The Equiery Library
| 2012 Book and DVD Releases |
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This seven disc series is from filmmaker Cindy Meehl,
who is the director of the award-winning documentary "Buck"
The series is filmed at seven different clinic locations to explore Buck
Brannaman's best advice for improving the way we ride and workd with horses.
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These exercises leads you and your horse through catching,yielding, turning, sacking out, backing, loneing, long lining, doing obstacle work, and much more. |
New biomechanical, historical, and ethical evidence that "modern" riding and training methods wreak havoc on the horse's body and mind. Plus, five chapters of researched and proven recommendations for retraining: the tense horse; the rein-lame horse; the horse with gait deviations; the hyperflexed horse; and the unbalanced horse that is completely off the aids. |
Maryland native Lois Szymanski has authored several
books on the ponies of Chincoteague and Assateague. Some have been whimsical
children’s books and others are informational books geared towards
adults. Her newest book, Chincoteague Ponies: Untold Stories,
written with fellow Marylander Pam Emge and with photographs and illustrations
by Linda Kantjas, is an odd cross between a children’s book and
a scientific field guide. Although the photography is stunning and the
captions are interesting, it is unclear who the intended audience is supposed
to be. |
Sarah Wagner has always dreamed of having a horse on her own. When she stops a runaway school horse before he gallops onto a busy highway, Sarah captures the attention of the owners of Brookmeade Farm and is gifted the racetrack rouge Crown Prince. Now Sarah must convince her parents her new horse is safe to ride while struggling to keep his former owner from taking him back. |
The second book in the Brookmeade Young Riders series continues the adventures of Sarah Wagner and Crown Prince. Sarah dreams of reaching the highest level of equestrian competition and with help from her trainer Jack O'Brien, she learns skills to join the advanced class at the farm. When they earn a spot on the farm team to ride in the Wexford Hall Cup, Sarah must deal with envious and malicious teammates. Can Sarah and the horse she loves escape a deadly plot of revenge? |
This charming book, written by Maryland horseman Patrick
Smithwick, is a true story of his return to steeplechasing and his quest
to ride in the Maryland Hunt Cup. The book turned into more than that,
however. It is a story of trying to balance all the aspects of one’s
life, facing the fear of failure, getting back in the game, and stepping
away from the television to enjoy the outdoors and really live life. The
author will take you on a fence-by-fence course walk of the Maryland Hunt
Cup with Mikey Smithwick and sail over every jump with him during the
race. For Marylanders and anyone involved in steeplechasing, the book
is chock full of names and places you are sure to recognize. You may have
even ridden across some of the same fields and jumped some of the same
fences. The story itself is compelling, but the somewhat choppy and, at
times, overly detailed writing style became a bit of a distraction. |
This is a touching group of stories documenting the
wonderful relationship between man (worman and child) and the horse (and
one mule), stories touching every discipline and every part of the world,
stories of how horses can return themselves and humans to health after
horrific injury to body or mind. |
A collection of facts and explanations to amaze and amuse, this is a horse lover's treasury of trivia. |
Early on in his research of wild horse herds in Wyoming and Montana, Kerry Thomas determined that what he calls "Emotional Conformation" - not physical conformation - governs equine herd dynamics. At that moment he understood that, regardless of breed or career, and Emotional Conformation Profile could dictate in large part of success or failure of the horse in the human environment - including performance sports and competition. |
This is a fun book for a young teen with an interest
in horses, a 4-Her interested in Horse Bowl or hippology, or an entry
level Pony Clubber doing a Quiz Rally. There’s a lot of good general
information, broken into easy-to-read sections, but it doesn’t fall
too heavily on the side of arcane trivia or on the side of the intense
knowledge required by an older 4-Her or Pony Clubber. Questions such as
“What’s the difference between a $1,000 horse and a $10,000
horse?” or “Which breed is known as the ‘Peacock of
the Show Ring’?” are somewhat ho-hum (answers: “breed,
bloodlines, age & health, training and potential”; “Saddlebred”),
but a lot of the true information is buried in the exposition not included
in the questions, such as “Earning One’s Spurs.” Although
I knew knights earned their spurs, I was unaware of the rest of the story
(such as a valet’s spurs were made of tin, or a disgraced knight
would have his spurs chopped off with a cleaver in public). |
While not the usual offering from The Equiery,
this book was written by Maryland horsewoman Alyse Muldoon, and thus earns
a review. On the surface, most would think that Alyse leads a charmed
and sunny life. She was blessed with beauty and brains, had a happy marriage,
