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BOOK & DVD REVIEWS by Cynthia Cooper

Horsonality – an insight into Equine Behaviour by Andy Beck.

If you wanted just one book on horse behaviour this is the one!
But it doesn’t just cover behaviour as such – it goes into how our choices regarding the way horses are kept, fed and ridden, affects their behaviour.
Andy raises many questions and while showing how he feels horses prefer to interact with humans and each other, he leaves it up to the reader to decide which way is best for them.
All the information is provided for you to make good choices for whatever you want to do with your horses and how best to keep them physically, mentally and emotionally healthy.
Andy relates his discoveries of herd behaviour over a 15 year period of studying two herds, a foundation group, and their progeny, in a relatively natural environment in New Zealand so this book will be of particular interest to the breeder.
I found it invaluable in understanding how horses live, behave with each other and how their social structure works within a herd. Knowing things like how a horse has its own personal space and who it allows into that space for what periods of time can be valuable in our interactions with them.
This wonderful E-Book has many photos and diagrams to illustrate everything from environment, safe fencing, treeless saddles, bitless bridles, body language and herd interactions. It has a comprehensive bibliography at the end of each chapter and is filled with interesting insights so we can truly get to know the horse as a unique species.
The contents list below gives you an idea of the wealth of information contained in the 200 plus pages of this E-book that comes so highly recommended by me that I’m selling it through my web shop for just $29.
Chapter headings:
Evolution
Domestication and Tameness
Foundations of psychology and behaviour
The Equine family
The bachelor group – making of a stallion
Behaviour and enclosure management
Body Language – Kinesics and Proxemics
Training and the psychology of learning
The tack we fit; gadgets and gimmicks or the paraphernalia of servitude?
Welfare, Ethics and Rights, Work and the 5 Freedoms.

To read some articles related to the book go to www.horse-behaviour.com or to purchase go to the Natural Horse World Web Shop.

'The Soul of a Horse' - Book Review
by Ysabelle Dean

Lately I have read a number of books that seek to explain and satisfy the human yen to connect physically, emotionally and even spiritually with the horse. And yet The Soul of a Horse is the only one I’ve come across that speaks with a totally resounding note of truth. Coincidentally (or not?) it’s also the only one I’ve read that is written with the unflinching insight that a deep and satisfying connection with another individual – human or otherwise – requires us to set aside our own aspirations, expectations and needs in order to clearly understand those of the other.

The horse has largely lost its traditional place in human affairs as the ubiquitous beast of burden. But we still tend to value these generous and beautiful animals mainly for what they can do for us, whether it’s feeding our egos through winning ribbons or races, or providing therapeutic release from the stresses and strains of life.

The Soul of a Horse examines the biological, physiological and emotional needs of the modern domestic horse and how successfully these are met by widely used and accepted methods of husbandry, handling and training. A delightful blend of autobiography, critical analysis and storytelling, this book engages the reader intellectually and emotionally from start to finish. Joe Camp presents his ‘life lessons from the herd’ with the same humble, gentle yet persuasive persistence we admire in the very best horse trainers.

A heart warmingly affirmative read for the barefoot horse owner, this book is also a ‘must read’ for any person who has ever owned and loved a horse.

You can read more of Joe Camp's writings on his web site. He has an informative newsletter and lots of great info on natural horse keeping including some new info on natural worming so check it out here.

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE HORSE DVD with Carlos Tabernaberri
If you have read Carlos' book of the same name as the DVD - Through The Eyes of The Horse, or attended one of his clinics or lessons, you will find this DVD a valuable reference.
Carlos shows you his principles of Trust, Obedience and Respect with the first 91 minute DVD covering the fundamentals of groundwork. DVD 2 runs for 86 minutes and shows the applications of these fundamentals right through to the basics of riding. It's good to see Carlos demonstrating with horses that are not polished, so the viewer can see how to deal with issues as they present.
The film and sound quality are excellent as is the content according to the following testimonials;

"I got the DVD on Friday and watched the first one on Friday night. I loved it !!!!!!!!! I was very impressed that on the dvd, you use horses that had the problem you were explaining how to fix. This shows your confidence in your ability and also helps the person watching it, to relate and improve their skills. I'm half way through the 2nd dvd and hope to be able to get my horse floating well and being a good boy by June. Thanks again." Katrina.

