Sacred Horses

Few Westerners have ever laid eyes on these marvelous creatures, but the author was determined to see and ride them, and to spend time with their breeders and trainers.

Are there silent, yet powerful, ingredients missing from most horse training techniques and riding instruction? In her research of horsemen and women who appear to have a gift with horses, Dr. Fay outlines the invisible things these equestrians do that make their interactions with horses appear effortless. As a research scientist and life-long equestrian, Dr. Fay spent more than two decades searching for scientific explanations for why some people are able to develop seemingly spiritual relationships with horses. She discovered that equestrians with this gift merely know how to use their natural abilities in a way that most of us were never taught. These abilities already exist inside of each one of us, so we merely need understand how to use them. But we also need to be willing to open our eyes and hearts and let go of what we believe is possible. Within the pages of this book, you will gain insights into how you can develop your gift with horses. You will learn how you are unconsciously "talking" to your horse through your mind and body. But more importantly, you will see how easy it is to turn these unconscious conversations into ones that are meaningful to your horse. This is not a book about animal communication. Instead, this is a guide to using the energy field, along with the power of your own mind and body to influence your horse in a gentle and quiet, yet highly effective way. The principles presented in this book work regardless of the type of horse you have or the discipline you ride. There is no need for special training gadgets because you already have everything you need. Once you begin to implement the principles and see the profound changes in yourself and your horse, you may never view traditional horse-training methods in the same way. Through real life stories and simple exercises, Dr. Fay guides readers to a greater awareness of their untapped abilities. She teaches us how to use our innate gifts to create a sacred space where communion with the horse occurs naturally and spontaneously.

The Tao of Horses is a unique work that shows how these magnificent animals can serve as guides and mentors, transforming the lives of those who admire and love them. The author, an experienced journalist and horsewoman, brings to light observations and life lessons that are inspiring, thought-provoking and revelatory. Features reflections from such notable horse enthusiasts and professionals as: Jockey Julie Krone, the first woman in Thoroughbred Racing's Hall of Fame; Michael McMeel, who founded and directs a horse-orientated program for at-risk youth; Jockey Gary Stevens, who played George Woolf in the movie Seabiscuit; Gleaming with affection and reverence, this book is the perfect gift for horse riders and aficionados of all ages.

Rich compilation of legend and lore from mythology, Bible, folklore, literature, other sources. Tales of headless horses, fairy horses, seahorses, plus associations with gods and patron saints, metempsychosis, creation myths.

Margrit Coates is internationally acclaimed for her work as an animal healer and communicator, and is the author of Healing with Horses and Horses Talking. Now, for the first time, she explains how horses can offer healing and guidance to us, the people in their lives. Connecting with Horses explores the key lessons that we can learn from these magnificent animals. When we really understand how to interact with horses and how to interpret their roles in our lives, we will learn how to improve our relationships with others and much more. This extraordinary book draws upon powerful true stories and practical experience to explore themes and offer profound insights ranging from creativity through to potential and success. As you will discover, even your own horse or pony is an incredible animal that has much to teach you...

On a trip to Scotland, the psychotherapist family team of Adele, Deborah, and Thomas McCormick — pioneers in the psychotherapeutic use of horses — discovered that early Celtic mysticism held important insights into an equestrian-partnered spirituality. The McCormicks show how to integrate this spirituality with psychology, forming a new, powerful form of healing. Horses and the Mystical Path recounts their memorable journey and the lessons they learned from their amazing equine guides.

How one woman’s love for horses led her to a deeper love of God With edgy honesty and humor, Laurie Brock invites all who have longed for a deeper encounter with God to join her in the saddle (and occasionally on the ground) to discover how horses’ ways of knowing can help humans discover God speaking to us. This book—from a powerful, vulnerable, clergy author—is for anyone who struggles with the experience of faith in the institutional church, or who feels they have connected with God on a deep level outside of church, in everyday pastimes, or in emotional moments. “A beautifully written meditation on belief, the holy, and the healing power of horses. Mertonian in its wisdom, this profound book not only helped me see the magic of animals in everyday life, but allowed me a better understanding of my own faith journey in the Episcopal Church.” —SILAS HOUSE, novelist, author of Southernmost “Brock writes beautifully, with depth and passion. She gives us a sense of how horses—powerful, beautiful animals—might teach us about ourselves and God.” —REV. CANON SCOTT GUNN, Executive Director, Forward Movement

Wrapped in blankets and looking at the stars, a young Navajo girl listened long ago to stories that would guide her for the rest of her life. "Such summer evenings were filled with quiet voices, dogs barking far away, the fire crackling, and often we could hear the faint drums and songs of a ceremony somewhere in the distance," writes Luci Tapahonso in this compelling collection. Blue Horses Rush In takes its title from a poem about the birth of her granddaughter Chamisa, whose heart "pounded quickly and we recognized / the sound of horses running: / the thundering of hooves on the desert floor." Through such personal insights, this collection follows the cycle of a woman's life and underlines what it means to be Navajo in the late twentieth century. The book marks a major accomplishment in American literature for its successful blending of Navajo cultural values and forms with the English language, while at the same time retaining the Navajo character. Here, Luci Tapahonso walks slowly through an ancient Hohokam village, recalling stories passed down from generation to generation. Later in the book, she may tell a funny story about a friend, then, within a few pages, describe family rituals like roasting green chiles or baking bread in an outside oven. Throughout, Tapahonso shares with readers her belief in the power of pollen and prayer feathers and sacred songs. Many of these stories were originally told in Navajo, taking no longer than ten minutes in the telling. "Yet, in recreating them, it is necessary to describe the land, the sky, the light, and other details of time and place," writes Tapahonso. "In this way, I attempt to create and convey the setting for the oral text. In writing, I revisit the place or places concerned and try to bring the reader to them, thereby enabling myself and other Navajos to sojourn mentally and emotionally in our home, Dinétah."

Originally published in 1932, Kathleen Tamagawa’s pioneering Asian American memoir is a sensitive and thoughtful look at the personal and social complexities of growing up racially mixed during the early twentieth century. Born in 1893 to an Irish American mother and a Japanese father and raised in Chicago and Japan, Tamagawa reflects on the difficulty she experienced fitting into either parent’s native culture.