lives on a gorgeous horse farm and has few worries. Below the surface,
Alyse endured the deaths of her husband and her stepfather within days
of each other, and was dealing with all the pressures that accompany the
deaths of loved ones, and the changes in fortune that can occur. A deeply
spiritual woman, Alyse turned to God for comfort, and began documenting
His words to her. She shared the meditations with friends, and they encouraged
her to formalize them. In time, she created a book with a daily meditation
and an accompanying Biblical verse. The meditations offer insight into
the relationship between the reader and God, and for those looking to
renew or reinforce their relationship with God, these easy-to-read but
thought-provoking meditations can help guide the way. |
A true life story as told from the unique perspective of dressage trainer's corgi Beamer. Beamer's special insights and opinions of teh cast of characters who comprise his world are guaranteed to have readers checkin gout their own dogs in a whole new light. |
In this DVD, popular Pilates instructor and dressage rider Janice Dulak breaks down the body into nine essential "parts" that riders are often not even aware they have, let alone actively engage and use. These nine essentials are the key to "speaking" to your horse with sophistication and eloquence. By using the body like a dancer would, and by incorporating the "Magic Circle" exercise ring in a series of exercises, riders get a workout that targets and trains these specific and very important muscles and muscle groups in ways that will instantaly apply to their riding. Janice Dulak has trained in Pilates since 1989 and has been riding dressage since 1995. |
Discover one chanpion's secrets to show-ring success.
Olympic Silver Medalist Peter Leone shares the lessons and habits he has
developed over three decades of riding at the highest levels of competition,
and he'll help you achieve your personal riding goals, whatever they might
be. |
Cindy Sawyer, who owns a plucky little Shetland pony named Pidgy, dreams of the beautiful horse she will one day become. Ponies are nice, but a horse would be wonderful. Cindy's dream soon becomes an obsession, and her parents realize that she is becoming a very unhappy girl. A morning comes where Pidgy goes missing from her stall. Not untill she looks into the empty stall does Cindy realize how much she really loves her pony. |
In a thrilling sprint run, Maryland author Sasscer
Hill (or Lynda Hill, as we know her) never falters; she is on the bit
from the first turn down the stretch in this bullet-fast gallop through
murder, mystery and mayhem at Colonial Downs. We enjoyed her first book,
Full Mortality, but this run is tighter and more taut, as Sasscer Hill’s
writing gains confidence and maturity. A definite stocking stuffer this
year! |
Relentless is the perfect name for this book
by Maryland author P.J. O’Dwyer. The action is gripping and a bit
graphic (for my personal taste) but you have to keep reading once you
start. Even though the author admittedly does not own a horse, the horse
passages were realistic and believable. As a true fan of romance, I found
that the story line covered a lot of ground with lots of twists and turns
along the way. Worth the read if you like horses and romance! |
Claudine Pelletier-Milet, a French riding instructor, shares countless stories of how equine-assisted activites and therapies (EAAT) can be a means to forming and nurturing lines of communication while encouraging a healthy and natural evolution of self in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Within these pages she sorts through theory from fields of medicine, education, and psychology. |
Veterinarian, judge, and sport horse breeding authority Christian Schacht presents his specialized system for evaluating the conformation of the sport horse, with special attention on dressage, jumping, and eventing prospects. Amateur and professional riders, breeders, veterinarians, trainers, and judges will all benefit from his method based on recognizing proportions and lines, already accepted in international circles. |
Horse trainer Vanessa Bee, says that we need to change the way we think about horses and the sport and activities we so often pursue with them. She sees no reason the horse cannot enjoy your time together so much, he will choose to "play" with you - over, under, and through obstacles, without a lead rope, even when loose in a large, grassy pasture. |
The Marlborough Hunt Club is a Maryland tradition
in itself, so it is no surprise that this book would be a collection of
rich history and great photographs. However, the layout of this book is
a prime example of the traps of self publishing when it comes to using
templates. In this case, the templates used through Blurb Inc. are very
distracting and take away from the great stories and photographs provided
by author and editor Barbara Smith. Some pages are so divided with multiple
headers and different font types and sizes that it is hard to really dig
into the content. |
This story by Baltimore native P. L. Caudle tells
of the winter adventures of a Chincoteague-born pony named Strawberry
Snow. As she explores her new world, she meets lots of new friends and
sees many new things. Her new BFF is a spider named Oliver Mortimer Miles.