"Have watched your DVD again, and I feel compelled to say more about it.
It really is an exceptional production in many ways. What struck me was how all aspects of the DVD, from the footage of you riding in the bush, to the music, to the voice overs, to you training the horses, all showed you living your philosophy, it was very unified and cohesive. What also came across strongly for me was seeing life from the horses perspective and the importance of a change in ourselves if we want to improve our relationship with our horses, not just trying a new technique, and that came across clearly when you were training the horses.
It was so unrehearsed, so honest, so from the heart, the voice overs in particular when you are riding in the bush. I have got so much already from listening to you. You have captured and portrayed the essence of your philosophy and 'good horsemanship'. Congratulations to you and Marty!" Patsy.

You can purchase a 'Through The Eyes of The Horse DVD' from www.whisperingacres.com.au

ALL HORSE SYSTEMS GO – Nancy S. Loving
In this full-colour comprehensive volume, Dr Nancy S. Loving, noted equine veterinarian and dressage, event and distance rider, addresses the challenges of keeping the working horse ‘working’.
Dr Loving provides a thorough understanding of the intricacies of the equine body as well as a ready reference for solving common problems and handling emergencies.
Never again will you lack concise guidance on what can go wrong, what to do when it does, and when to call in professional assistance.
This is not just another veterinary manual, however. While diseases are clearly explained, and relevant diagnostic tools and methods of prevention and treatment are offered, Dr. Loving sets her book apart by describing valuable methods of conditioning the various systems of the horse, from strengthening hoof and bone and developing muscle, to maintaining cardiovascular and respiratory health, including health concerns related to transport stress and competition.
You are introduced to the horse’s complicated digestive system and its common problems as related to poor dentition, improper feed and supplementation, parasite infestation, and psychological stress.
Along with a thorough review of nutritional requirements there is guidance in worming and vaccination programs, and controlling sources of equine anxiety.
Over 600 pages, 500 colour photos and 4,000 index entries enrich this consummate text.
All Horse Systems Go is integral to ensuring the horse can perform to the very best of his ability, whether the task is as simple as carrying you on a ride with friends or performing at the highest levels of competition.
This is a 5 star Veterinary book, first published in 2006 and highly recommended to all horse owners as a concise veterinary reference manual.
This book and most of the others reviewed here are available from www.amazon.com

HORSES AND HEALING – by Pam Brownlie
This spiral bound glossy full colour book is a wonderful field guide and reference for anyone wanting to treat horse health problems naturally.
It presents easy to use procedures for treating horses by using herbal remedies, L.E.D. Therapy or Acupressure and includes clear charts for the relevant acupuncture points to treat five main areas.
These being First aid, the Immune System, the Respiratory System, Arthritis and Soreness.
This handy guide also details several case histories and has a good reference section for further more detailed reading.
Definitely a book to keep in your first aid kit that is easy to work from in the field.
It is available online from www.naturalequipment.com


Straight From The Horse's Mouth
by Amelia Kincade

This book is an in depth look at communicating with animals by using and developing our natural ability to use intuition. The stories of Amelia's own experiences are intriguing and she details some wonderful meditational exercises to help us get in touch with and listen to our pets, including our horses.
How many times have you said to your horse "If only you could tell me what's wrong?"
Well, here is a book that will lead you to the answers if you're willing to practice and to trust your intuition.
However, I feel the most valuable piece of information in this book is learning that animals can tune into our thoughts and will act accordingly. True unity with horses happens when we think something and our horse does it without us physically having to cue him/her. Many top horsemen experience this feeling of being incredibly in tune with their horse... it feels so good to just thik stop and your horse is sliding before you even lift the rein, or you think "I'll canter when we reach that marker and your horse does it before you even lift your energy.
Unfortunately this can happen in a negative way too and cause problems to occur, such as when a rider fearful of cantering thinks "I hope he doesn't buck" and the horse only hears the word 'buck' so obliges. If we can think of positive outcomes, it will not only boost our confidence but your horse will also really understand what you want.
In this example, if the rider thinks 'Lets have a nice flowing, easy going canter' they are more likely to get exactly that from the horse.

