Reviews (5)

A great informative book!
I really like this book. It's a very informative about some of the most important sires in Arabian horse breeding.
As an Arabian horse owner, I wouldn't want to be without this book in my collection.
I very much enjoy reading about the horses behind the the famous names and show results, the REAL horses, their special hallmarks and what their owner/trainers remembers about them. Special memories.
And being from Sweden, I am of course very proud to see one Swedish bred stallion, Alladdin, among the legends!
I just wish there would have been colored pictures, that would have made the difference to a five star rating.
I highly recommend this book!

Arabian Legends, USA
As a reader from NZ, I found this book readable, informative and full of wonderful and interesting pictures. The "human interest" stories about breeders finding their "hearts delight" form part of the text - and as one scrolls through the book, the role of the owner in the fate and fame of each horse is revealed as the true catalyst in their journey to immortality. A very interesting book, but the quality of the binding is poor. GJMD NZ South Pacific

A "must-have" for your Arabian Horse Library
This book is an important "who's who" of the Arabian horse world. Twenty-two of the most influential stallions are profiled. Of special interest are the the only two mares profiled, Bint Sahara and *Sanacht. Bint Sahara is the dam and granddam of three stallions featured - Ferzon, Fadjur, and Khemosabi. The combination of *Sanacht and Bint Sahara through the blood of Fadjur created one of the greatest breeding and show horse dynasties of the Arabian world. An invaluable resource book for researching potential purchases of horses and stud services. The stories of the people involved with these horses are fascinating. One of my favorites is the story of two great breeders, Frank McCoy of California and Dr. Eugene LaCroix of Arizona, meeting halfway in the desert near Indio, California. In one trailer was Dr. LaCroix's stallion Aarief, and in the other trailer was McCoy's Bint Sahara daughter, Fersara. They took them out, bred them, put them back into their trailers and went home. The result was another of the breed's great stallions, The Real McCoy.

Arabian Legends
A good review of important sires. We especially enjoyed the chapter on the Kales and *Muscat.

20th Century Arabians
Khemosabi, Bask, Fadjur, Nazeer, Naborr, and other great Arabians are covered in this nice-sized edition. If you are interested in breeding, bloodlines, and the lives of the individual super stars of the breed, this is the book for you! Great photos, nice insight into the lives of the stallions. I believe the only mare covered is Estopa, the Spanish Egyptian mare. This book may not satify the advanced breeder, since it covers the legends and not the lesser-known stallions who have been good influences, although not as gigantic. Fun to read. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It doesn't matter where you live: if you're a parent of a little girl, at some point you'll hear the dreaded words, "I want a pony!" It may be that you've got the financial resources, but live in a downtown condo and don't know the first thing about ponies. Or perhaps you're a country mouse, but know more about cattle than pony breeds. In any case, you'd do well to invest in The Perfect Pony before buying that sweet-faced little Shetland; it could save you both money and frustration.Although the book is extremely detailed, the language is simple enough to hand it over to your 9-year-old pony lover. The first section is devoted to various breeds and explanations of differences between ponies, cobs, and horses. Contrary to what you might think, character is more important that height when making the decision to label your equine pony or horse. They are generally stronger than similarly sized horses, but most important is "a certain look about the face and a particular type of personality." Choosing a pony involves factoring in the child's age as well as what the pony is destined for. If the rider is inexperienced, most important is choosing a "bombproof" pony--one that will never be tempted to unseat your little jockey. It's also important to read later chapters before making a pony purchase; details of boarding, insurances, feed, and care will give you a fair idea of what to expect and what you'll have to pay extra for, along with just how much work the proud new owner should be willing to put forth. With tons of clear color photos and straightforward directions, this is one pony book that can be enjoyed and used regularly by both parent and child. --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Perfect Pony is a perfect pony book!
The Perfect Pony is surely worth buying. It gives detailed information on buying your pony, and goes on to give useful information on showing, tack, and more! The Perfect Pony would be a great read for anyone of any age and horse experience. It's filled with beautiful photos that only add to the books greatness.

