Great book for all riders, especially those considering a career in horses
353926
For myself as a relatively young instructor and trainer this was a great read.  It was good to see where I have invested my time is good, and great information on how I can improve and how to get better.  Thank you for the thoughtful insight Denny.
2111631
I enjoyed the stories in this book and examples given - it is indeed a journey described and one I was very grateful to read. It is not a "how to" book but more about lessons that have helped learn the concept of softness. I found I could consider a number of the lessons and how they might apply in  my life  or what did that lesson say to me. I know I will read it a few times and see new things to consider each time. Very worthwhile reading for anyone who wants to consider themselves and their interactions with horses.
2369191
I received this book as a Christmas gift, and read through it in one night.  It is a wonderful, must have book for any horse person!  I run a non-profit horse rescue ,and this book has both inspired and intrigued me.  I cant wait to start applying the methods to our rescued animals.  Chapter by Chapter, as I was reading, his examples and methods really struck home...the reason behind "why" horses act the way they do and how to understand it all.  Very eye-opening and very well written - funny, down to earth and informative!  Five stars PLUS!
4434965
I`ve mainly ridden (for a few years) as an adult and have my own horse.  It is through my horse that I`ve discovered just how weak my riding truly was.  Pretty good on school horses, but with my horse it`s a different story.  On one hand my weaknesses are completely pointed out and unforgiven, yet my successes (when they truly are successes) are equally rewarded.

I`ve looked at lots of other methods to achieve riding and partnership success with my horse, including Parelli, yet this is hands down the best approach to riding I`ve found.

I`ve only just begun to practice the methods and exercises in this book and already I`m seeing great results.  No question it`s alot of work and coordination, but when you get it right it feels truly wonderful!  I already feel much more secure even though I`m far from the ideal as she puts it.  I particularly like her references to how great riders seem to be `just sitting there and doing nothing`, when in fact they are doing quite alot, with very high muscle tone and she then explains in detail just how you can do it too.  I`ve read other books that are filled with riding jargon but light on specifics - I love this book because of the great detail of specifically describing each aspect then telling you how to achieve it complete with both on and off horse exercises.

My only regret is not finding this book sooner - from the title I had always thought it would be more about riding psycology - it is decidedly NOT, and all about body mechanics, both for you and the horse!
3269386
To me, this book came across more like a personal memoir rather than the latest trend in horse-training techniques.  I thoroughly enjoyed the book soley for the author's personal insight, observatons, and his remarkable kinship with horses and animals.
What most folks in the equine industry don't realize, is that Monty has a special gift & kinship with horses - unique to him only. What works for one trainer, does not neccessarily work for another.
What I see in horse-related magazines and in the equine industry per se, makes me shake my head.  The media is all to quick to pick up on the latest flavour-of-the-month trainer & training techniques; re: John Lyons, Lynn Salvatori-Palm, Pat Parelli, Richard Shrake, etc; (the latest trend seems to be shifting to Australian cowboys, re: Clinton Anderson, et al) - then drop it as quickly until the next training fad becomes the new vogue. Folks then jump on the flavor-or-the-month bandwagon, and think that "what works for him, will work for me", without taking into account one's own personal dynamics, mood, personality, character, temperment, metabolism, etc.
It kinda reminds me what Dr. Benjamin Spock said about parenting and on becoming a new parent:  "Trust yourself, you know more than you think".
THAT being said, I wish I could go to one of Monty's "join up" clinics - if only to observe man & horse communicate, and watch Monty work his magic.
3567487
From the first page this is a great book.  Since I am a horse person and my husband is a pilot certain stories really hit the mark.  It is a wonderful book to just have sitting around.  Many times friends of mine will just pick it up to thumb through it and end up asking to take it home.  I really recommend it!
3058167
This is a very well-written book. It is easy to read and understand.
It has information for all levels of horsemanship.  I have been riding for many years and I found the information in this book very beneficial to my horsemanship knowledge.  I am very glad I purchased this book.  I am glad I can carry this book around on my Kindle.  Great Book.
2697243
This book should be read by anyone interested in horse ownership. This book is suitable for all horse people, from the beginner to the most experienced. Even as a seasoned rider, I learned a great deal from this book. I highly recommend this all potential horse custodians.
155598
I just finished this book tonight, and I couldn't put it down. I love the way Mr. Roberts trains horses with love, and non-violence instead of abuse, and cruelty even though he was abused by his father. It also tells Mr. Robert's story of growing up on a ranch in California, being a child star, meeting James Dean, his wife,children,and learning about horses, and learning to train them. I liked this book a lot. There should be more people like him in the world who show love and compassion for our 4 footed friends. Even though I'm not interested in horse training, I enjoyed this book.
3347333
This book would be of great interest to any horse owner or rider, of any level. It would be equally interesting I imagine to the general public who enjoys reading about the life of a great horse trainer and teacher, whose lessons for the horse owner, apply to all areas of life. Margaret Dorrance and John Saint Ryan have given us a treasure. I intend to purchase more copies for my friends and family as it's just too good to be missed !
3433040
I was given this book by my horse trainer, and it is a great story.  The book has given the outlook of that every horse has the potential to be the star
4634505
Wonderfully written in narrative style, this is hard to put down, but one you'll want to read again and again.  Mark Rashid shares lessons from his life with horses, as well as those taught to him by "the old man". You'll learn to see horses from a new perspective, and with practice, learn to become one that horses will want to follow, rather than one who dominates through intimidation.  If you love horses to your very core, you'll love this book.
3869709
What a wonderful book packed with information on rider bio-mechanics and exercises to help you strengthen your core and balance.  A must read for anyone who rides horses or for the rider who wants to improve their seat and balance!  It gives you an in depth understanding as to how easily our bodies can influence our horse's movement and balance, and how some of their behaviors (falling in or out, being crooked, etc.) are actually the result of us being off balance and causing the problem!  It really gave me more "rider awareness."