A fun read and lots of great illustrations by fellow Baltimorean Frank
H. Simmonds for the pre-K to age three group. |
This delightful story of a colt born on Assateague
Island and his journey through the wetlands by Maryland author Lois Szymanski
is accompanied by great illustrations by Linda Kantjas of the wetland
creatures he encounters along the way. At the end of the book there are
thought-provoking discussion topics, a “find the wetlands creatures”
quiz and facts about wetlands. A fun and educational book for pre-K to
age three 3 group. |
| 2011 Book and DVD Releases |
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 A
Friend For Einstein by Charlie Cantrell and Dr. Rachel WagnerDisney-Hyperion This is the story of Einstein, the miniature horse that came into the world weighing less than a cat and being no taller than a cereal box. He was too small to run with the herd and had to look outside his world of horses to find the perfect playmate. Featuring full-color photographs of the spirited little stallion and a series of adorable creatures, this inspiring story about finding a true friend will bring joy to nature lovers of all ages. |
 A
Song for the Horse Nation: Horses in Native American Cultures
by George P. Horse Capture and Emil Her Many Horses Fulcrum Publishing A Song For the Horse Nation is a photo essay about the role of the horse throughout Native American history. The pictures are a mix of artifacts and old photography. What makes this book unique, though, are the stories, such as “Old Buffalo’s War Narrative” and songs like “Horses I Am Bringing” by Two Shields, or my favorite, “When a Horse Neighs” by Brave Buffalo: “daybreak appears when a horse neighs.” If looking at just photos is not enough for you, then hop on the Metro or drive into DC and check out the exhibit by the same title at the National Museum of the American Indian. The exhibit also includes contemporary artwork created by Marcus Amerman of the Choctaw and other artists as well as photographs of modern ceremonies. An interactive web version of the exhibit can be found on the Smithsonian’s official museum site. This exhibit is surely worth the trip, but you’d better hurry, it closes on January 7, 2012. - Katherine O. Rizzo, Managing Editor |
 Anne
Kursinski's Riding & Jumping Clinic by Anne Kursinski
with Miranda LorraineTrafalgar Square Books First published in 1995, this newly updated paperback edition is a step-by-step guide to building winning hunters and jumpers by Olympian Anne Kursinski. The book covers such topics as why flat work is important to jumping, what equipment you must have to succeed, show day warm up strategies and general show prep. It is illustrated with helpful photographs documenting each step in the various exercises. “Anne is just brilliant,” says Equiery Associate Publisher Jennifer Sponseller Webster. |
 Balance
in Movement 2: Riding with Light Aids by Susanne von Dietze
and Isabelle von Neumann-CoselTrafalgar Square Books This lovely DVD is filmed partially in Germany and also at First Choice Farm in Woodbine with noted dressage trainer Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel. It features lots of examples of how to apply correct aids and this can change the way of going for both horse and rider. It is a great stocking stuffer for anyone who wants to develop better communication with his horse. - Carolyn Del Grosso, Bookkeeping |
 Believing
in Horses by Valerie Ormond J. B. Max Publishing, Inc. Believing in Horses is a nice stocking stuffer for the pre-teen horse-girl. Author Valerie Ormond resides in Bowie and has referenced many places that you may recognize, including The Equiery! This fictitious adventure story about 12-year-old Sadie Navarro is a quick and easy read. In this story, Sadie learns about a very real and current issue in the horse industry, the fate of unwanted horses. Perhaps Sadie’s inspiration to become involved with the rescuing of unwanted horses will encourage young readers to be more aware and to also believe that they too, can make a difference, just like Sadie. -Emily Stangroom, Classified Ads |
 Connect
With Your Horse From the Ground Up by Peggy Cummings with
Bobbie Jo LiebermanTrafalgar Square Books Author Peggy Cummings describes the essentials of her specialized groundwork training to help horses and their handlers find a reciprocal “connection” on the ground as to make it easier to establish this same connection in the saddle. Over two dozen exercises, complete with illustrations, can drastrically change the way you see and feel your horse, thus radically improving how your horse moves, responds, and goes about his/her work. |
 Corinne
and Me: An Unlikely Friendship by Betty Ann HoehnAuthorhouse A story of an abiding friendship that crossed racial lines and the unbreakable bond that developed against the odds. This is the story of two different worlds: Corinne from the poor, black section of Memphis and the author from a wealthy white family in Memphis that forged success from the automobile business. A heartwarming story. |