So... next time you pull your horse up for anticipating.... watch your thoughts!!

Keeping a Horse the Natural Way by Jo Bird
As its title suggests this is a new book on the market, making the most of the interest and awareness which currently prevails in keeping horses more naturally.
When I first picked this book up and flicked through it I was impressed by the number of quality photos and diagrams on almost every page helping to convey a clear and thoughtful message.
With a forward by Pat Parelli and a section from his Partnership System I was immediately attracted to read it from cover to cover.
It is a book packed with so much good, sound advise I wish it could come with every horse sold like the manual your car has.
Not only does it deal with equine inter-relationships, it covers your relationship with the horse and other horse care subjects such as Stabling from the horse’s point of view, Field and grazing requirements, Nutrition the natural way, Healing and Natural Remedies, Tack, bits and gadgets and Caring for your horse throughout its life.
Although it is written with a Northern hemisphere slant, there is still a huge amount of relevance for our Australian conditions. It’s 200 pages encased in a hard cover, are packed full of advise on just about every aspect of having horses.
While an invaluable reference for the new horse owner, there is still plenty of important information for experienced horse owners, particularly those interested in a more natural approach.
The author does a great job of backing up her explanations with sound reasoning – very much common horse sense really.
Her philosophy of horse care is simply “Think about it from the horse’s point of view” and this shines through her message with many references to horse psychology and how a horse would think or react to certain situations.
She has also cleverly selected photos to show situations as most people would know from the everyday horse world – the book is not so naturally radical that it would put off further investigation by traditional horse owners.
Priced at $59.95 (2003), it falls into the valuable reference category and that’s exactly what this book is. The many diagrams, charts and amount of scientific information make it well worth the money.
This book is published by Barrons Eduactional Series and Interpet in 2002 and is Highly recommended.


Horses Never Lie - The Heart of Passive Leadership by Mark Rashid
Building on the concept of his previous books - Considering the Horse and A Good Horse is Never a Bad Colour, Rashid clearly defines the difference between alpha and passive leaders. He explains how to become a passive leader (leading by example rather than force) and illustrates with compelling stories how horses change from being indifferent or unwilling participants to becoming enthusiastic partners with their owners.
As he did in his other books, Rashid writes about his experiences with real horses, always featuring his sense of humour and overriding compassion for the horse. His instructive anecdotes reach back to when he was a youngster under the mentorship of "the old man", and continue to his experiences today as a horse trainer and a popular clinician who has travelled the world to teach his remarkably effective methods of natural horsemanship.
This book talks a lot about developing a 'feel' for the horse and the essence of this is summed up in a letter written to Rashid by one of his students…Here is an excerpt from that letter;
" Overall, I feel like I'm just trying to rediscover the connections I had with horses when I was a kid and I rode by the seat of my pants and didn't 'know' anything."
"I think I was riding with my heart and not my head back then. I was basing pretty much everything on feel because that’s all I had. If I got too cocky, my horse would 'remind' me to pay attention to the feel. Somehow I lost touch with that."
"I have always had a habit of discounting my accomplishments or losing sight of them completely. Instead, I tend to put all the emphasis on the things yet to be learned or the 'problems'. That puts a lot of pressure on me and my horse. Its awful to fall into the role of nitpicking and nagging the horse, slipping into the 'problem solving' mode - looking for the mistakes, so I could set out working on fixing them."
"I now know I could have done a better job of acknowledging all the great things my horse and I were doing and spent less time focusing on what we weren't doing or what I thought we needed to do better. I'm not saying that I think goals are bad. They can give direction and purpose. But the problem I see with being too goal oriented is that it can be awfully easy to lose sight of the moment, to become so focused on the destination that you miss the journey."
This book is available through the internet - www.markrashid.com .