Provides newcomers with tips on caring for ponies
Susan McBane's The Perfect Pony is a practical introduction to caring for and showing a horse. The Perfect Pony provides newcomers with tips on caring for ponies, from breeds and choices to housing, handling and feeding. A fine choice for the home reference collection. ... Read more

Book Description

In this handsome volume, renowned photographer Hans Silvester points his lens at the famous horses of the Camargue region in southern France. Since prehistoric times, these rugged animals have run free in the vast swamps of the Rhone delta, where they have adapted to harsh conditions by banding together in small herds. Thanks to the remarkable ability of the photographer to gain the trust of wild creatures, we can observe the fierce white stallions as they protect their mares and foals and forage in their hostile but spectacular environment. This book offers a rare glimpse of wild horse behavior that will intrigue all horse lovers and fans of animal photography. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Horses of the Camargue review
Horses of the Camargue is by far the best book of horse photographs I have ever seen. ... Read more

Book Description

A meticulous reproduction of a hard-to-find catalog, this volume features over 350 finely detailed line illustrations of carriages and wagons. It includes more than 140 different models—cabriolets, flat-bottom and jump-seat surreys, phaetons and spiders, Stanhopes, storm buggies, Concords, open driving wagons, and much more. Extensive captions describe the body of each vehicle, gears, wheels, trimmings, top, painting, and cost. A delight for transportation buffs and a versatile resource of copyright-free art for designers.
... Read more

Book Description

Horse Tales for the Soul, Volume One is a compilation of wonderful, true, horse-related stories from horse lovers around the world. It is sure to touch your heart and change you forever! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Submitted by horse lovers from around the world
Bonnie Marlewski-Probert is a nationally recognized equestrian authority and horsewoman who was professionally trained in Hunt Seat and Western riding disciplines. Hooked on horses at the age of eight, horses and riding have been her life-long passion. Capably edited by Susan Strafford, each of three volumes comprising Bonnie Marlewski-Probert's outstanding series, Horse Tales For The Soul, contain 40 original stories submitted by horse lovers from around the world and is divided into chapters highlighting life lessons such as gratitude, overcoming adversity, appreciation, etc.

Bravo!
The windows of the soul that Volume 1 opens, Volume 2 takes you all the way home! So many topics covered by such generous folks sharing what only their equine friends can teach! Bravo to all.

I loved it!
Settle into an easy chair, pick up Horse Tales for the Soul, Volume Two and be transported into the world of horses and their human partners. Experience the soul connections that sometimes saddens the heart with tears and other times lifts the spirit to soar on rainbow wings!!

Wonderful Read
For those not fortunate enough to have a partnership with a horse, this book will bring you as close as you can get to the love, joy, and heartache we owners experience.

The Second Volume is Great!
I didn't think volume two could be better than the first volume of Horse Tales for the Soul. But it is also great! This is a great series and I am sure it will inspire many other young readers in the future, like me. Great job!! ... Read more

Book Description

The book tells the story of the Secret Societies of Horsemen who were the Original Horse Whisperers. The Societies were formed originally in the North East of Scotland about two hundred years ago but spread rapidly throughout Scotland and then to East Anglia and throughout Britain, and across to the United States. The roots of the Societies are obscure but many of the customs and oaths may go back to pagan times. The ploughmen who formed these groups came to exploit their membership much like a primitive trade union and used their membership to improve their conditions on the farm.

New members of the Societies were told a secret ‘magic’ word under severe oath of silence which, when whispered in the horse’s ear, seemed to give each new horseman immediate and total control over his horse. Russell Lyon investigates this ‘Word’ and the mythology behind it and reveals the secret knowledge that the horsemen who were the Original Whisperers used to make their horses obey their master’s command – instantly and without hesitation. ... Read more

Book Description

Classical Horsemanship for Our time presents the heritage of classical theories of riding in a modern, highly readable format. Jean Froisard, one of the world's masters of horsemanship, takes the reader through the development of a dressage horse, dressage in its truest sense, the training of a riding horse. He begins with the criteria for selection, then describes fully the progress of early training that is basic for any horse, whatever its equestrian discipline. Building systematically upon what has been learned, with constant emphasis on rewards, for even the slightest improvement, over punishment, he then takes the reader through the training progression up to the highest levels of dressage. The emphasis is always on the practical rather than the heavily theoretical, a blessing to those readers who have found themselves "lost" when trying to apply what they have read to their day-to-day riding. (6 x 9, 152 pages, b&w photos, illustrations) Jean Froissard is widely recognized as one of the great masters of horsemanship. He is the author of the classic works A Guide to Basic Dressage, Equitation: Learning and Teaching and Jumping: Learning and Teaching. He and his wife, Lily Powell, edited the encyclopedic work The Horseman's International Book of Reference. They live in Paris. ... Read more

