…because there’s no way I can do it in a month’s time.
I thought it would be great if *we* occasionally picked a horsie book to read and talk about ala Oprah. Nothing can replace putting our hands on the horse and working directly with it, but there’s still value in discovering from books.
I went ahead and picked *our* first book, though, I’d be happy to go with a consensus for the next one.
The Tao Of Equus: A Woman’s Journey Of Healing And Transformation Through The Way Of The Horse by Linda Kohanov
I know! Super Oprahesque, right? But I’m telling you it’s got some good stuff in it. So, I invite all to pick up a copy and begin reading. It’s readily available on Amazon and I note that there are less expensive used copies of the book that can be purchased. My first blog installment won’t be until about mid-June so there’s time. Please join me.
In other news, the final Part 3 of The Long And Short Of It series should be up by Friday (17th). I apologize for the slowness of late, but I’ve been out of the country. There will be two other shorter interruptions for Hooves in June and July, while I head out to do some long overdue horsey things.
Hooves 
Great idea. I love to read.
Me too! Count me in!
Are you coming down to Oklahoma to see your ponies? We should definately meet up, I am less than an hour from Oklahoma (pretty much anywhere in the state, unless its in the panhandle of the state, and if thats the case, its like 8 hours from me lol)
Actually, I am…that’s my July trip. Won’t have seen them in almost two years, so excited to see how fat and out of shape they are.
Great idea! Just ordered it from http://www.play.com – my fave place to get English language books now that I’m living in Germany. Oh, and if you want more of a trashy horse book, try “Riders” by Jilly Cooper – fantastic!
LOL! Okay, just started the “Trashy Horse Book List”.
You’ve got to be joking! You need to get out of California now.
Play along. It’s not as bad as it sounds.
I am pretty sure I have a copy somewhere, but not in the bookcase where it belongs so I will have to search a little. It may have been an xmas gift in the exchanges from the old board, if I am remembering correctly, which I rarely do nowadays. But, if I am remembering correctly, it will be a very Oprahesque beginning.
I know you have a copy. It’s been awhile since I’ve read it, so I forget at which point my eyes glossed over. Regardless, there was some good stuff in it. I know there have been days in my life where a walk to the barn to hang out with my horses cured all that ailed me that day. And anyone who denies that’s happened to them, doesn’t actually like or *get* horses and shouldn’t own one. Pfft!
I’m a HUGE believer in horse medicine! You don’t have to ride, even mucking out stables is enough to cure most grey moods.
Ok, I will look for my copy. And yes, it is amazing how many headaches, aches and pains, have gone away while spending time with my horses. I call it detox.
Apache, whom you never got to meet, was especially good at it. Everyone always stopped to talk to him and unload. One lady credits him with saving her son when therapy couldn’t. He would come to the barn with me and hang with Apache, I would go off, let him just stand there talking to Apache and petting him. He did learn to ride, groom, etc., but it was like the kid, who was having so much trouble with social relations at school that they finally took him out on advice of a psychiatrist, finally learned how to relate to people by learning to relate to Apache. I think learning some skills of communication and being successful with Apache gave him confidence. Went back to school, enjoyed himself, made friends, etc.
That’s a great story and pls do find your book. You have a unique way of interrupting complex ideas and putting them to language that’s easily understood.
It appears I have her second book, not the first, but I will find a copy. I have not bought many books lately, I need to check out some new titles. Plus many books have gone to ebooks, as trainers can publish more cheaply. I’ve heard good thing about a guy named Schaeffer, I think, ‘Right from the Start’.
read it years ago. Some good parts. Some, ahh, woo-woo parts. I’ll follow the discussion to come on it but am not going to re-read it. I need a few more years away from it before I can read it again.
Fair enough.
I’m definitely not going to read a badly written book on the blinding obvious written for the new demographic horse owners: female, 30 to 60, non-riders, for whom the horse has to make up for the disappointments in her life.
Taking a peek at a preview was enough to make my eyes bleed!
Let’s not pre-judge. Even if it is poorly written, I have enough interest in the subject to review on the horsey aspect of the book.
Well I prejudged the stupid woman when I read how her majikal and much loved horse “went to the trouble of having twins to underline her point” FUCKWIT!
One was born dead and the other scraped through…. majik! So she called it SPIRIT….. and the dead one she called Sanctus! (ahhhhh how sweet, her luverly poneee had cute twins for her)
Call me judgemental but that smells like one hell of a stupid woman and not one I’d want to bother to pay any money over to and for sure not to read or give heed.
As always, the good, the bad and the ugly of the book are open for discussion. You’ll be unable to participate, though, having not read the book. And I just know how much you’ll have wanted to comment on the bad and ugly parts. *wink*
It’s a reality that not everyone owns horses to ride them. Those that want them as pasture pets or lawn ornaments need to be educated as much as everyone else. While this book may not teach them the specifics of hoof care, feeding or other basic management requirements (that’s addressed in other publications) there are likely still points in this book that can be learned from. Even if it’s learning what not to do.
Feel free to submit your choice of text for the next reading session. Perhaps a veterinary textbook? Or a historical text? Maybe a manly publication from the likes of Monty Roberts or Pat Parelli. *beg*
How fun would it be to just rip apart everything in a Parelli book? I’d watch that discussion!
No fun at all if it meant I’d have to wade through that load of shit!
I had to write an 8-paged paper arguing for or against something and I chose to write a paper against Parelli. In a way it was nice because I really got to get down and dirty learning what Parelli really was to properly make fun of it. On the other hand, I had to research Parelli enough to write an 8 page essay.