 Complete
Horse Care Manual by Colin VogelDorling Kindersley First published in 1995, this updated version written by Colin Vogel includes more than 650 specifically commissioned color photographs and diagrams. Complete Horse Care Manual tells you how to provide regular care and attention for your horse, how to guard against health problems, and when to seek professional medical attention. |
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 Down
Under Horsemanship by Clinton AndersonThis CD-ROM contains horse-training articles written by Clinton Anderson and photographs illustrating the training techniques discussed in the articles. Clinton Anderson is a world-renowned clinician that has studied under top horsemen. This disc will teach riders and horse owners how to be safe and effective while enjoying their horses, and get it done quickly. |
 Frederick
in the Civil War: Battle & Honor in the Spired City by
John W. SchildtThe History Press, Inc. Situated just south of the Mason-Dixon Line between Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Frederick, Maryland seemed destined to play a pivotal part in the American Civil War. No one knows this better than local historian John W. Schildt, who explores the city’s role in his book, Frederick in the Civil War: Battle & Honor in the Spired City. Schildt opens with a look at the region’s early historic and cultural influences, including brief profiles of significant local figures such as Roger Brooke Taney and Francis Scott Key. He then offers a simplified analysis of the complicated scenarios fueling the flames of war in this crucial border city. Many factors are addressed, from the Dred Scott decision and the Baltimore Riots to President Abraham Lincoln’s illegal arrest and imprisonment of more than a dozen prominent Marylanders (including nine from Frederick) and the penning of the now-controversial state song “Maryland, My Maryland.” A largely Union city in a slaveholding state, “Fredericktown” soon found itself at the crossroads of America’s greatest conflict. In Schildt’s book, we see this conflict unfold through the eyes of not only Union officers such as Alpheus Williams, Wilder Dwight and others occupying the city, but residents who were surprised by the fine manners of the filthy, rag-tag Confederate soldiers tramping through Frederick during General Robert E. Lee’s 1862 invasion. The author does a commendable job of tracking and explaining troop movements as the two armies’ strategies and counterstrategies are put into play in and around Frederick. Individual actors on this grand stage come to life thanks to quotes and personal anecdotes. And you might just learn some new Civil War trivia. Few may know, for example, that Reverend William Pendleton, his son Alexander (“Sandie”), Henry Kyd Douglas and James Power Smith–all trusted associates of the iconic Confederate General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson–had connections to Frederick. Or that George Armstrong Custer of Little Big Horn fame began his rise as “boy general” in this city. As readers, we witness Stonewall Jackson being mobbed by admirers eager for a lock of his hair; Lee inviting the citizens of Maryland to join the rebellion; the infamous Order 191 being lost and intercepted by Union General McClellan; and rebel cavalryman JEB Stuart and company dancing with the local ladies on the eve of one of the war’s deadliest battles (Antietam/Sharpsburg). Also of interest: Lincoln’s brief, post-Antietam visit to Frederick; the epic march of blue-clad soldiers through the city, both to and from the cataclysmic clash at Gettysburg; and the activities of rebel spies here. In their correspondence, many soldiers painted vivid images of the region’s landscape and architecture. And many women living in Frederick, turned “one vast hospital” during the war, served as “angels of mercy” to the wounded. How fascinating, too, to read firsthand accounts of the ransoming of Frederick (a debt that took until 1951 to pay off), as well as the “fight for time” at Monocacy Junction that proved the salvation of Washington, DC. Frederick’s commemoration of the Civil War centennial and the dedication of Monocacy National Battlefield Park are also detailed. And if you’ve ever wondered what really happened in the Barbara Fritchie incident, there’s a whole chapter devoted to the venerable dame. Curious about Frederick’s reputation as the “spired city?” Schildt reveals exactly which church steeples constituted the “clustered spires” in John Greenleaf Whittier’s immortal poem about Fritchie. The book concludes with a welcome guide to museums and historic spots around the city, followed by in-depth footnotes and a bibliography. Written in plain, simple language with black and white photographs and images, this is a must-read for any Civil War buff or, indeed, anyone fortunate enough to live in beautiful Frederick County, where the past is still very present. - Laurel Scott, former Equiery editor (and Civil War reenactor) |