Book Description

For forty years photographer Johnny Johnston has dedicated himself to capturing the exotic beauty, passion and mystery of the Arabian horse. Boldheart Publications announces the first ever collection of Johnny's internationally acclaimed photography: Arabians from the camera of Johnny Johnston.However, the enjoyment of this book isn't limited to the Arabian horse crowd.Anyone who truly enjoys photography, natural beauty, and the equine spirit will admire the contents of this handsome book.It is destined to be a classic for collectors, photo buffs, and horse lovers alike. Arabians also gives insight into Johnston's photographic process with an anecdote of a 'typical'session with the master. 9 1/2"x 12 1/2" hardbound with dustcover,84 full color pages on fine 100 lb. gloss paper. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

ARABIANS FROM THE CAMERA OF JOHNNY JOHNSTON
THIS BOOK HAS BY FAR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF ARABIANS THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN IN ONE BOOK. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED JOHNNY JOHNSTON'S WORK IN PHOTOGRAPHING THE ARABIAN AND HAVE ARABIAN MAGAZINES DATING BACK TO 1977 THAT ALL HAVE HIS WORK IN THEM. HE TRULY CAPTURES THE "SPIRIT AND BEAUTY" OF THE ARABIAN HORSE IN HIS WORK. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE SECOND BOOK BE A MAJOR TRIBUTE TO KHEMOSABI,IN SOME WAY, AS HE HAS BEEN MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE ARABIAN FOR MANY YEARS AND THE PICTURE OF KHEMOSABI IN THIS BOOK IS BY FAR THE MOST GORGEOUS ONE I HAVE EVER SEEN. KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK TO JOHNNY JOHNSTON AND THE AUTHOR, MAGGIE NICOL AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THE SECOND BOOK.

Capturing the essence of the Arabian
"Arabians" From the Camera of Johnny Johnston is a beautifully arranged pictorial of the Arabian horse. Guests to my home can't help but pick it up and look through it. Everyone leaves with a greater respect for the beauty of the Arabian Horse. Thanks so much for publishing not only a book, but a treasure.

Bravo!
This book is a feast for the eyes! If you love Arabians, horses, or just great photography, this book is a must-have! This is the greatest Arabian photographer of all time, and this book shows just how much he is capable of. Thank you to Maggie Nicol, Johnny Johnston, and all the people and HORSES that brought this book to life. Exquisite!

Stunning!
Visually breathtaking book. Johnny Johnston is one of the all time great horse photographers. For those of us who own and love Arabians, most will agree he can capture the true essence of a horse again and again. The cover photograph of the magnificent stallion *Padron remains one of my favorite horses photographs.

If you love beauty, and especially appreciate beautiful horses, you MUST have this book!

Great "coffee table" Book
Although I do not own Arabians, I do own horses and can appreciate the fine photography done by Johnny Johnston. Anyone who owns horses knows how extremely difficult they can be to photograph. Johnny captures the very essence of the Arabian horse. Once you open the book, you cannot stop flipping throught the pages until you've seen every last photo. There's just enough print to keep your attention, but not so much as to draw you away from the photographs.

I have just one request of the author, Maggie Nicol, do one on Quarter Horses!! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Book Description

Travel the world of horses, with two major American artists as your guides.

Horses and humans have a long history together, from wild steppe to farm field to battlefield, from rodeo arena to backyard. In Horses, Jay Dusard and Thomas McGuane illuminate the special bond that grows between riders and mounts. Their book is a memorable collaboration between two masters: Dusard offers his insight in words as well as in his extraordinary photography, McGuane in a pair of essays.

"Those who love horses are impelled by an ever-receding vision, some enchanted transformation through which the horse and the rider become a third, much greater thing," writes McGuane, also an acclaimed novelist and horseman. More than words, more than pictures, this slim, beautiful book is also a "third thing."

"To some people," McGuane observes, "horses have wings." Comic, exquisite, gritty, and wise—Horses flies on wings of its own. 45 b/w and color photos. ... Read more

Book Description

Historically the world of equestrian travel has contained an exciting mixture of unique men and women. Some are adventurers seeking danger from the back of their horses. Others are travelers discovering the beauties of the countryside they slowly ride through. A few are searching for inner truths while cantering across desolate parts of the planet. Then there is Messanie Wilkins. She was acting on orders from the Lord!

In 1954, at the age of 63, Wilkins had plenty to worry about. A destitute spinster in ill health, Wilkins had been told she had less than two years left to live, provided she spent them quietly. With no family ties, no money, and no future in her native Maine, Wilkins decided to take a daring step. Using the money she had made from selling homemade pickles, Wilkins bought a tired summer camp horse and made preparations to ride from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific Ocean. Yet before leaving she flipped a coin, asking God to direct her to go or not. When the coin came up head several times in a row, one of America's most unlikely equestrian heroines set off.

