At some point in a mother's life, her child--most likely, her daughter--will smile sweetly and say, "Mommy, I want to learn to ride a horse. And then I want to win a blue ribbon." What's a mother to do? (Or for that matter, a father, since he'll become involved too, even though ferrying the child to and from lessons and competitions is far more often the equivalent of a Soccer Mom.) Even people who rode when they were younger may not remember the ins and outs of the sport, and especially the way it's played these days. Riding to the rescue comes Susan Daniels, an experienced and accomplished Horse Show Mom. Taking the perplexed parent under her wing, she provides advice on locating a suitable lesson stable (including how to tell whether a particular instructor is right for your child, and what to do if he or she isn't), determining when - or whether - to buy a horse or a pony, outfitting horse and rider (must the animal's leg wraps and the child's ponytail ribbons match?), and understanding and coping with stable politics (such as when it's appropriate for barn managers and instructors to pay more attention to another youngster than to yours). When it comes to horse showing, the author explains how to tell when your child is ready for competition, what's expected of horse and rider at various levels of proficiency, which supplies Moms should always have on hand (safety pins and hair nets lead the list), how to deal with your child's triumphs and tears, and how to understand the complicated but crucial national and regional championship points systems. With pages of warm and encouraging humor, sound advice and illustrative true-life adventures from the worlds of hunter/jumper, Western, combined training, and dressage competition, The Horse Show Mom's Survival Guide is a valuable "leg up" for any parent whose youngster has that blue-ribbon gleam in her eye.

Can you recall the first time you rode a horse or galloped down an empty beach? The first time you heard the knowing “neigh” as the saddle shifted on the proud stallion’s back? Bring back those wonderful memories with this enormous 800-page anthology. Featuring personal insights from some of the world’s foremost equestrian writers, including Anna Sewell, Nicholas Evans, Cormac McCarthy, and others, it will surely pull the heartstrings of serious jockeys and casual riders alike. Traveling from the open plains to the cattle ranches of the beauteous Midwest, from the quiet seclusion of small town America to the clamor of New York, this special volume reminds us of all the little bits of wisdom we can learn from our equestrian friends. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, is proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. In addition to books on popular team sports, we also publish books for a wide variety of athletes and sports enthusiasts, including books on running, cycling, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, martial arts, golf, camping, hiking, aviation, boating, and so much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

What is it that drives riders to wake up early, pull on uncomfortable clothes, and deal with rambunctious animals? Celebrating the thrill of competition that drives all participants, RIDING FOR THE BLUE is not another 'how-to' book offering tips competing at horse shows. It is a compilation of the often poignant, frequently humorous moments that riders experience while competing for the prize of all prizes - the blue ribbon. This book is for anyone and everyone who has been a part of the horse show world.

Fiction. Winner of the Fairfield Book Prize, THE GENUINE STORIES is a collection of linked short stories centered around Genevieve "Genuine" Eriksson, who at the tender age of eight years old, discovers her uncanny ability to heal the sick and mend the injured. Though she grows up under the watchful eyes of her parents and the jealous protection of the Catholic Church, she strikes out on her own when she falls in love with Kevin Saunders, fifteen years her senior, after she heals him of testicular cancer. In her own voice, and those of family, friends, and the healed, Genuine's experiences peel back and expose the gritty aspects of power and privilege, the far-reaching limit of parental love, the perpetually oscillating balance in relationships, and the ineffable nature of grief. "Each of these stories is a gem. Susan Daniels manages to pull the rug out from under even the smallest of gestures and the interactions of couples, families, and strangers, revealing over and over the human touch in all its guises as miraculous. In showing the act of healing, she uncovers human beings at their most vulnerable. These are wise stories, and the feeling of the miraculous and of grace is palpable in each of them. In this world, anything, she seems to tell us, is possible."--Karen Osborn

Given the daily challenges of raising a child with autism, it’s easy for parents to lose themselves and for their overall quality of life to plummet. Susan Senator interweaves the voices of autism parents, researchers, and professionals to offer guidance and encouragement on how to find happiness and fulfillment in the midst of the struggles of raising an autistic child. Topics include: how to handle feelings of despair and hopelessness; finding fun, even during turbulent times; caring for your marriage; and finding a balance between accepting your child as he or she is and seeking new treatments. To learn more about the author, visit her website at susansenator.com.