The Sound Hoof - Horse Health from the Ground Up by Lisa Simons Lancaster

This is the ideal introductory book into the world of natural hoof care. It offers a road map for the responsible horse owner and a prescription to finding a new level of enjoyment with your horse through its hooves. Lisa's 21st century holisitic hoof care philosophy is not only backed up by credible research, it is based on the often over-looked but all-important principle that every horse is different, no two owners are alike, and that what works in one barn may not work in the one next door.

Rather than endorsing any single method for achieving soundness, this book has presented principles to help you assess and choose from a variety of trimming and shoeing methods, and gives you new tools for understanding your horse's feet and taking charge of hoof care.

While its not a complete 'How to' book - it does cover all aspects of 'Why to' ... understand that hoof care is an essential part of good horsemanship.

With lots of good quality photos and diagrams, it is easy to read and understand, giving you all the knowledge you will need to improve your horse's health.... from the ground up.

YOU CAN TRAIN YOUR HORSE TO DO ANYTHING – On Target Training: Clicker training and beyond by Shawna and Vinton Karrasch.

Everyone involved with horses wants them to consistently behave well, and perform to the best of their ability. But as is all too well known, many horses do not cooperate, and this is because they are not motivated to do so.
Shawna and Vinton Karrasch are co-founders of the On Target Training program – a revolutionary method that combines the basics of ‘clicker training’ widely used on marine mammals – killer whales, dolphins, and sea lions – as well as dogs, with another reward reinforcement program known as ‘target training’.
Shawna trained marine mammals at Seaworld in San Diego, California, before joining up with Vinton who had years of experience riding grand-prix show jumpers. Together they have developed this highly successful system of training horses.
Clicker training initially motivates a horse to perform correctly, because the handler rewards him every single time he does what is required. Later the horse comes to associate the sound of the clicker with an up-coming reward, so a rider can tell the horse that he has performed correctly without having to stop and give a pat or a treat. This frees the rider to continue the movement he is performing while communicating to the horse that he is doing it right.
Target training takes reinforcement of correct behaviour to a stage further. The ‘target’ is a tool – either fixed to a stationary object such as a fence or held in a trainers hand – that the horse learns to focus on completely.
Because the horse is motivated to perform well to gain his reward, he can be trained to happily follow the person holding the target.
The On Target Training method is easy for both horse and trainer to learn. There are dozens of practical applications covering every area of horsemanship, from stabling and handling issues to groundwork, and on to riding. And, just for fun, the Karrash’s show how to teach horses entertaining ‘tricks’ such as ‘bowing’ to an audience, spinning, and smiling.
A good attitude is paramount for progress, safety and results. Using this system horses are happy to interact with their riders and handlers, the learning process accelerates, and there is less frustration involved.
This 200 page book with lots of quality colour photographs is an easy read and explains everything you need to know about enhancing your horse’s education in a very positive way. It motivates the reader to want to get out and try it – just to see if it works…. and it does.
By using positive reinforcement techniques such as clicker training, we can bring out our horse’s heart and desire which is often suppressed by the removal reinforcement or negative reinforcement we use to communicate with.
There is an accompanying video also available and you can find out more by visiting www.on-target-training.com

 

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Bobby's Diaries by Jenny Pearce (and Bobby).
 There's a saying that goes 'When you're ready to learn the teacher appears' so I just had to investigate this book when I saw a review in the Organic Horse magazine. This book is very different and as Jenny says, she's been sharing her concepts of relating to horses with other people quietly for some time now, but "It's time to step out of the closet and share this with everyone".