What followed was one of the 20th Century's most remarkable equestrian journeys. Accompanied by her faithful horse, Tarzan, Wilking suffered through a host of obstacles including blistering deserts and freezing snow storms, yet never lost faith that she would complete her 7,000 mile odyssey.

"Last of the Saddle Tramps" is thus the warm and humorous story of a humble American heroine bound for adventure and the Pacific Ocean. The classic tale is amply illustrated with photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Courage to ride
At the age of 62 it seemed that Mesannie Wilkins had reached the end of the road. Her farm was about to be repossessed by the bank and the doctors had giver her less than two years to live.
She was told to take it easy. Friends and relatives invited her to stay with them for the brief time left to her. But Mesannie refused to go quietly. With her last bit of money she bought Tarzan, an ex-summer camp horse, and with only 32 dollars left in her pocket set out, on horseback, from her home in Maine.

Her goal - California.

"Last of the Saddle Tramps" is Mesannie Wilkins' recollection of this 7000 mile journey. This tale is a wonderful mixture of the humorous horsey incidents (like her Tennessee Walker trying to walk back to Tennessee), the incredible physical hardships and the wonderful hospitality offered to her by her fellow Americans during the ride.
Mesannie Wilkins' style of writing is, much like herself, warm, humorous and unassuming. She has a wonderful gift for, with only a few lines, painting accurate images of the people encountered on the trail.
Most importantly, however, this is a tale of the incredible courage of one woman who, faced with seemingly unsurmountable odds, refused to give up on her life and her dream. Mesannie Wilkins is a true inspiration, today as much as during her lifetime. ... Read more

Book Description

A rare and exceptional breed, the Appaloosa became legendary as the horse of the Nez Perce Indians.Unique in beauty and character, the Appaloosa comes alive in this dazzling book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A book for the appaloosa enthusiast.
Like the rest of the books in this series, the pictures were beautiful and captured the extraordinary beauty of the Appy. The text was informative (in a superficial way) in describing the origins and legends of this breed. I do wish though that the book would have been longer and the text more detailed about the Appy. I felt the same way about Thoroughbred Spirit. But still very good.

Great Photos
I was very disappointed with this book. Even though it had some great pictures it lacked in information. It just wasn't what I thought it would be. This book would be great to have just for the photos....but thats it.

a worth while book
This book is a good addition to an appaloosa fans book collection. The text is very informative and the pictures a delightful. Having been an appaloosa fan for many years I thought I couldn't learn any more, so bought this book for the pictures. Reading the book anyway I was very suprised. It deals breifly with all aspects of the appaloosa horse including the history of the 'ghost wind' horses. For example did you know that after fercely carrying their masters into battle and fighting themselves the Nez Pérce appaloosas were taken home and tended to by the childern. After reading this book you realise just how remarkable the appaloosa is and how lucky we are to still have it.

What a beautiful Animal, is there any other?
Being an avid lover of spotted horses, I enjoyed reading the history and traits of my beloved Appaloosa. This book has beautiful photos and wonderful information showing how versatile an animal the Appaloosa is, and what integral part it has played in America's history. A great book for the barn or coffee table! Well worth the money! ... Read more

Book Description

Scientists have known for years that superior human athletes have hearts that are substantially larger than those of non-athletes. Human athletes can increase the size of their hearts through proper conditioning. Scientific research shows that superior racehorses, both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, also have hearts substantially larger than those of average horses. Unlike humans, the size of equine hearts is an inherited trait. Large racehorse hearts are passed from generation to generation along the X chromosome, through the mare. The challenge faced by breeders and buyers is learning how to capitalize on this important research. Marianna Haun was part of the U.S. team that conducted this ground-breaking research. In her book, The X Factor: The Relationship Between Inherited Heart Size and Racing Performance, she explains the significance of Thoroughbred and Standardbred heart scores and why those scores should be considered when buying or breeding a racehorse. Haun identifies the large-heart lines in the pedigrees of champion racehorses and shows how to find it in the pedigrees of horses that haven't yet been examined. After reading The X Factor, you will understand how heart size is measured and what the scores mean. You will learn how to trace large hearts through modern-day pedigrees and be able to find these genetic links in the horses you buy or breed. You will also see the body types that are consistent with large-hearted bloodlines that can be recognized and used in the selection of bloodstock. This is information you can use today to give your racing and breeding program the edge. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Useful on at least two levels
I think this book is good on two levels. As a primer for getting to know what the X-Factor is and how take advantage of it when breeding horses, I think book is essential. It also contains an absolute wealth of information that is incredibly valuable and interesting to breeders and pedigree researchers alike.