Or buy the book- if I could pick it up at a car boot for 50p maybe…….
LOL! What a deal.
I’m never surprised at people’s varying opinions, but I do often wonder why they are often so inflexible. It’s the little ole lady set in her ways; the old dog you can’t teach a new trick to. Reading doesn’t have to be for literary worth, it can be for the sheer entertainment of it all and everything in between.
Will this book ever be considered a classic? A masterpiece of writing? An equine Bible? Hell no! But I’ve just reread the introduction and if as a reasonably intelligent and competent horse owner you can’t relate or identify with at least a paragraph or two of what the author writes, then there’s absolutely no hope for you.
I understand the many reasons people choose not to read a particular book, I just think that sometimes a person might want to set it the reason aside and read it anyway. 🙂
I’m with you, Mercedes. This certainly isn’t a book that I’d normally sit down and start reading, but I’m willing to give it a shot, if only to be able to discuss things in a book group where people can discuss the book and other horsey things instead of their kids and their kids schools (past book clubs). Can I open wine whilst I debate? Yeah, like I’d take a “No” as an answer to that question.
Hey, if it deserves trashing then I say, ‘trash away’. If it enlightens you and causes reflection then I say, ‘enlighten and reflect away’, or both, or somewhere in between, or whatever.
Quill: Do you have your essay on Parelli posted online somewhere?
My first choice would have been Xenophon. But then, it is your blog and I am happy to participate.
Excellent choice. I’ll add it to the nomination list.
I’ll nominate Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners by Captain M. Horace Hayes
The go to book for matters relating to equine health.
Only £31 from Amazon and at least it’s written by someone who has a clue and isn’t full of sentimental clap trap!
It’s a good reference text, but might be a bit like watching grass grow in terms of discussion. 🙂
IMO it’s a much better read than Linda Kohanov and much easier to get through.
Yes, I understand that is your view. LOL!
Snickers*** never thought the topic of a book would rock the boat like this has! Thought perhaps we’d get into the psychological benefits of horse ownership; i.e. being too effing tired after riding, feeding, mucking after them to have enough energy to have woeful longings of the perfectly balanced life.
And that’s really the point. 🙂 What fun would it be if everyone was happy with the choice and likely to agree with the content before reading even began?
Most everyone – with a heart – who’s owned horses knows that horses *are* different. They just are and we don’t always have the words to describe that difference. It’s why we get up in arms when they are treated poorly and unfairly. It’s why most of us don’t eat them. It’s why we get upset when they pass. Many of the best horsemen to ever live have acknowledged this difference.
I once went to ‘Cowboy Church’ (because I’m willing to try a lot of things, once). Getting me there in the first place was a pretty big deal since I don’t do ‘church’, but I also paid an admission. It’s not that I don’t believe is something bigger or greater than myself, I do. It’s just got nothing to do with ‘church’ for me. Anyway, the setup was a horse in a round pen and the ‘preacher’ moving the horse around the round pen relating the horse’s resistance, struggle, eventual compliance and submission to the same things in people’s lives and tying it all together with quotes of bible scripture. It definitely wasn’t my cup of tea and the only thing ‘personal’ that I got out of it was that it wasn’t my cup of tea. On an intellectual level, though, I could see how others, who’s core beliefs involved The Church, God, The Bible, could get something out of the sermon and how it was presented. Whether I agree or not is irrelevant. I’d never begrudge anyone personal enlightenment. The Tao Of Equus will not be for everyone. It might not even be for 10%. Read it, don’t read it. But I promise it will elicit vibrant discussion.
I’ve always walked to the beat of my own drum and am childless also. My choice, no regrets, it isn’t for everyone. I’m more opened minded than I used to be, within reason, but you could not drag me to a horse psychic if you paid me. Not my cup of tea, psychics are for Californians! 🙂
Would love to read this book and join in but literally no time. If I sit still, I fall asleep. Working FT, working 2-3 horses daily, keeping little critters fed and attempting to keep the lawn to a respectable level. Too old for all this but can never say no to the horses – they have something that caught me 5 decades ago and haven’t let go since. It’s sickness I tell you!
I nominate The Ethics and Passion of Dressage, by Charles De Kunffy
I just brought it off trade me in New Zealand…..so I am happy to join in with winter on it’s way here 🙂
*Thumbs up*
I forgot that somewhere else on the planet it’s snowing.
It snowed here in the UK yesterday and it’s summer!
I thought it was Spring in the UK right now.
Winter one day. Summer the next. I get confused!
My vote is for Rider’s by Jilly Cooper. FYI she also wrote Polo. I have both and a further one that is a follow up to Polo. (not so good)
Anything by De Kuffy is also good and I have several of those ass well as the Veterninary Notes one by Capt. Hayes. Some of the cures or treatments are seriously worht the read!!! LOL.
The first title looks like something like that “Eat, Pray, Love” thing by Elizabeth Griffith seriously not worth the $$$
D.
Yay! Another Jilly Cooper fan! “Riders” is definitely the best, but I’ve got them all. “Riding Lessons” and “Flying Changes” by Sarah Gruen (who wrote “Like Water For Elephants”) are also good.
AS not two ss’
If we are going for fiction, (and we quite obviously are) then Black Beauty or the Flicka Trilogy. With those tow and Horace Hayes on the book shelf you really have no need for Tao or NH….
Black beauty is a classic and I’ve just read that with my granddaughter.
Black Beauty is good! I have a copy distributed by the Humane Society of England way back when…. I bought it as a child at a Camp Fire Girls Fun Fair for something like 50 cents when that was really a lot out of your allowance.