horsemanship za

Recommended Reading and Viewing List:

Often I get asked "What should I read or watch in order to familiarise myself with a new and better way with horses?  What will help me understand horsemanship better?"  Well, there are many good books and DVD's out there but I hope that I have narrowed them down to those that I think capture the "essence" of what it is all about and which really resonate with what we do at HZA.  Some of these are the perfect introductions to horsemanship and I would say are a "must" before getting started on the journey.  Some, like the books of Mark Rashid are so excellent that they can be read and re-read many times and you will always find something new there or something that is pertinent to your own horsemanship journey "in that moment".  Mark's books are such that you will always find exactly what you need at exactly the right time!  I have tried to put my own category next to the books and DVD's to help you select, but I hope that over time, anyone who wants to be better with horses and better themselves will work their way through the whole list!

Enjoy!

Easy reading/good reading and intros:

The Faraway Horses - Buck Brannaman: Inspirational and very moving.  Self-development/Inspiration/Training.

Dancing with your Dark Horse - Chris Irwin (essential reading).  Training/self-development.

The Birdie Book - Dr Deb Bennett (CD book from her website go to our Links page) This is essential for your studies - Dr Deb lectures in many science courses overseas.  Training/self-development

Animals in Translation - Temple Grandin: Essential in animal science/studies.  Also watch the movie "Temple Grandin" really gives excellent insight into animals/predator prey relations and viewing from a different perspective. Training/self-development.

Equine Behaviour - Paul McGreavy: One of the best - science book but easy to understand. He is a vet.  Training.

The Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage - Philippe Karl: Excellent on Classical dressage and blowing the myths of conventional riding out of the water.  Check out his website from our Links page.  The books can be ordered from us here at HZA.  Training.  R460 for the book - does not include postage, we try and find a way of hand delivering if possible. 

True Horsemanship through Feel (Dorrance and Desmond):  Vital for anyone studying this kind of horsemanship but it is a hefty tome and not easy going.  Training.

The Inner Game of Golf (or Tennis) - Timothy W Gallwey: Yes, it does relate to horsemanship as it discusses a way of learning through awareness rather than "do's and don'ts".  Article in the Comfort Zone news reviewed it and linked it to horsemanship study.  Training/self-development

The Seven Day Weekend - Ricardo Semler:  A fantastic book to help you learn how to think outside the box and approach things differently in life. Just because something has always been done in a particular way, it does not mean that it should always be done that way.  Article in the Comfort Zone.  Self-development.

Coercion and its Fallout - Murray Sidman:  Discusses how coercion is a non-effective way of teaching or learning and how punishment never works.  Can relate to horsemanship and all walks of life.  Article in the Comfort Zone.  Self-development.

Unlimited Power and Awaken the Giant Within - Anthony Robbins:  NLP books (Neuro-Linguistic Programming).  How to change and how to be who we need to be.  Think outside the box, step up and take control.  Leadership.  Articles in the Comfort Zone.  Self-development and growth.

Spiral Dynamics - Beck and Cowan: Why we are the way we are.  Article in the Comfort Zone.  Self-development.

The Brain that Changes Itself - Norman Doidge: Excellent book and a fantastic and easy read, recommended to anyone who has an interest in how we learn and how to improve the brain.  It helps us understand not only ourselves but our horses/other animals and mammals and how we all learn and it discusses the problems of early weaning and how our early development is effected by our experiences.  Helps us understand the way we are and how to change it.  Article in the Comfort Zone.  Self-development/psychology.

Inspirational and Fun Viewing plus Educational and Training DVD's:

Temple Grandin Movie about Temple Grandin and how she can see from a different perspective - gives a good understanding of the predator/prey relationship.  Inspirational.  Self-development.  

Down the Rabbit Hole - 5 DVD set which includes "What the Bleep do we know...?"  Self-development and why we are the way we are and how we can change.  Thinking outside the box.  

Derren Brown - illusionist/mentalist mind control/mind training.  Gives good insight into how the brain can be fooled and uses NLP techniques for improving performance and self-confidence.  Also gives insight into "cold reading" and why animal communication might not be what it appears to be and for more on this, check out the interview with Richard Dawkins on: www.derrenbrown.co.uk/interviews/richard-dawkins-the-enemies-of-reason/  Worth following and looking deeper into what he is saying - look beyond the "showmanship".  Read and study more on the mind.  It's easy to trick the brain - this can be to our advantage and disadvantage and it will also tell you more about how the brain works and how this can be applied in training humans and animals.  NLP/Anchoring thoughts.  Heightened awareness and observation, focus and attention to detail all important in this work.  

All DVD's by Buck Brannaman and Ray Hunt.  Buck's trailer loading really gets you thinking in a different way about putting a horse in a trailer, load the mind and not the body and it all relates to how well the horse "leads up".  His young horse starting DVD's are also invaluable.  Order them via his website which can be found on our Links page.  

Classical Training - Philippe Karl's first three DVD's in particular and all available from HZA - he is a Master in this century and these are the best dressage/Classical and bit work DVD's you will get.  R1340 for the set including postage.  

All the Silversand DVD's for the actual study of Silversand Horsemanship - but initially "Foundation Skills" and "Footfalls"...  All available from HZA.

It's not about the trim - Jayne Hunt R160 for a 2 DVD set - essential for any owner who wants to be responsible for understanding their horses feet and how generally farriery is not helping - it's about environment, nutrition and how we keep our horses and how we condition the feet that keeps our horses healthy and old and sound!!! Horse owners should not think it is not their responsibility.