 The
Gaited Horse Bible by Brenda ImusTrafalgar Square The Gaited Horse Bible is the perfect “how-to” book for every gaited horse rider and owner. This one of a kind book discusses the history of the gaited breeds and gaits, along with an in-depth study of conformation, movement, and soundness. The book also includes a summary of bridles, bits, saddle fit and back dynamics, as well as optional shoeing and trimming for gaited horses. A “must have” for anyone interested in gaited horses whether for pleasure or show. |
 Gilbert
and the Great Horse Spirit by Rebecca PearlHPN Books Gilbert and the Great Horse Spirit by author/illustrator Rebecca Pearl of Emmitsburg is the story of a Thoroughbred horse who switches careers several times before finding a forever home with Rebecca. Based partly on the real Gilbert’s life and partly on fiction, the story is an easy read for any age. The plot itself is fairly predictable but the real missing link is the “Great Horse Spirit” itself. Mentioned at the very beginning of the story, by the time it is mentioned again on the last page, the reader has forgotten about it. Really, it is not necessary to the gist of the story. What makes this book a great gift is not the story at all, but the lovely illustrations by Rebecca. The pictures have a lush and rich feel with plenty of color and attention to detail. In some ways, the illustrations speak for themselves and can tell the same story with far fewer words! -Katherine O. Rizzo, Managing Editor |
 Greatness
& Goodness: Barbaro and His Legacy by
Alex BrownGlen View Media The outstanding illustrations and spectacular photographs throughout Greatness and Goodness: Barbaro and His Legacy, combined with author Alex Brown’s interviews with those closest to Barbaro, as well as his own personal experiences both on the track and with Barbaro, really make this book something special and unique. It not only takes us through the triumphs and perils of Barbaro’s life, but also the reasons why so many of us became inspired by his courage and heart in the face of adversity. We will always wonder what could have been, but Browns’ book will help us realize what has been. It reminds us of all the unity and awareness this one horse created. It leads us through all of the good works and research that has been done and will continue in Barbaro’s name. Greatness and Goodness is a must-read and would make a wonderful holiday gift. - Emily Stangroom, Classified Ads |
 Horse
Care by Stephanie BrophyBrophy Publishing This book contains many helpful hints for the horse owner. It must be noted however, that this book is the writer’s opinion and some of the statements are a bit controversial and heavily biased. For example, she makes the statement “Acepromazine kills stallions.” I checked with two vets and they said it can cause some serious side effects, mainly to stallions, but it can also affect geldings in the same ways, and they are unlikely to die unless any problems are not managed well. It is suggested that the reader does one’s own research in addition to this book. -Carolyn Del Grosso, Bookkeeping |
 Horsekeeping
by Roxanne BokTwin Lakes Press This book is the story of how author Roxanne Bok and her husband bought and restored an old historic Arabian farm in Salisbury, Connecticut. A cute story that many horse-people can relate to. |
 How
Good Riders Get Good by Denny EmersonTrafalgar Square Books Before you open How Good Riders Get Good by USEA Hall of Fame Inductee Denny Emerson, prepare yourself to take a hard look at your current life, the choices you have made through the years and your future goals. Clear your mind, take a breath and then be ready to plow full steam ahead into a new life... if you choose to. Choices. That is what this book is truly about. Emerson mixes his own life experiences with teaching ideas and methods to guide readers towards a successful lives as upper-level riders in whatever sport they so choose. The choice is up to the reader. Emerson is not afraid to tell it like it is. There is no sugar coating in this book. If you want to make it in this sport, you have to make hard choices, such as to get married or not, to have children or not, to ride a lesser horse for free with the hopes of getting the ride on a big-time horse, to eat healthy or not, and the like. In a way, this book could be classified as a self-help book for riders! Mixed throughout the book are stories of other successful riders, such as Maryland’s own James Stierhoff, who groomed for Emerson at the 2003 Moonlight in Vermont 50-mile endurance race, and who won the 2010 Maryland Hunt Cup. In their own words, these riders look inward to their own lives and share why they think they have become successful. Even if you don’t read the whole book, just reading the last paragraph on each of those pages (“My Most Important Advice”), is well worth the purchase. This book is a great gift for anyone who has aspirations of making it big in the horse world. - Katherine O. Rizzo, Managing Editor |
