When asked in an interview what he most liked about rodeo, three-time world champion saddle-bronc rider “Cody” Bill Smith said simply, “Horses that buck.” Smith redefined the image of America’s iconic cowboy. Determined as a boy to escape a miner’s life in Montana, he fantasized a life in rodeo and went on to earn thirteen trips to the national finals, becoming one of the greatest of all riders. This biography puts readers in the saddle to experience the life of a champion rider in his quest for the gold buckle. Drawing on interviews with Smith and his family and friends, Margot Kahn recreates the days in the late 1960s and early 1970s when rodeo first became a major sports enterprise. She captures the realities of that world: winning enough money to get to the next competition, and competing even when in pain. She also tells how, in his career’s second phase, Smith married cowgirl Carole O’Rourke and went into business raising horses, gaining notoriety for his gentle hand with animals and winning acclaim for his and Carole’s Circle 7 brand. Inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979 and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2000, Smith was a legend in his own time. His story is a genuine slice of rodeo life—a life of magic for those good enough to win. This book will delight rodeo and cowboy enthusiasts alike.

A go-to manual for any horse owner, this book addresses a range of equine behavioral problems, from the mild--refusing to stand still or tail rubbing, for example--to the severe, such as rearing under saddle or attacking other horses. With topics broken into four main categories--bad habits in the stable, correcting ground manners, problems under saddle, and the reluctant traveler--noted rancher and horse book author Heather Smith Thomas dissects each topic by addressing the source of the problem, providing solutions to the behavioral issue, and discussing what to do if the fix doesn't stick.

A visceral, stark, and deadpan collection of stories that brilliantly fuse humor with horror Horses Dream of Money is a daring collection of tales, darkly humorous, that eerily channels the surreal and sinister mood of the times. Preoccupied with the fault lines between life and death, and veering often into horror, Angela Buck brings a raw energy and witty sobriety to these accounts of human life and connection with the intimacy of fireside-storytelling, gimlet-eyed revelry in bloodletting, and a masterful sleight of hand between the fantastical and the quotidian. “The Solicitor” reinvents the coming-of-age story as a romance-for-hire between a girl and her “solicitor,” a man whose services are demanded by her mother and enforced by a cruel master. “Coffin-Testament” is a fabulous futuristic account of the extinction of human life on earth written 1,667 years later by a group of lady robots channeling Sir Thomas Browne to muse on their own mortality. “The Bears at Bedtime” documents a compound of cuddly kind worker-bears and their ruthless doings. “Bisquit” imagines today’s precariat as a lovable horse who is traded from one master to another until a horse race brings his maddeningly repetitive adventures to a violent conclusion.

Control: Either you have it--or you don't.Two words, "Either Or," are particularly appropriate when describing, owning, and handling the great majority of horses that buck. Either they do it because they're scared or because they're defiant. Either you're the type of person who takes on the challenge with a gleam in your eye or you have a bad stomach over the very idea. Either your barn friends think you should sell the animal because they feel embarrassed for you and your odd excuses for why you exercise it via hand walks and turnout and never a ride on the trail -- or they're pretty sure you don't realize the risk you take each time you hop aboard and they're considering an equestrian intervention.And either you've got a plan to fix it--or you do not.Make that "did not." "Did not have a plan." Because now you do. You've got this guide and so you've got a plan and with it a solution. This book, "Crow Hopper's Big Guide to Buck Stopping," falls into four sections:Section I: Learn the ground work required to begin snuffing out this deep-rooted issue. Given that "you ride the horse you lead," you'll begin your fix with your feet planted safely on terra firma. You'll gain confidence--and control.Section II: Learn to see a buck coming and what to do if it happens, then get back in the saddle for exercise after exercise designed to put you in charge and prevent future problems.Section III: Perform exercises geared to address immediate and specific bucking issues: Bucking into the canter, how to deal with your own fear, crossing obstacles, the horse that crow hops when first introduced to the saddle.Section IV: Training appropriate for every horse and rider--and an absolute must for those schooling the bucking horse. (See the Table of Contents for a complete listing.)Your horse isn't going to buck if you have control. Your task, then, becomes gaining that control, understanding when you have it, knowing when you don't, working to get it. Table of Contents:Section IGround Training- When You Really Lose ItIf your horse went ballistic last week, it didn't just "happen." Spot the signals.- Where I'd StartBucking horse owners, here's something you can do with your horse that advances his training, is low risk, and fun.- Whoever Moves First, Loses (Or, "How to Get Respect")Secure your rightful spot as leader in your "herd of two."- Bridle Work from the GroundDevelop control over your horse's individual body parts and gain respect- Reverse of RespectBacking your horse is an excellent way to affirm (or establish) your position as leader- Lungeing a Horse for Added ControlWith added training for the bucking horse, here is the how, when, and why of lunge-line trainingSection IIFixes from the saddle and preventative medicine- Your Individual Prescription- Ride Where You Can, Not Where You Can't - Core Exercises (Introduced)- Despooking: Scary Things- Despooking: Scary Moments- Getting Back On: What to Do If the Horse Bucks- Hip Control- Classic Serpentine- Softening- Calm Down Now: Drop Your Horse's Head on Command- Speed Control for Mind Control- Shoulder Control- Train Your Horse to Travel StraightSection IIIQuestions answered: Specific and immediate fixes for the bucking horse owner- Horses that Buck When First Introduced to the Saddle- How Can I Overcome My Fear After Being Bucked Off?- My horse wants to buck or crow hop when going from a trot to a canter.- Crossing Creeks and Scary StuffSection IVTraining for every horse and rider--and an absolute must for those schooling the bucking horse- Each Time You Mount Up, Do This First- How to Pick Up Your Reins Like a Pro- Training Magic: Release on the Thought- Reins Tell Direction, Legs Tell Speed- Talking Horse- Perfect the First Time- How Do I Keep My Horse's Attention?- Is the Cinch Strap Causing the Trouble?- Is My Horse Hard to Train... Because of His Feet?- The Sours: Buddy and Barney

Ranch roping is at the heart of all ranch work, and unlike the rodeo variation of calf roping, the “vacquero” tradition calls for techniques that result in a skillful and graceful throw and catch. Buck Brannaman, a world-renowned master of the art, describes the essential tools, the partnership between horse and rider (incorporating the Natural Horsemanship approach for which the author is famous), and the mechanics needed to become a successful ranch roper, whether in competition or in actual cattle work. One-hundred full-color photographs of Buck in action enhance the step-by-step methodology that leads to mastering this essential Western skill. Whether you ride or rope or just wish you could, here’s a book for everyone who is captivated by Western traditions and contemporary life.

What does it take to be a leader for your horse? How do you build confidence and trust? How can you develop balance and athleticism for your equine partner? These questions are answered in detail throughout this book with dozens of training formulas and strategies for success.

A new American journey.

Most horsemen agree that timing, feel, and balance are the holy trinity of horsemanship. The balance is brilliant: scientific facts and the empirical evidence to support those facts assembled by two highly respected professionals in their respective disciplines.

Contending that nearly all horse behavior problems result from incorrect or inconsistent training, this work highlights the potential behind the world’s promising equine model citizens and partners. The guide emphasizes systematic reconditioning while encouraging patience and proper skills in riders, providing a comprehensive plan for addressing issues such as bucking, bolting, rearing, spooking, lack of confidence, jumping issues, and more. Featuring a clear, accessible outline, this is the definitive solution to implementing consistent training methods, allowing riders to take full advantage of their horses’ unrealized abilities. Suggestions for starting young horses, detailed case studies, and strategies for future success are also included.