones. She does admit that, as horses cannot tell us what is bothering them, she must rely on observational skills quite often. At one point, she told a horse owner that her horse was misbehaving because the owner was going through a divorce. Another example was a mare who would not carry a foal to term. Ms. Coates told the owner that the mare had hated her previous life as a show horse, and would not produce a foal who might be used in the same way. The book sells for $21.95. If you are a true believer, you might enjoy this book. I am afraid that I cannot accept that healing occurs just by the laying on of hands, and thinking good thoughts.
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May 04 - This month's book is "A Photographic Guide to Buying & Selling Horses by Vanessa Britton. This is a good basic book to help in finding the right horse for you. The pictures are excellent and help in understanding what the author is trying to get across. As the book was written by a British author, some of the terms are different. For example, a barn sour horse is referred to as nappy, and bolshiness describes a horse who is showing a lack of respect. The book covers vices, disabilities, disposition and training. There are examples of horses who are bad to ride in traffic, or bad to load on a trailer (horse box). Veterinary examinations are explained. Unfortunately, out of 8 chapters, only one is concerned with advice on how to sell a horse. The book sells for $14.95.
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