 Jane
Savoie's Dressage 101 by Jane SavoieTrafalgar Square If you enjoyed Cross-Train Your Horse and More Cross-Training, both by internationally renowned coach, mentor and motivational speaker, Jane Savoie, then you will like this follow up book, which combines the two previous books. Described as the “ultimate source of dressage basics in a language you can understand,” this book is easy to follow and lives up to expectations. Plus, it is full of great illustrations and photographs. |
 Lord
of Misrule by Jaimy GordonMcPherson & Company The Lord of Misrule is not a happy beach read. The narrative is often in the dialect of the characters, and the author’s unconventional punctuation (there are no quotation marks in the dialogue) force the reader to be alert. This is a book that must be read in long chunks; picking it up and putting it down make it hard to get into its rhythm. The novel is set in a time when women at the track were often at the mercy of the men around them, and segregation was the law of the land, but Jaimy Gordon’s downtrodden characters fight for their own equilibrium, and in the society of the track, only the strong survive, both horse and human. This is not a novel for people who like happy, upbeat stories. This is a novel about the darkness and depravity of human beings, and in the end, most get what they deserve. - Tracy McKenna, Ad Manager |
 Maryland
Equine Law by Kathleen J.P. Tabor, Esquire & Jan I. Berlage,
Esquire Go Dutch Publishing, LLC With the advent of affordable, web-based “print-on-demand” digital book printers, an explosion of self-published books has flooded the marketplace in recent years. While we have seen the perils of self-publishing (see The Barns of Southern Maryland), Maryland Equine Law is an example of the benefits of affordable self-publishing. Maryland-specific and equine-specific law is, shall we say, a “niche” interest, and while the topic may be of great interest to The Equiery and our readers, in the grand scheme of book publishing, that’s not much of an audience! But we, obviously, consider Maryland equestrians a very valuable audience, so we are delighted to see the publication of this very useful little handbook. And this book, thankfully, does not scream “self-published” immediately upon opening it. While the typeface is large and readable, and while the leading and kerning may be default, the overall typography is still tighter and more professional looking than many other self-published efforts. Even the use of photographs is more artfully and professionally handled than in some of the other self-published books reviewed by The Equiery, even in books featuring photography. While we could nit-pick the lack of classical editorial oversight (which style handbook deems acceptable the uppercasing or capitalization of generic sports names such polo or jousting?), overall the book is very readable and useful. The “Land Use” chapter provides a comprehensive yet concise overview of one of the biggest boogiemen in the horse world: liability. The authors adroitly cover the Maryland Recreational Act (which protects landowners who allow others, such as Pony Clubbers, foxhunters, trail riders, event organizers, to use their land, free of charge, for recreational purposes) to liability waivers, from attractive nuisance doctrines to contributory negligence. The authors answer the perennial question: “Why doesn’t Maryland have a specific equine limited liability law?” (Answer: because we have contributory negligence standards and the Maryland Recreational Act…read the book to understand how all this plays out legally!) Sometimes we wish the book would go further. While the authors advocate some common sense advice (such as, “it is advisable to keep current with the particular rules and regulations of the governing association”), this reviewer wishes these legal eagles would provide us with illustrations of how not staying current with such rules might have legal implications. There are plenty of examples of participants (or their vets) not staying current with the sports’ governing body’s drug rules, and the ensuing legal entanglements as a result. Sometimes, common sense advice is more effective when coupled with a story illustrating the perils of ignoring the wisdom of said common sense advice. In the chapter entitled “Business Organizations,” the authors warn readers of the IRS consequences of failing to run their horse businesses like businesses. Readers are urged to not commingle business and personal banking accounts, to join professional associations (such as the Maryland Horse Council), pursue continuing education and appropriate certifications (such as those offered by the American Riding Instructors Association) and to have a written business plan that can be