Navigating the world of horse training can be a lifelong journey, filled with continuous learning and evolving perspectives. Just as a student finds their footing in a challenging university course, understanding the core principles and finding the right resources can transform one’s ability to connect with and train horses effectively. This curated list aims to provide essential reading for horse enthusiasts, drawing from a variety of disciplines to foster a deeper, more nuanced understanding of equine behavior and training.
As an avid audiobook listener, I’ve found that transforming commute times and mundane tasks into valuable learning experiences has been instrumental in absorbing vast amounts of information. This practice, coupled with diligent note-taking, allows for a consistent engagement with new insights, which is crucial for personal growth and skill development in any field, especially when working with sensitive animals like horses. The goal here is to move beyond mere memorization and embrace a deeper comprehension, fostering a relationship built on mutual understanding and respect.
Great Meaningful Horse Stories
These books offer profound insights not through direct training instructions, but through the authors’ personal journeys and discoveries with horses. They explore life lessons learned through equine interaction, offering perspectives that can profoundly shift one’s outlook and open the heart and mind to new possibilities.
Mark Rashid Books (All Available as Audiobooks): Beginning with “Considering the Horse,” it is essential to read these books in chronological order. Rashid recounts his life with horses, detailing how his understanding and approaches have evolved over time. His narrative is deeply engaging, allowing listeners to witness his refining knowledge and perspective. The series leaves a lasting impression, embodying the wisdom of an “old man” who continually guides and observes your work with horses.
“Faraway Horses” by Buck Brannaman/William Reynolds (Available as Audiobook): Inspired by the documentary “Buck,” this book delves deeper into Brannaman’s life. It’s a powerful, at times poignant, narrative that explores the profound impact of childhood trauma and the healing process. The story of Brannaman receiving a pair of work gloves from his foster father, Forrest Shirley, and finding purpose through a job, serves as a touching parallel to working with troubled horses, offering wisdom and lessons in resilience.
The Training Books
These selections focus specifically on training concepts, offering a deeper dive into the mechanics and philosophy of working with horses.
“Essence of Good Horsemanship” by Ross Jacobs: While not a step-by-step training manual, this collection of short essays is arguably one of the most powerful and thought-provoking training books available. Jacobs’ central concept, “every behavior starts with a thought,” transformed the author’s approach from merely training horses to perform actions to asking them questions and receiving insightful answers. This book is layered with insights, suitable for those with a foundational understanding of training principles, who are ready to introspect and find answers within themselves regarding their horse’s behavior.
“Don’t Shoot the Dog” by Karen Pryor: Although not exclusively a horse training book, Pryor’s work masterfully explains the concepts of “untraining” and behavior modification. Her clear descriptions and relatable examples illuminate training principles effectively. The book emphasizes that while pressure training can be effective, it requires careful execution to avoid negative outcomes for the animal. It serves as an excellent introduction to behavior influence and training concepts, offering fascinating examples of how behavior can be shaped.
The Science Books
For those interested in the scientific underpinnings of equine behavior and training, these books offer a wealth of knowledge.
“Evidence-Based Horsemanship” by Martin Black & Stephen Peters (Available as DVD and Book): The DVD version is particularly recommended for its enhanced information and graphics, which significantly aid in understanding equine training and how horses cope with life experiences. This is considered a must-have resource.
“Equine Behaviour: Principles & Practice” by Daniel Mills & Kathryn Nankervis: This book provides a comprehensive journey from the evolution of equine behavior to the intricacies of the neurological system and training mechanisms, making it an accessible science text.
“Equine Behaviour: A Guide for Veterinarians & Equine Scientists” by Paul McGreevy: This book builds upon the detail found in Mills and Nankervis’s work, offering a more scientific perspective. While some terms may require looking up, it remains a valuable resource for those prepared to delve deeper.
“Equitation Science” by Paul McGreevy & Andrew McLean: This is a highly utilized resource, packed with excellent information. However, its presentation can be challenging for a general audience. It is recommended to read the other two science books first to build a foundation before tackling this more advanced text.
Biomechanics
Understanding how a horse’s physical structure influences its thoughts and actions, and vice versa, is crucial for effective training.
“Posture and Performance” by Gillian Higgins: This book, stemming from Higgins’ “Horses Inside Out” concept (known for her unique method of painting skeletons and muscles on horses), offers a compelling exploration of biomechanics and equine anatomy. It expertly combines an understanding of anatomy and function with practical exercises to enhance performance.
“Introduction to Straightness Training” by Marijke de Jong (Free eBook): This introductory book explores the concept of natural asymmetry in horses. It provides crucial insights into the underlying reasons for common training frustrations, revealing how a horse’s body can significantly influence its thoughts and preferences. This understanding is key to comprehending why horses may exhibit certain behaviors and how to approach dressage training more effectively.
Books with Applicable Training Insights
These selections, while not exclusively about horse training, offer valuable concepts and insights that can be directly applied to working with horses.
“The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business” by Charles Duhigg (Available as Audiobook): Training horses fundamentally involves shaping habits. This book helps in understanding habit formation, identifying triggers for problematic behaviors, and developing strategies for behavior modification. It also offers self-awareness regarding personal habits and how they influence interactions.
“Rewire Your Anxious Brain” by Catherine Pittman & Elizabeth Karle (Available as Audiobook): This book provides a detailed understanding of how neuroscience can be applied to comprehend and manage fear, anxiety, and panic in both humans and horses, offering practical applications for trainers.
Understanding Your Human-ness
Recognizing and adapting our innate human tendencies is vital for creating a more comfortable and receptive environment for horses.
“On the Other End of the Leash” by Patricia McConnell (Available as Audiobook): While an expert in dog behavior, McConnell’s work offers profound insights into human-animal relationships. She highlights how our human nature can sometimes lead to ignorance or naivete about the distinct needs of other species. Learning to recognize these human traits and adapt our behavior can foster stronger connections with horses.
“Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth (Available as Audiobook): This book emphasizes the critical role of struggle and overcoming challenges in building inner strength and achieving significant goals. Duckworth’s work encourages a reevaluation of success, highlighting effort and perseverance as key qualities. Applying these principles to horse training, which is inherently a challenging endeavor, can foster resilience and deeper learning.
“Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol Dweck (Available as Audiobook): Dweck introduces the concepts of fixed and growth mindsets. A growth mindset, which views challenges and failures as opportunities for learning and improvement, is particularly vital for horse training. This perspective helps overcome the inevitable setbacks and stresses encountered when working with horses, fostering a more adaptive and effective approach.
“Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise” by Robert Pool & Anders Ericsson (Available as Audiobook): This book explores the science behind developing expertise, debunking the popular simplification of the “10,000-hour rule” while emphasizing the importance of deliberate practice and challenge. The concepts presented can be applied to enhancing one’s own skills or coaching others, and also to understanding how horses learn and improve over time.
