It is no secret that speed, stamina, jumping ability, and athletic prowess depend on the horse’s physical ability to perform. However, the world has seen many ‘great’ athletic bodies, human and horse, fail to reach their true potential, while others, perhaps thought to be less great in form and function, reach the pinnacle of their sport or discipline. In the world of human athletes, we might claim hard work, ‘grit’, or ‘heart’ as the force greater than muscle that propels them to the top. But the horse doesn’t have performance goals in the way we do, so what is it that motivates one racehorse to leave the rest of the field behind to cross the finish line first?In these pages, Kerry explains how it is possible - initially by using an Emotional Conformation Profile - to determine if a horse has what it takes inside him to make what he has on the outside great. Can your racing prospect handle distance? Does your event horse have the ‘finish’ to clear that last enormous cross-country obstacle when his legs are tired? Is your horse capable of maintaining focus in the face of large crowds and multiple distractions? More importantly, he tells you how to develop specific training protocols towards given goals, thus enabling a horse to perform at his very best.

"The Thomas Herding Technique is thoroughly explained in this book that helps trainers of top equine athletes get them to perform their very best while living happy, contented lives. While following wild horse herds in Wyoming and Montana, independent researcher Kerry Thomas realized that what is inside the horse (emotional conformation) and not what is outside (how a horse is built, or its physical conformation) is what governs herd dynamics. He determined that this was the basis for everything horse: whatever role a horse plays in a human environment-whatever breed, sport, or job-the emotional conformation dictates, in large part, success or failure. Thomas identified a system of emotional profiling-the Thomas Herding Technique-that enables him to determine a horse's performance tendencies, and then began to develop ways in which horses can be mentally conditioned toward a given goal. The technique is already used by some leading racehorse training and breeding programs in the world, and this book explains this unique way of analyzing the psyche of the equine athlete for all horses, and particularly those in competitive careers where performance is a primary focus"--

Feeding is the foundation of every horse's health, and every owner cares about it, but answers can be hard to find. Based on solid science and the author's long experience, Feed Your Horse Like A Horse illuminates the secrets of equine nutrition and points the way toward lifelong vitality for your horse. Part I explains the physiology of the horse's digestion and nutrient use; Part II offers recommendations for specific conditions such as insulin resistance and laminitis, as well as discussion about feeding through the life stages, from foals to athletes to aged horses. Whether you are a novice horse owner or a seasoned professional, Feed Your Horse Like A Horse will be your most valuable resource on equine nutrition. You'll begin in Section 1 with an up-to-date overview of nutrition and horse physiology that is designed for everyone, from the novice to the lifelong horseman. Section 2 will empower you to make the right feeding decisions that support your horse's innate needs, regardless of his condition or activity type. As a reference book, you have the freedom to choose which sections to read. Topics include: - Choosing the right hay or concentrates - Helping easy and hard keepers - How vitamins and minerals work - Recognizing and eliminating stress - Importance of salt and other electrolytes - Treating insulin resistance - Reducing the risk of laminitis - Recovery for the rescued horse - Nutrient fundamentals - Dealing with genetic disorders - Managing allergies - Alleviating arthritis - Diagnosing equine Cushing's disease - Preventing ulcers and colic - Feeding treats safely - Pregnancy and lactation - Feeding the orphaned foal - Optimizing growth - Optimizing athletic work and performance - Changing needs as horses age - Considerations for donkeys and mules Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is a consultant, speaker, and writer in equine nutrition. A retired university professor and winner of several teaching awards, Dr. Getty presents seminars to horse organizations and works with individual owners to create customized nutrition plans designed to prevent illness and optimize their horses' overall health and performance. Based in beautiful rural Bayfield, Colorado, Dr. Getty runs a consulting company, Getty Equine Nutrition, LLC (GettyEquineNutrition.com), through which she helps horse owners locally, nationally, and internationally. The well-being of the horse remains Dr. Getty's driving motivation, and she believes every horse owner should have access to scientific information in order to give every horse a lifetime of vibrant health.

