Evidence Based Horsemanship

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.

An eye-opening book leading equestrians into a brave new horse world, where we train horses their way, not ours. For years, Andrea Kutsch filled stadiums with spectators as she demonstrated remarkable transformations in “problem horses” using the Natural Horsemanship training methods she'd learned from leaders in the field. But something was bothering her—a feeling that had been with her since her childhood days, watching Icelandics in a field and coming up through a traditional German riding system. Despite the strides made in improving the horse's well-being through the worldwide adoption of Natural Horsemanship techniques, she knew that the methods were still missing something. They still trained horses looking at every situation from the human perspective and were dependent on a trainer's natural feel. This meant that, for the horse, there was stress involved in the training process. In addition, positive results gained by a professional often couldn't be replicated by a horse's owner; what the horse learned from one person wouldn't transfer to others. Kutsch set out to find the next stage in the evolution of horse training. She studied the results of methods she used with thousands of young horses at The Lewitz Stud in Neustadt--Glewe, Germany, the renowned farm owned by European champion Paul Schockemöhle. This provided the basis for what she calls Evidence-Based Equine CommunicationTM (EBEC), a means of reading the horse and understanding the world from his point of view. Here she introduces EBEC and how it can take our relationship with horses and their ability to perform as our partners to a whole new level. Inside find: Myth-busting popular assumptions related to typical gestures made by the horse, such as “licking and chewing” and “lowering the head.” Explanation of how ethograms can be used to map out equine body language and help us attain a clearer sense of the horse's true perspective. Discussion of how the horse's physical and psychological needs must be met in order for him to learn, including what those needs are. Exploration of the difference between inter- and intra-species communication. Introduction to a new reward-and-punishment model that looks at operant conditioning from the horse's point of view. Identification of the need for non-violent communication on the part of the trainer as well as the training skills she must have when working with a horse, and what these light look like not from our perspective, but the horse's. Certain to provide ideas for improving every interaction with horses, whatever your experience or discipline, From the Horse1s Point of View is a conversation-starter for all those looking to take their horsemanship to a whole new level.

If you have seen his weekly television program, Downunder Horsemanship, then you know that Clinton Anderson's training techniques can achieve amazing results with almost any horse. Now his methods are available for the first time in a reader-friendly, highly illustrated book, and you, too, can learn the program that teaches "everyday people"—regardless of riding style, age, or ability—how to better communicate with their mounts.

An eye-opening game-changer of a book that sheds new light on how horses learn, think, perceive, and perform, and explains how to work with the horse’s brain instead of against it. In this illuminating book, brain scientist and horsewoman Janet Jones describes human and equine brains working together. Using plain language, she explores the differences and similarities between equine and human ways of negotiating the world. Mental abilities—like seeing, learning, fearing, trusting, and focusing—are discussed from both human and horse perspectives. Throughout, true stories of horses and handlers attempting to understand each other—sometimes successfully, sometimes not—help to illustrate the principles. Horsemanship of every kind depends on mutual interaction between equine and human brains. When we understand the function of both, we can learn to communicate with horses on their terms instead of ours. By meeting horses halfway, we achieve many goals. We improve performance. We save valuable training time. We develop much deeper bonds with our horses. We handle them with insight and kindness instead of force or command. We comprehend their misbehavior in ways that allow solutions. We reduce the human mistakes we often make while working with them. Instead of working against the horse’s brain, expecting him to function in unnatural and counterproductive ways, this book provides the information needed to ride with the horse’s brain. Each principle is applied to real everyday issues in the arena or on the trail, often illustrated with true stories from the author’s horse training experience. Horse Brain, Human Brain offers revolutionary ideas that should be considered by anyone who works with horses.

Tom Dorrance has been referred to as the "horse's lawyer". Tom gives the horse credit for his knowledge of a horse feelings and problems. He says, "What I know about the horse I learned from the horse". InTrue Unity, Tom shares some of these ideas to help achieve a true unity for human and horse.

"Horse Head: Brain Science & Other Insights is an essential and entertaining guide to the horse's mind. This book, with contributions from Dr. Steve Peters, co-author of Evidence-Based Horsemanship, introduces readers to fascinating neuroscience, connecting what we see from the saddle to what's happening on a microscopic scale, in the horse's brain. Additionally, HorseHead offers enjoyable chapters on best practices and essays on the journeys of lives with horses." -- Back cover.

Humane, science-based horse training is a type of training where the user combines an evidence-based understanding of equine behaviour with their genuine love and respect for horses in order to train and handle horses in an ethical yet effective way. This book with introduce you to the science behind animal training and explain how you can use positive reinforcement and other non-coercive techniques to train a wide range of behaviours. It also includes over 25 step-by-step training plans so you can go out and teach your horse to give his feet, lead calmly, back up, play fetch and so much more. This book is written by animal trainer and behaviourist Alizé Veillard-Muckensturm who holds a 1st class Bsc (Hons) in animal behaviour and welfare from Hartpury University. The 2nd edition has 30+ new pages including a new section on consent training, 7 new training plans, new theory exercises and answers to frequently asked questions.

A Colorado clone of James Herriot reveals the evolution of his trainingskills through well-told...

Since Horse and Stable Management was first published, it has been the definitive book on the subject. Now, in this new omnibus edition, the authors have combined that text with the text of their companion book, Horse Care, to provide one comprehensive volume covering all aspects of horse care. It supplies not only all the information required for a variety of horse courses and examinations, but the knowledge needed to understand how horses function, how best to care for them, and the theories behind modern equine practices. Offering exceptional value for the money, this omnibus edition will prove invaluable to horse owners and students taking horse courses.

"Comprehensive, authoritative, and accessible, Horses, Third Edition is an essential reference book for anyone who cares for a horse, from novice to experienced owner."--Jacket.