For many of us, snuggling up on the couch and cracking open a book is a simple pleasure. Not only is reading an excellent form of relaxation, it also has a myriad of health benefits. Recent studies have shown that reading for pleasure can improve your brain connectivity, and can lower your blood pressure and heart rate. New evidence also links reading to a decrease in depression symptoms and prevention of cognitive decline as you age.
At The Cheshire Horse, many of us and our customers are avid readers. We have compiled a list of some of our favorite books around the store, with something for everyone. Hopefully we can inspire you to pick up a new book and dive right in!
Read and Learn
Our collection of equestrian reference books will expand your knowledge base about these incredible animals. Using easy to understand language and bold illustrations, these guides provide you with the tools you need to care for your horses at the highest level.
The Essential Hoof Book: The Complete Modern Guide to Horses Feet
As equestrians, we all understand just how important our horse’s hooves are to their health and soundness. This book from Susan Kauffmann and Christina Cline explains the inner and exterior structures of the hoof with large diagrams and colorful photographs for clarity. They also offer troubleshooting guides for common hoof ailments and explain the importance of proper hoof care.
Veterinarian, chiropractor, and certified acupuncturist Renee Tucker, DVM, gives readers 27 simple body checkups to help you keep your horse comfortable and pain-free. Once you become familiar with your horse’s normal range of motion and reaction to these exercises, you will quickly be able to assess lameness and know how to discuss the type of pain with your equine health professionals and bodyworkers. This is a must for competitive riders who are asking their horses to perform at high levels.
From the Professionals
Check out our favorite books written by talented equestrian professionals and riders. These familiar names hail from a number of different disciplines, each striving to introduce to you their approach when working with horses to help you improve your groundwork skills and communication while in the saddle.
Know Better to Do Better: Mistakes I Made with Horses (So You Don’t Have To)
The acclaimed eventer Denny Emerson chronicles his life with horses and the choices that he has made. Offering tips for success as well as anecdotes from his equestrian career, Denny teaches through his experiences (good and bad!). He also offers up the powerful advice that “it is never, ever too late to change–for the good of the horse and for the good of oneself.”
It’s Not Just About the Ribbons: It’s About Enriching Riding (and Life) with a Winning Attitude
Despite our best intentions, sometimes we hit rough patches in our riding careers. Prominent rider, trainer, and clinician Jane Savoie shares her tools for self-improvement while giving advice on how to handle training plateaus and negative emotions. Whether you are learning to properly bend your horse or trying to master tempi changes, Jane’s contagious enthusiasm for riding will help you conquer your goals and continue progressing. This book is so much more than a riding manual, presenting you with ideas that will help you through many challenges, even those outside the barn.
Horses in Translation: Essential Lessons in Horse Speak
Have you ever wished that your horse could talk? In this book, trainer Sharon Wilsie decodes horse’s thoughts using their body language, breath, and intent. She then relates these findings to real life training scenarios and discusses what we can discern when we learn to truly listen to our equine companions.
Finding the Missed Path: The Art of Restarting Horses
When horses have gaps in their training and education, they often act confused and sometimes even obstinate when presented with new tasks. Renowned horseman Mark Rashid explains how to retrace your horse’s training to discover the holes and help you retrain your horse with a solid foundation. This book encourages equestrians to patiently and calmly give their horses a second chance in their training process.
Riding Guides
These well-written books allow you to join a clinic from some of the most respected equestrians without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. By walking you through their training approach as well as giving your clear-cut mounted and unmounted exercises, these books will assist you in learning to communicate clearly with your horse and maximize your time spent in the saddle.
Creative Dressage Schooling: Enjoy the Training Process with 55 Meaningful Exercises
Every horse can benefit from the fundamentals of dressage. In this book, Julia Kohl brings you 55 easy to understand, yet challenging exercises that will increase the level of communication between you and your horse and build muscle in your horse’s topline and hindquarters. This is a great reference guide for every equestrian who is looking to add variety to their ring work and increase the number of tools in their training arsenal.
Fit & Focused in 52: The Rider’s Weekly Mind-and-Body Training Companion
We expect our horses to be fit and in shape; it makes sense that as equestrian athletes we hold ourselves to the same standards. In this book, Author Daniel Stewart makes his principles of mental and physical training accessible to every rider in an easy-to-follow weekly format. These are the same methods he has used coaching riders on several US Equestrian Teams at World Championships, World Equestrian Games, and the Olympics.
Beginner riders all the way through world class equestrians can benefit from Sally Swift’s innovative teaching methods. By using easy to understand metaphors and working to increase body awareness, Centered Riding shows equestrians how proper positioning and training philosophies can improve the harmony and connection between horse and rider.
Beyond the Track: Retraining the Thoroughbred from Racehorse to Riding Horse
Anna Ford, Thoroughbred Program Director at New Vocations Racehorse Adoption, has a lot of experience working with horses off of the track. In this book she chronicles the journeys of several off the track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) and helps other equestrians through the experience. Explaining everything from selecting the right horse for you to complete retraining, this comprehensive guide is a must for anyone considering OTTB adoption.
As an added bonus, we love that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book goes to support the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program!
Inspirational Stories
Horses have the ability to lift us up and inspire us to be the best version of ourselves. These books showcase the healing power of our equine companions while giving us hope about our own shortcomings.
Riding on the Autism Spectrum: How Horses Open New Doors for Children with ASD
It is simply amazing how horses are able to communicate with humans, even those with learning disabilities and cognitive differences. In this book Claudine Pelletier-Milet chronicles how equine-assisted therapy has helped her students with autism and autism spectrum disorders. From gaining confidence to increasing their communication skills, horses have rapidly changed the lives of many of the children that Claudine has worked with over the years.
In the Middle Are the Horsemen
After a career-ending injury and painful breakup, Tik Maynard was unsure of his purpose and place in life. Choosing to take a step back, he spent a year as a working student at the age of 28; this one year quickly turned into three. This book chronicles how horses teach Tik about people, relationships, and most importantly himself.
Educational DVDs
In addition to books, educational DVDs can also expand your knowledge base. They can be very effective because you can see the clinician explaining what is happening. DVDs and movies also allow you to gain large amounts of information in a short amount of time.
7 Clinics with Buck Brannaman: Set 1: Groundwork (Discs 1-2)
These first two discs in the Buck Brannaman clinic series focus on how his groundwork techniques can improve the overall communication between you and your horse. These comprehensive groundwork videos include Buck’s methods of hooking on, leading, halter work, bridling, saddling, backing up, working in circles and half-circles, using the flag, and firming up.
What is your favorite equestrian book? We would love to hear all about it! Tell us about your book of choice in the comments section.