I knew Jenny (pictured below on Bobby) from way back when we attended the first Parelli International Study Centre courses in 1996 but as we progressed with our horsemanship away from Parelli, I saw nothing of her. We had made contact a few years later when I called upon her healing abilites to help a young horse with health issues, but until now, Jenny has been quietly going about her business of helping people and horses through her totally alternative medicine horse hospital in Tanjil South, Victoria.

Dissastisfied with the progress she was making with Bobby, her 'difficult' thoroughbred, Jenny almost gave up on him in frustration and anger, turning him out to forget about him. But some time later when he was bought back into work because Jenny had no other horse to ride, she started carrying a notebook when she rode to write down ideas for another book she felt 'brewing'.

That's when Bobby started acting on 'thoughts' Jenny had about problems she was trying to 'fix' and without having to do anything else but write them down, he acted on those thoughts and fixed himself. That was the beginning of Jenny being able to 'hear' what Bobby was trying to communicate to her, leading to Jenny then teaching others how to listen to their horses (and Bobby) in their workshops.

Some of you will think this is crazy - we can't hear our horses 'talk' - but when you read this book (and there are lots of others written about animal commnication too), you will understand that we can 'hear' our horses and what they have to say, if we just take the time to learn to listen.

Communication with horses is progressing - first we learned how to 'read' them through their body language and now that we're getting good at that, the next logical step is to learn to hear and listen to them.
Jenny and Bobby not only teach you about this in the book, they teach about true leadership, about how to work in both your comfort zones and to gradually expand them, about how to stay safe and overcome fear.

Jenny's 'no bullshit' language makes this book enjoyable and funny to read with statements such as "Practice makes perfect - but practicing crap only makes perfect crap". Topics start with understanding our horse, ourselves and how we both operate together, through to riding 'like a gifted rider', solving all sorts of problems, horse health and inspiring success stories.

The best thing about this book is its an E-Book which means you can buy it now online (secure system) and be reading it in a few minutes time - even with a slow dial-up connection it doesn't take long to download.
For less than $35 (including the book price, paper and ink) you can print out the 229 pages so you can refer to it again and again easily. This is one book you can flick open anytime and find enlightening information so have a look at Jenny's web site where the contents of the book are revealed www.bookswithspirit.com or order your copy now through the Natural Horse World Shop.

Through The Eyes Of The Horse by Carlos Tabernaberri

This is a little book that's big on wisdom. Packed into its 144 pages are all of Carlos' philosophies on horses which for me rang true - at last, someone has written from the heart and from the horse's perspective.
At the start of the book there is a quote from Buddha about beliefs and as I read further it seemed Carlos could be described as the Buddha for horses. Everything he teaches is for the benefit of the horse and ultimately the human who needs to become what they want their horse to be. There's no truer saying than "Your horse is a reflection of who you are".

Carlos is known worldwide for the remarkable results he achieves with foals, starting young horses and rehabilitating abused horses. He has been described as the gentlest horseman to touch a horse and rejects the use of the bit. His approach uses consistent, confident and kind leadership to develop trust, obedience and respect in the horse.
His approach doesn't require you to use a system, memorise a series of steps or purchase a lot of expensive tools. However the book does explain with concise analogies and colour photos how to understand horses and how our actions and attitudes influence them.
Most importantly this book will show you how to consider your horse's mind and spirit in all the work you do with him or her. As Carlos says "Once you have your horse's heart and mind, his body will follow".

Marty Schiel helped record and produce this wonderful book and says that Carlos is driven to be a sort of 'equine advocate' working tirelessly to help another horse, another person. "Time and again I have witnessed the great honesty and courage with which he challenges people to change their thinking and to give up their spurs, whips and bits."

To purchase this book go to the Natural Horse World Store

Hoofworks: Barefoot Basics by Peter Laidley


The back of the CD jacket says “Natural Hoofcare…. For horse owners young or old…this is hoof care made easy!!!
Teach your horse to enjoy hoof care.
How to trim your own horse’s hoofs, Tools, Examples, Stories, Anatomy….and much more.”