shown to the IRS as proof of the intent to run a business. As anyone who receives the American Horse Council’s Tax Bulletin can tell you, one of the first things the IRS will look for, beyond a business plan, is proof that the owner intended to grow or increase the business, and the easiest way for an owner to establish that he or she intended to grow business is to show evidence of having advertised for new business. (The Equiery will gladly provide such evidence, and indeed, we have been known to help our clients facing IRS review by providing complete and detailed advertising histories.) At times, the book reads like a marketing piece, promoting the size and scope of the Maryland horse industry. This is a testament to the effectiveness of our Maryland Horse Industry Board (upon which co-author Tabor serves). While The Equiery is thrilled at any time to see materials that promote Maryland’s thriving equine industry, we are not quite sure how it ties into the context of this book. Certainly there is a clear connection in the minds of the authors, but the reader is left to guess at the connection. The chapter “Resolving Disputes” is an excellent primer, methodically leading the reader through the various options. The Equiery is often the recipient of phone calls or letters from individuals angry at other individuals in the horse industry, and are hoping that The Equiery “can do something about it,” be it to write an editorial condemning the egregious party, or prohibit the accused wrongdoer from ever advertising again, or simply to tell the caller what “official” remedies the caller has. In addition to encouraging them to contact an attorney, we will also recommend this particular chapter. Heck with the chapter. We will recommend the entire book! The back of the book contains lots of handy sections, including samples of contracts (the authors exhort throughout the book that readers should avoid template contracts) and a glossary of terms related to insurance coverage. The corresponding website, www.marylandhorselaw.com, promises to have all the forms discussed in the book available soon. “Maryland Equine Law” is useful tool for anyone engaged in the horse industry, be it as a business owner or someone simply buying a horse. - Crystal B. Kimball, Publisher |
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According to the description on the book sleeve,
this book is supposed to be about how to develop a clear communication
between the horse and rider to create a better partnership. However, in
reality, this book is more of an autobiography of author Dominique Barbier,
a French dressage rider and trainer who has taught internationally and
is now based in the US. In all honesty, I did not finish reading the text
but instead studied the font choices and the fabulous photography by Keron
Psillas. The layout of the book is stunning and the photography just makes
is a treat to simply look at. |
 My
Horse, My Friend by Bibi DegnTrafalgar Square Through the story of Maria and her budding relationship with her Arabian gelding Joram, this book teaches kids how to properly interact with horses, though the cover does make it seem that the book’s focus is on “TTouch” training, which is actually only spends two pages on. The book is meant to be read by a younger generation of equestrian and goes through such topics as how to successfully greet, lead, groom, and mount a horse, and learn relationship-strengthening obstacle games to play on the ground and on horseback. It is a fun book to read and flip through but be advised, some basic horsemanship skills are skipped over and please supervise your child at all times when working around horses. - Katherine O. Rizzo, Managing Editor |
 Pegasus
by Marilyn HoldsworthAuthorHouse Widowed at 30, Hannah Bradley is a successful journalist focusing on animal abuse issues. An accidental meeting introduces her to lawyer Winston Caufield III. Drawn to Hannah's gentle beauty and fierce commitment to work, Win joins her in a fight to save wild mustangs from slaughter. Together they rescue a badly injured horse with a mysterious background. Hannah's search to discover the animal's true identity leads them into a web of black marketeering and international intrigue. They now face a race against time to save not only the horse's life, but their own lives as well. The writing style of author Marilyn Holdsworth is good, nice and fast paced, thus keeping the reader’s attention and making the book a quick read. However, some of the characters, such as race horse trainer Vincent Rossi are bit too stereotyped and sort of over the top. Plus, some inaccuracies occur and paragraphs just do not make sense…. If a man is found in the trunk of an abandoned car with a bullet wound to the head, would the newspaper really report “there were no signs of vandalism or foul play…”? Yes the report is important to the story but seriously. An entertaining read however. - Katherine O. Rizzo, Managing Editor |