A First Nations former hockey star looks back on his life as he undergoes treatment for alcoholism in this novel from the author of Dream Wheels. Saul Indian Horse is a child when his family retreats into the woods. Among the lakes and the cedars, they attempt to reconnect with half-forgotten traditions and hide from the authorities who have been kidnapping Ojibway youth. But when winter approaches, Saul loses everything: his brother, his parents, his beloved grandmother—and then his home itself. Alone in the world and placed in a horrific boarding school, Saul is surrounded by violence and cruelty. At the urging of a priest, he finds a tentative salvation in hockey. Rising at dawn to practice alone, Saul proves determined and undeniably gifted. His intuition and vision are unmatched. His speed is remarkable. Together they open doors for him: away from the school, into an all-Ojibway amateur circuit, and finally within grasp of a professional career. Yet as Saul’s victories mount, so do the indignities and the taunts, the racism and the hatred—the harshness of a world that will never welcome him, tied inexorably to the sport he loves. Spare and compact yet undeniably rich, Indian Horse is at once a heartbreaking account of a dark chapter in our history and a moving coming-of-age story. “Shocking and alien, valuable and true… A master of empathy.”—Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Golden Age “A severe yet beautiful novel…. Indian Horse finds the granite solidity of Wagamese’s prose polished to a lustrous sheen; brisk, brief, sharp chapters propel the reader forward.”—Donna Bailey Nurse, National Post (Toronto)

The guide all college graduates need as they embark on life in the real world Graduation is a time of tough questions whose answers we don’t—and sometimes can’t—know the day we receive our diploma. Determined to power through the uncertainty of post-graduation, bestselling author Katherine Schwarzenegger embarked on a yearlong quest to gather the best guidance possible from more than thirty highly successful people working in fields like business, media, fashion, technology, sports, and philanthropy. Along the way, Katherine uncovered the essential and often surprising advice they have for graduates, including answers to questions like: • How do I find my first job in a tough economy? • How do I decide between a career that pays well and one that I’m passionate about? • How do I balance work with friends, relationships, and family? • Should I take a “gap year” before starting my first job? • What should I do about my student loan debt? Drawing on the stories and real-life experiences of contributors such as Anderson Cooper, Eva Longoria, Blake Mycoskie of TOMS shoes, Lauren Bush Lauren, Andy Cohen, Meghan McCain, Gayle King, and more, Katherine has written the must-have guide for recent and soon-to-be graduates as they prepare to seek success and fulfillment in their work, relationships, and lives.

London. Paris. Guantánamo Bay. Donna Stone is looking for love--and terrorists--in all the wrong places. Worse yet, an old flame gets in the way of Donna's chance for true love. But she doesn't cry. She gets even.

Recognizing the fact that owning a horse is one of the greatest commitments you can make, demanding dedication, time, hard work, and money, The Horse Owner's Survival Guide is designed to help you survive and improve the bad times and get maximum pleasure from the good ones. This comprehensive work offers many varied ideas that you can tailor to your individual circumstances, whether you are an owner with years of experience or a rider wondering whether taking on your first horse is a feasible idea. Starting from the basic question of choosing the right kind of horse for your lifestyle and abilities (thus helping to prevent a costly mistake), The Horse Owner's Survival Guide goes on to cover such vital issues as: outlining the costs and ways to cut them down; reducing the risk of expensive veterinary fees; setting up the stable; tack and clothing; feed and grooming; bedding, bathing, and fencing; safety and insurance; Bursting with practical advice and problem-solving ideas, this guide reduces the intimidating concerns of horse owning and teaches you everything you need to know to keep yourself sane and your horse fit, healthy, and happy. (7 1/4 x 9 3/4, 160 pages, b&w photos)