This is the first Australian work as far as I know on natural hoofcare and is really a reference book on CD which allows interactive learning complete with short video clips to demonstrate various trimming techniques.
Peter’s introduction on the CD explains his philosophy.

This series is about horses feet…
There has been a lot written about “natural lifestyle”, environment,
nutrition, exercise and medication for horses. Without undervaluing these subjects I want to concentrate on understanding the normal form and function of the horse’s foot and the process of trimming to best maintain that form and function.
I assume that every horse was born Barefoot and make no apology for the fact that I remove horseshoes whenever I can. It is the way I do things and it solves a lot of problems
I do not need to pretend that I work miracles every day or that my horses, or my clients’ horses, are particularly special other than to me and their owners. Each horse is an individual with individual strengths and weaknesses. Most of my clients do not have big budgets or expensive horses, rather many of them have companions and friends
that they just want to keep as healthy as possible.
We have seen remarkable improvements in health and performance when we changed these animals from either being shod, or unshod but neglected, to being high performance “Barefoot”. Conditions which defied healing with expensive therapeutic shoeing responded better to economical care. Muscle pain which kept re-occurring when the horse was shod now responded to the massage or chiropractic treatment.
And my greatest reward has been to see young (and some not so young) owners learn to communicate with, and care for, their own horses.
Although I have tried to put as much practical instruction into this material as I can, there is no substitute for “hands on” training, with an instructor or a more experienced friend. Each specific horse, and hoof, has its own challenges and rewards so having a friend or group of friends to talk to about your progress can be a great help.

If you have any interest at all in Natural Hoof care, then I highly recommend this CD as a fantastic reference and a great starting point. It is available from the Natural Horse World Online Store or you can order it direct from Peter’s website… www.hoofworksaustralia.com

The Natural Horse
by Audrey Townley

Although this book was first published in 1993, it still has tons of relevent information which must have been quite a new approach back then.

Ausdrey Townley is a Fellow of the British Horse Society and has taught riding as well as competed in all areas of the sport. She is also author of Natural Riding published by Crowood.

The Natural Horse puts the relationship between human and horse back in perspective and explains how you can get the most out of this unique partnership. Its written in a clear, readable style and is a practical guide for all those wishing to develop a deeper awareness of the horse's psyche. The book describes techniques for improving communication and enhancing performance, offers practical advice on solving problems and has over 130 photos and drawings.

Audrey Townley has a particular empathy for the horse that is demonstrated in her thoughts on competition and winning.

"If we can explore our motives in wanting to win, we can achieve fulfilling success while enjoying the process instead of being a slave to it, and so avoid exploiting the horse in our drive to succeed. Whatever choice you make in your quest for pleasurable riding, do remember that the horse should share the enjoyment".

Her philosophy on how to pass on your newly aquired knowledge without offending people is evident with this quote - "There are still black spots in horse welfare, but those that seek to know more, cast a ray of light on the horse's lot by setting a good example to others."

And finally, Audrey quotes Richard Bach when relating stories about difficult horses who have taught her more about relationships than anything else:

"There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands.
You seek problems because you need their gifts."

HORSE FOLLOW CLOSELY – Native American Horsemanship by GaWaNi Pony Boy & photos by Gabrielle Boiselle.

