The true story of how a 1963 ride on a carousel in Maryland made a powerful Civil Rights statement. A Ride to Remember tells how a community came together—both black and white—to make a change. When Sharon Langley was born in the early 1960s, many amusement parks were segregated, and African-American families were not allowed entry. This book reveals how in the summer of 1963, due to demonstrations and public protests, the Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Maryland became desegregated and opened to all for the first time. Co-author Sharon Langley was the first African-American child to ride the carousel. This was on the same day of Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Langley’s ride to remember demonstrated the possibilities of King’s dream. This book includes photos of Sharon on the carousel, authors’ notes, a timeline, and a bibliography. “Delivers a beautiful and tender message about equality from the very first page.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review “Cooper’s richly textured illustrations evoke sepia photographs’ dreamlike combination of distance and immediacy, complementing the aura of reminiscence that permeates Langley and Nathan’s narrative.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review “A solid addition to U.S. history collections for its subject matter and its first-person historical narrative.” —School Library Journal

An award-winning author and an acclaimed artist honor the sacrifices of American veterans and their families in this poetic tribute. Lines of bikes are miles long, shining, half a million strong. Rumbling, grumbling, engines roar. Peace signs. High fives. Spirits soar. Every Memorial Day in Washington, D.C., more than a million veterans and their supporters gather for the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, a demonstration that pays tribute to the men and women of the U.S. armed forces. This lyrical story honors the bravery and sacrifice of those American heroes—the ones who have returned home, and the ones who haven’t. Praise for Rolling Thunder “A tribute to the phenomenon that is the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom . . . Ruth’s background in comics illustration is evident in his skillful use of palette to reflect mood . . . A lyrical ode to our nation’s fallen heroes and those who keep their memories alive, suitable for one-on-one and small group sharing. A good choice for most collections.” —School Library Journal “Sincere, affecting pages . . . pay tribute to the sacrifices of veterans and their families . . . An emotional wringer.” —The Wall Street Journal “Respectful, eloquent, and moving.” —Booklist

In this remarkable one-year journal, skilled horsewoman and adventurer Laura Chester brings us into her world, where we deeply connect with the earth and its seasons, with beauty and sometimes danger. While riding in places as far-reaching as Mexico, Australia, and India, Chester is always grateful to come home to the comforts of her familiar horse. As they cover the borderland of Arizona and the hills of Massachusetts, we get to know Barranca as intimate companion, mediator between soul and nature, whether entering the wilds of Cochise Stronghold or picking Berkshire apples from the saddle. Carried along on waves of memory, released by the gaits of her smooth-moving fox trotter, this literary memoir takes us on a personal exploration as well—where family relationships are fractured by anger, jealousy, illness, and death. With the help of her big-hearted animal, Chester is able to retrieve the past and find forgiveness. For as she says—"Riding Barranca puts me in the moment, which is where I want to live."

Janie is not exactly sure why her daddy is riding a bus from Indianapolis to Washington, D.C. She knows why she has to go-to stay out of her mother's way, especially with the twins now teething. But Daddy wants to hear a man named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak and, to keep out of trouble, Janie is sent along. Riding the bus with them is a mishmash of people, black and white, young and old. They seem very different from Janie. As the bus travels across cities and farm fields to its historic destination, Janie sees firsthand the injustices that many others are made to endure. She begins to realize that she's not so different from the other riders and that, as young as she is, her actions can affect change.Though fiction, Riding to Washington is a very personal story for Gwenyth Swain as both her father and grandfather rode to Washington, D.C., to participate in the 1963 civil rights march on the nation's capital. Ms. Swain's other books include Chig and the Second Spread and I Wonder As I Wander. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. Artist David Geister has entertained audiences for years with his costumed portrayals of historic characters from the nineteenth century, and his artwork reflects his interest in history and dramatic storytelling. Riding to Washington is his third title with Sleeping Bear Press. David lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

An integral part of competing in equestrian sports is having to face the performance anxiety that presents itself at competitions. In this work, author Daniel Stewart explains that the pressure, stress, nerves, distraction, and anxiety come hand in hand with doing what we love to do. It also reminds us that competing in equestrian events is a real sport, and riders are forced to deal with the competitive nature of showing. Stewart explains that, while riders love to do what they do, this love is sometimes lost in the panic of showing and performing. Stewart then walks the rider through specific tools and tricks to manage and overcome the stress, fear, and anxiety, and how to embrace and enjoy every minute of performing with your 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 to overcome their show jitters and do their best at every competition, while feeling confident and happy throughout the experience.

Riding 2,000 miles on horseback from Montana to New Mexico sounds like a crazy but thrilling dream or pure hardship and exhaustion. According to Bernice Ende, the trip was all that and more. Since swinging her leg over the saddle for that first long ride in 2005 (at the age of 50), Ende has logged more than 29,000 miles in the saddle, crisscrossing North America on horseback - alone. More than once she has traversed the Great Plains, the Southwest deserts, the Cascade Range, and the Rocky Mountains. Along the way, she discovered a sense of community and love of place that unites people wherever they live. From 2014-2016, she was the first person to ride coast to coast and back again in one trek, winning acclaim from the international Long Riders' Guild and awe from the people she met along the way. Bernice Ende's memoirs are illuminated by accompanying maps of her routes and photos from her journeys, capturing the instant friends she meets along the way, and her ongoing encounters with harsh weather, wildlife, hard work, mosquitoes, tricky route-finding, and the occasional worn out horseshoe. Ende reveals her inner struggles and triumphs - testing the limits of physical and mental stamina, coping with inescapable solitude, and the rewards of living life her own way, as she says, "in her own skin." Saddle up and come along for the journey of a lifetime.

The equestrian pursuit known as Cowboy Dressage melds the best of Western riding traditions and classical dressage in the pursuit of a harmonious relationship with a horse. Intended to be accessible to all, Cowboy Dressage is open to all breeds and all levels of riders; there isn’t a set frame for overall look, head carriage, or action. Lifelong horsewoman Jessica Black traces the evolution of Cowboy Dressage back to its roots, sharing the story of Eitan and Debbie Beth-Halachmy and their phenomenal Morgan horses that have served as the movement’s ambassadors. Black then expertly weaves Eitan Beth-Halachmy's experience and expertise into an engaging and articulate explanation of the philosophy of Cowboy Dressage; defines the expectations of the rider; describes what a participant needs in terms of equipment; and explores how the most important element—the horse—should be prepared. A wonderful and thorough section on groundwork, as well as specific training advice for achieving engagement, regulating the gaits, smoothing transitions, and balancing bend and straightness, get the reader started with a solid foundation. Specific descriptions of the Cowboy Dressage tests are provided, with additional tools for those interested in competition, including rules, divisions, and how to execute and judge tests.

Riding the river... ...If you want to survive the rapids of life, you'll need to stop trying to change the river and learn to change yourself... . Learn to examine the real cause of your frustrations . Learn to redefine yourself . Learn to reflect, focus and strategize before taking action . Learn to allocate your resources and understand the power of process . Take control of your life . Stop contributing energy to everything you hate, and start contributing energy to what you love . Learn to attract, nurture, understand and influence the people around you . Learn to read the river's currents and to let life flow"