DANCING WITH HORSES

Rating:
Summary: Read it with an open mind! This method does work!
Review: This is a book you first need to read from cover to cover before you start AND you need to read it with an open mind. It often challanges some traditional views (with explanation as to why) while mixing some new concepts with the old. Photos are used to illustrate everything. He is very honest and does say what sounds easy really won't be when you get out in the field to try it and you need to stay focused, but if you persist it works!

I have a young horse that just got back from a professional trainer but started to bolt on me anytime I tried to do ground work with him - Lyons style. I then read this book and started applying what I learned there and he hasn't bolted since! He is SO much more respectful. I have also started using this method on a 3 year old rescue horse that recently came here and he is also responding wonderfully. One is a haflinger and the other we think is mostly TB. So these methods can be used on ANY type of horse with great results.

And to the person who said that he was saying certain horses shouldn't be ridden (concave, long backs, etc) - he actually said that they are *harder* to train - not that they can't be & most beginners will not have the experience to get them to collect properly. Hmm...same thing that several trainers I know say. Also, shorter backs are stronger - look at the arabian - so I don't see how those points were issues.


Rating:
Summary: Great book, but...
Review: This is an awesome book, but I had a hard time applying it. Maybe those with more experience can use it more. I don't think it's for beginners.

Rating:
Summary: The basics and beyond
Review: This is an excellent book for novice and advanced rider alike. The photos of the beautiful Andalusians are worth the price but his discriptions of the aids and their PROPER use are what its all about.

It was interesting to me the similarities to other proven authors such as Monty Roberts, Pat Parelli, and Tom Dorance of the similarities in methods and techniques, using different terminology but producing similar results. In many areas though I think he explains the concepts better.

Its also worth noting that he applies his methods to 3-5 year old Andalusians right out of mountains, not domesticated stable grown horses.

I enjoyed this book, and look forward to the video. It belongs in every serious horsemans library.