GaWaNi Pony Boy is mixed blood native American and after attending college, spent 3 years travelling the US with a Native American drum group performing on weekends at various universities, cultural events and pow wows. During these on the road years he was able to compile the ideas, methods and techniques contained in this book. By seeking the advice and council of tribal elders from many different nations and backgrounds, he was better able to understand the beliefs and methods used by the nation’s first great horsemen.
By weaving the ‘old ways’ with his own already successful training methods, Pony has developed ‘Relationship Training’ . When not writing, he can be found presenting clinics and seminars throughout the world in an effort to help people get more enjoyment from the companionship of the horse, and on a deeper level, to help people have a better understanding of our relationship with all things.
Horse and rider are one. Theirs is a relationship of trust, harmony and respect born of a way of life that is all but lost. In this magnificent book, GaWaNi Pony Boy illustrates the traditional training methods that are steeped in the common sense and age old wisdom of his ancestors.
The stunning full colour photos and simple eloquence takes us back to the days when horse training was not merely about getting results but about creating a bond for life.
An inspiration ofr riders and a feast for horse and native American enthusiasts, Horse, Follow Closely forges a relationship with readers that few books can ever hope to achieve.

Forage and Pasture management for Laminitic Horses
and Dietary management of the Carbohydrate Intolerant Horse by Kathryn Watts.

Kathryn Watts has over 25 years experience in agricultural research and her web site has helped many people understand how to better manage horses and ponies prone to grass founder.

For those of us who want to know all the facts, so we can make better decisions in the day to day management of our horses, this CD set has valuable information in the 2 + hours of presentation which featured at the recent Laminitis Forum held in Kentucky, USA.

Kathryn’s research has discovered that excess non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) may exaccerbate laminitis along with EPSM, colic, tying up and developmental orthopedic disease.

The NSC content of grasses and hay may range from 1-35% which is a huge range when you discover that most horses can only tolerate around 10% NSC.
Understanding the factors that affect the carbohydrate content of forage is vital to successfully manage horses with these conditions.

Although some of the information is available on Kathryn’s web site www.safergrass.org , the point form presentation style and verbal explanation on the CD’s make it easier to understand and refer to.

This information is relevant to all horse owners as all horses are prone to laminitis or serious cases of founder.
These CD’s contain important information that will enable you to manage your horses so that laminitis and founder is avoided or minimised. It will even help you grow and harvest better hay for horses which have needs quite different from that grown for cattle.

The CD’s are available from the Natural Horse World Store.
Proceeds from their sale go towards further research into grasses suitable for horses.

THE HORSE NUTRITION BIBLE – By Ruth Bishop
The comprehensive Guide to The Correct Feeding of Your Horse

Everyone has questions about the type and quantity of feed to provide for their own particular horse. In this book, Ruth Bishop, Horse & Hound columnist and Spillers Horse Feeds nutritionist, explores all the options and offers down-to-earth advice on what to feed.
This is one of the easiest to understand reference books on feed that I’ve come across and is essential reading for all horse owners.
In the introduction the author refers to the phrase “No Hoof, no Horse” which clearly indicates that if you don’t look after the feet, you have an unusable horse, and laments that there isn’t a similar phrase for feeding. But I would like to point out that the two are already linked closely as in recent years we have become more aware of how feed can affect the horse’s feet.
Most feed books don’t have enough information on grass, which is the staple diet for most horses in Australia especially, so its nice to see over a dozen pages devoted to the feeding of grass and hay with some useful tables to gauge how much of these a horse should be given at different times of the year.
Another important aspect covered is the care of teeth and how you feed affecting their health which in turn affects the whole horse’s health.
Not only is the whole spectrum of horse feeds looked at individually, from forages to mixes, to supplements and even treats, there is a chapter on Feeding Principles to help you make the right choices.
Other chapters address feeding to specific requirements such as the older horse, the breeding horse, the orphaned foal, to put on or lose weight. Then Diet related ailments are covered with good basic info on colic, laminitis, ulcers, allergies, choke and even behaviours.
Feeding Myths address sugar in a horse’s diet, Feeding bran and performance boosters while the last chapter helps us understand in lay-mans terms the nutrition fundamentals of water, energy, carbohydrates, oils and fats, minerals and vitamins.
In All, this is a wonderful, easy to understand book on feeding, recently published in 2003 and 2005 for the paperback edition and is published by David & Charles in the UK and available from www.amazon.com for approx. $25.

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