On the other hand, I found a number of ommisions & contradictions in Mrs. Haun's logic and quite a few problems or errors in the book itself. There are points where the serious researcher will have to make leaps of faith with Mrs. Haun and other points where you'll be left scratching your head wondering what's she's talking about. I found of typos (horse names spelled incorrectly in the book AIR FORBES ONE, ISINGLAS, etc) and the general impression I got was that her work hadn't been checked thoroughly for errors or was rushed to print before it was ready. At one point she mentions that Bend Or and Gainsborough trace their X-Factor genes to the mare Pocahontas which is flat wrong. I could find no such link and was left scratching my head.

While Marianna documents the Princequillo and War Admiral lines fairly well, it seems that there's a lack of documentation of the Mahmoud and Blue Larkspur lines. Whether this is because the author doesn't know the complete story with these lines or not is hard to tell. There also appear to be Omaha and Citation lines which she treats differently than the other lines. Unless you are an astute reader, you'll miss some of information Marianna has to share about these specific lines.

Overall, I found the book great. I was able to replicate and validate most of the connections she made and in many cases extend them by locating additional double copy mares which aren't included in the book.

I look forward to an update of this book with a list of additional X-Factor sires and more complete documentation.

Researching the Large Heart x Factor In Thoroughbred Horses
The findings of a genetic link to a specific characteristic found in superior race horses is nothing less than spectacular, both in terms of significance to the Thoroughbred industry, and in the sheer volume of information that had to be researched in order to achieve these findings. In a time of genetic emphasis and the biotechnical explosion that is to come in the near future, it is amazing to pinpoint a genetic link that is recessive, yet has found it's way down the gene trail for over 200 years. I applaude Marianna Haun, as I applauded the greatest racehorse ever with the largest heart in history: Secretariat.

A starting point
Marianna Haun's X-Factor is a starting point of information regarding the subject of the X chromosome, however, I felt the format of text hard to digest because the author's writing style is very broken up. The she wanders and comes back to the subject matter pages, and some times chapters, later. There is at least one pedigree error. Page 105 states Milan Mill is a daughter of Princequillo and the pedigree on page 106, shows her out of Caruso. Also, pedigrees of all listed DC mares would have been extremly informing and the index does not list all horses mentioned in the text. Myself being a researcher, would have liked to have had a bibliography included so I could varify the information presented. My general opinion of this work is that Ms. Haun compiled information from research work that has been done on this subject without a complete understanding of the subject matter herself.

Good Primer on Large Heart Genetics
This is a good initial work on large heart genetics. The concepts are easy to understand with enough anecdotal text to ad interest. I was a little disappointed in the format of the index. The contents were good overall but, from my standpoint, I would have loved to have 4 or 5 generation pedigrees on all the Double Copy Mares as well as their produce information as an aid to tracing the Large Heart X-Factor into the pedigrees of my own horses. There are also several mares missing from the double copy list (notably daughters of La Troienne) who are full sisters to DC mares on the list or are by stallions who produced DC mares and by extrapolation are DC mares themselves. This book is a great starting point but I only rated it above average because there is so much more information that, if included, would have resulted in a superior text for the serious breeder. Hope Marianna Haun is writing an additional book to expound on this first work. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (2)

For anyone seriously considering owning of a horse
First Horse by horse training expert Fran Devereux Smith is a straightforward and comprehensive instructional and informational guide specifically designed and written for the "first-time" horse owner. Covering everything from the basics of riding; to proper care and feeding; to accurately estimating horse-care costs, and much, much more, First Horse is a "user friendly" reference for anyone seriously considering becoming the owner of a horse, whether as a riding animal for pleasure or for work.

Do you want to learn abour horses?
I borrowed this book from the public library along with many others on the same subject. After reading through it rapidly, I decided to buy it right away.I plan on studying it in details.

We do live around horses and ranches.I do ride horses on trails;I love being around horses,I love riding them but they still remain a bit of a mystery to me.The local rancher or cowboy took care of them,got them ready for me. As a friend and perfect "dude" neigbor,I just sat in the saddle and went along on the ride. Not anymore! Now,little by little, I will be able to gain an understanding and knowledge of horses.I will know better how to deal with horses, how to deal with tacks. When confused by a behavior of a horse, or by an happening on the trail, I can go back to this book and find the answers to my typical "dude" questions. I am looking forward to study this book. It is very well organized; the language is clear;it relates exactly to what I see and experience around me.It will be a wonderful addition to our library. I do know I am not ready to purchase my first horse right now, but, thanks to this book, I know there is hope that a year from now I could become a horse owner! ... Read more