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Storey's Guide to Training Horses | 
 enlarge | Author: Heather Smith Thomas
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $6.24
You Save: $13.71 (69%)
New (36) Used (14) from $6.24
Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 304839
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 512
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 12.4 x 5.8 x 1.3
ISBN: 1580174671
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.10835
EAN: 9781580174671
ASIN: 1580174671
Publication Date: March 31, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
It all starts with good horse sense. Anyone who understands how horses think, knows the basics of good horsemanship, and is aware of general safety practices when working around horses already has a leg up on what is necessary to train a horse. STOREY'S GUIDE TO TRAINING HORSES is a comprehensive volume that builds on that foundation and takes the trainer step-by-step through the training process, from handling the foal to ground work to mounted lessons and trailer training. While most training books focus on riding, this guide takes a broad view, presenting different methods and alternatives so you can tailor your approach to your particular horse. Author, rancher, and horse trainer Heather Smith Thomas explains how to avoid common mistakes and how to ensure mutual respect and a productive working relationship with your horse. She begins with training psychology - including how to think like a horse and the origins of the flight or fight response. Then she covers handling and positive, progressive training techniques for each stage of the horse's development. And since each horse is different, Thomas offers a variety of training methods designed to suit different temperaments. Furthermore, she emphasizes that a smart trainer puts the horse first, letting the horse learn at its own pace rather than trying to force the animal to an unrealistic training timetable. Complete with a glossary of equine terms and a list of resources for additional information on horse training - including training clinics - this is an authoritative reference for trainers of all levels.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Awful! September 23, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
My husband checked out this book from the library because he got interested in working with my horses. I thought maybe I could learn something from it, too, so I started reading it. I was not impressed. All the book had was hypothetical situations, but nothing on how to correct behavior if your horse wasn't already perfect. For example: I have a yearling who I will be breaking to ride in two years. I was interested in how they went about with the initial mounting, etc. They suggested that you have someone hold your horse, then you lean on your horse, then you get up and viola! You are ready to start. I envision my horse maybe taking a step forward. Or maybe stepping to the side. Or backing up. Or perhaps even throwing in a buck. Do they cover this? Not at all, because obviously if you're training your horse right your horse would never even think of taking a step to the right, or stepping forward, or throwing in a buck the first time you mount him. The horse would stand perfectly still the first time ever that you mounted, so these issues don't need to be addressed. Nor do they cover how you should go about it if you don't have someone to help hold your horse. The entire book is like this-essentially, it is an idealized version of how to train, taking into account that your horse does exactly what he is supposed to the first time around and is never confused by you adding something new. And if your horse IS confused the first time you try something new, then obviously you did a very poor job training him. I do not recommend it at all for anyone who is actually serious about horse training.
From soup to chestnuts. August 6, 2007
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
Comprehensive and informative. The central theme is act early and act patiently. Lightness of pressure and knowing when to stop a lesson turns your horse into a dependable collaborator instead of a skittish adversary, Heather Smith Thomas writes.
"The essence of training is to use less and less pressure as the horse learns to respond, until he will perform the correct response at just the slightest touch."
Track trainers and others concerned about the seemingly increasing fragility of racehorses get food for thought from Thomas's tips.
Some examples,
1) GELD A MALE WHEN HE IS A FOAL...Perhaps doing this later, something done with some frequency in the racing world, lessens racing prowess.
2) HORSES HAVE SENSITIVE EARS...Then why are some racetracks located near airports and busy roadways? Isn't this likely to impair performance? Are gambling interests being put before horse health?
3) HORSES SHOULDN'T BE RIDDEN UNTIL THEY'RE 3 YEARS OLD..."The bones and joints of a two-year-old are not mature enough to handle athletic work with the weight of a rider." Although watching juvenile thoroughbreds compete is thrilling it's likely to be causing shorter careers. The handling of 2007 Preakness winner Curlin (who didn't race as a 2-year-old) might represent a new/old paradigm for restoring soundness to the racehorse. Perhaps this also points to why so many Kentucky Derby winners are "homebred."
Harness racing newcomers get a thorough explanation of the difference between trotting and pacing. Pacing, although far more prevalent in U.S. standardbred competition, is a less natural movement for the horse (in which the lateral legs move together) and is accompanied by less support, balance and traction on wet footing. Could this state of affairs also be shortening racing careers?
Desire for breeding dollars and slow-growing purses have certainly done their part to curtail track careers. Year-round racing is also highly cupable. And, more generally, as Thomas reminds us, being a racer is not a natural condition. Racing techniques must be taught, often done in a constrained and artificial atmosphere.
"Most horses never do a racing trot," she writes, "and many don't know how to extend their trot while ridden."
 Basic to more advanced subjects.. April 7, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Great book for all levels and all abilities of riders. It DOES talk about a lot of basic things..such as SAFETY, tacking up, leading, handling, etc. However, it also addresses other things such as longeing, ground driving, trailer training, lightness and collection, lateral work, retraining the spoiled horse, and many other things without causing fear or distrust.
Great book- recommended
Storey's Guide very complete January 15, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've been working with foals for about 18 years. This book is well written and includes very good illustrations. It's good for new handlers and experienced handlers (reminders of different options to use with different personalities) as well. I highly recommend it!
A Great Read November 24, 2005
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I found this book very helpful. I imagine it would be quite helpful for the novice trainer, but even as a trainer with a little more experience I found it quite useful. At first glance it looks, perhaps, elementary, but it does a fantastic job of tying all the elements of training together so that one knows what to do and when to do it. Even the sections on picking the horse's feet and other basic skills have some trouble shooting information and ideas about how to best teach a foal. I thought it was wonderful. I definitely recommend it.
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