In thirteenth-century China, a Daoist monk named Gao Daokuan (1195-1277) composed a series of illustrated poems and accompanying verse commentary known as the Daoist Horse Taming Pictures. In this annotated translation and study, Louis Komjathy argues that this virtually unknown text offers unique insights into the transformative effects of Daoist contemplative practice. Taming the Wild Horse examines Gao's illustrated poems in terms of monasticism and contemplative practice, as well as the multivalent meaning of the "horse" in traditional Chinese culture and the consequences for both human and nonhuman animals. The Horse Taming Pictures consist of twelve poems, ten of which are equine-centered. They develop the metaphor of a "wild" or "untamed" horse to represent ordinary consciousness, which must be reined in and harnessed through sustained self-cultivation, especially meditation. The compositions describe stages on the Daoist contemplative path. Komjathy provides opportunities for reflection on contemplative practice in general and Daoist meditation in particular, which may lead to a transpersonal way of perceiving and being.

Addressing the psychology of competing in equestrian events, this handbook helps riders confront and alleviate the anxiety that often presents itself in competition. Pressure, stress, nerves, distraction, and anxiety are feelings that go hand-in-hand with participating in such events, forcing riders to deal with the competitive nature of showing. Walking riders through specific tools and tricks that can be used to manage and overcome the panic that can hinder performance, this training manual also offers advice on how to embrace and enjoy every minute of performing with an equine partner. From “Plan the Ride, and Ride the Plan,” to overall mental training, this must-have book is a fantastic tool for any competitor who wants to conquer their show jitters and do their best at every competition, while feeling confident and happy throughout the experience.

Gentle ways to improve the horse’s core fitness while relieving pain related to conditions such as kissing spine. Every equestrian wants to know: what is the difference between the horse that “dances” when you are on him, and the one that doesn’t? According to Visconte Simon Cocozza, Trainer and Examiner for the La Fédération Française d'Equitation (FFE), it all comes down to the horse’s posture. The horse’s ability to use the powerful mechanisms already built into his body relies not upon the strength we can see on the outside but the strength on the inside. This invisible and complex arrangement of internal “core” muscles control the horse’s posture, suppleness, and agility. Their good condition is the key to the dance. Equine core muscles are very difficult to isolate with the traditional training techniques common to horse sports. However, by examining what we do with the human body when faced with a weak core, we can find new methods for conditioning these areas of the equine body. Cocozza has taken principles of the human practice of yoga and used them to develop novel ways of reaching deep within the horse’s body and: Gently “unlock” areas that may be a little “rusty.” Improve core fitness. And even relieve pain related to conditions such as kissing spine. In this highly illustrated book, he provides step-by-step instruction explaining easy mounted exercises that enhance the horse’s posture, and boost his confidence in his body and movement, making him easier to ride, and ultimately, the dance partner you’ve always imagined.

This book describes the development of horse behaviour, and the way in which the management of horses today affects their welfare. Horses for sport, companionship and work are considered and ways of improving their welfare by better training and management is described. The book assesses welfare, nutrition, and behaviour problems with horses. The authors include internationally-recognised scientists from Britain, Ireland, USA and Australia.

The Dynamic Horse describes the principles underlying the science of biomechanics, then illustrates how these principles apply to horsemanship and equine locomotion using examples that will be familiar to anyone accustomed to working around horses. Through knowledge of biomechanics, the reader will develop a better understanding of how horses move and perform. The Dynamic Horse addresses key concepts including tempo, rhythm, balance, characteristics of different gaits, speed and economy of movement, and jumping mechanics.Written with Dr. Clayton's characteristic clarity, The Dynamic Horse is an excellent companion for her popular text Conditioning Sport Horses.

Follows The Blood-Horse's Top 100 list, beginning with Man o' War in the No. 1 spot and ending with Blue Larkspur at No. 100.