I highly recommend this book over Janice Dulak's book "Pilates for the Dressage Rider".  It much more well written and illustrated and the book is better laid out for the reader.  A must "addition" for any equestrian's library!  Your horse will thank you!

I also recommend, in conjunction with this book, anything from rider biomechanics expert Colleen Kelly.
2368240
This is a powerful book.  It's written about Grant Golliher, a life-long cowboy and his voyage from childhood in Colorado to breaking horses across the West, to finally discovering and adopting the "horse whispering" philosophies of training colts and helping troubled horses.

There's a real sense of honesty to the book - with heartbreaking stories about Grant losing some of his favorite horses or coming near death when caught in a Wyoming snow storm... to stories of triumph (winning huge shows, etc).  Some of those stories can be hard to read they are so heartbreaking.  But there is also a real beauty to it - the way it is told, and the honest & transparency with which Grant shares about both his losses and triumphs.

The book also touches on Grant's parents, his friendships and marriages and family.  From falling in love, to making mistakes personally that cost him dearly.  And how he learned from those experiences and grew  These stories are shared with just as much candor, if not more so.  In many instances you see that the horses taught Grant things that allowed him to be better in those interpersonal relationships.  And in other cases, the relationships taught him things that he later applied to the way he trains horses.  It's all quite fascinating, and it's hard to put the book down.

NOTE:  I've been riding my entire life, and so I'm naturally drawn to stories about horses.  But I think this will appeal to a pretty wide audience.  It's as much about a cowboy as it is about horse training.  And the lessons he learned from his experiences could, in my view, be applied to a lot of different life situations.  So it's one of those rare gems where I feel like I've gone on a journey, been really engaged in the journey, and learned some things about life that I can hope to apply.

One other thing I would note is that this book doesn't try to be something it's not.  Grant is a cowboy, and this is written about Grant's life as he remembers it and the lessons he's learned.  He doesn't try to make it more complex or promise to have all the answers.  I understood that when I read the book, and I think it's simplicity lends to it's authenticity and beauty. Great!!
2064009
It has been my long-held belief that any book that has the power to change your perspective is a great book.

This is one such book.

Without being forceful or looking down upon other training methods, Rashid gives story after story to illustrate his views on true horsemanship. No matter your discipline, this is a great read if you are looking to improve your relationship with your horse. Highly recommend!
3100575
Great book, uses common sense and horse sense to train your steed into a steady companion and a great ride.  I'm using it with my colt (I've never had a horse before) and the trainer I got him from is impressed with how much more advanced my boy is from the other colts she has that were born 2 to 4 weeks before he was (he's only 5 months old).  All thanks to this book.
4554685
My horses work. They do lessons, pony rides and pony parties. They need to be fit and sound. This book is great for helping me to understand how to get them into condition and how to keep them in condition so that they are much less likely to get hurt. Part of their conditioning is hand walking. Now when we turn I am more aware of how their body responds and know how much to ask for in a turn. When a rider is on their back I know what to look for in the horse's body response to commands and for older riders I can explain why we must be careful about how we ask for a headset, etc. Anyone who has taken lessons for any period of time has been lectured on shoulder in and shoulder out, but now it makes so much more sense and after reading this book I know when to stop asking for something. Understanding the muscle groups involved and the way I want the muscles to respond will make all of these riding exercises more productive. I will also be teaching the older riders how to do a few basic streches with the horses after they dismount as being as important as properly brushing them and cooling them down.