 Raja:
Story of a Racehorse by Anne HambletonOld Bow Publishing Raja: Story of a Racehorse takes the reader on a fictional journey of one horse’s life as an off-the-track-Thoroughbred. The story begins with Raja’s spectacular career as a racehorse, then follows him through the hunter/jumper world, the horse and livestock auctions, the mounted police, and finally to the Maryland Hunt Cup. Author Anne Hambleton wrote this story from the perspective of the horse, much like Black Beauty, which humanizes Raja and creates an emotional connection between the horse and the reader. You will find yourself rooting for him as you read every page. Glencoe resident Cappy Jackson, professional photographer, lifelong horsewoman and USPC graduate “A,” is responsible for the stunning cover photo. - Emily Stangroom, Classified Ads |
 RIDER
& HORSE: BACK TO BACK by Susanne von Dietze & Isabelle
von Neumann-Cosel Trafalgar Square Books This lovely DVD and book set are a great gift for any rider to get a better understanding of the anatomy of the back of both horse and rider. There is some great information on different body types and how to maximize the performance of horse and rider. There is also lots of information on dealing with back pain and improving flexibility, stability and dexterity. Tons of beautiful photos and most of the DVD footage were taken and filmed at First Choice Farm in Woodbine, the home of dressage trainer Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel, who is the sister and cousin of the authors. I highly recommend it for any library! - Carolyn Del Grosso, Bookkeeping |
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 The
Eighty-Dollar Champion by Elizabeth LettsBallantine Books The Eighty-Dollar Champion by Baltimore author Elizabeth Letts is the perfect Disneyesque story, and it’s all true! Harry de Leyer literally pulled Snowman off a truck bound for the slaughter plant from the New Holland auction and paid $80 for the former plow horse, which included the cost to deliver the horse to de Leyer’s Long Island farm. Snowman was as different from the top jumpers of his time as a horse could be. Harry used him as a beginner lesson horse, and he practically served as his children’s personal babysitter, taking them swimming three and four in tandem in Long Island Sound, and still Harry and Snowman won the top classes at the National, Washington, and other shows, against horses bred and trained specifically for jumping. Fans of show jumping will recall many of the names that appear in the book–Sinjon, Ksar d’Esprit, Frank Chapot, Kathy Kusner and others, as well as the shows that create the backdrop such as Devon, Washington, Harrisburg and the National. Elizabeth Letts weaves Harry’s personal history with the social history of the late 1950s in a way that is both fascinating and prescient for our own times. Print media in the ‘50s was terrified of the upstart new medium television and desperate for ways to keep their readers. Snowman’s story provided entertainment for the masses through both sources. Just as Harry and Snowman rode the wave of the new man competing in the sport formerly reserved for the rich, the horse shows also changed with the times. The National, long a bastion of the horse show circuit and the New York social circuit, is no longer recognizable, but in 1958, a little upstart show called the Washington International Horse Show arrived on the scene, and 53 years later, is still going strong. As much as I enjoyed the book, I have to give Letts and her copy editor a couple of dings. Horses have CONFORMATION, it’s their form, they don’t go through religious confirmation ceremonies, and nouns are declined, not verbs. These are easy fixes for future editions. I also found it funny that as much as she writes about how horse shows were the bastion of the rich, she references Harry’s role models, who all tended to be self-made horse show men like himself. Letts’ prose shines in the competition sequences, as the reader soars over every fence with Harry and Snowman. Even if you know how the competitions end, you will find yourself holding your breath, waiting to find out if all the jumps stay up! - Tracy McKenna, Ad Manager |
 The
Majesty of the Horse by Tamsin PickeralBarron’s Educational Series The Majesty of the Horse is simply a stunning book. When I first saw the cover, I thought it was yet another breed book with your standard conformation shot photos of the most common breeds we all know and love. Or worse, photos of the horses in some silly romantic style where you can’t even really get a sense of what the horse is. That is not this book! Instead, the reader is graced with fabulous images by award-winning photographer Astrid Harrisson that not only show off the basic characteristics of the breed, but give the reader a true sense of the feeling and essence of that breed. Hard to explain, I know, so just go out, get this book and see for yourself. Once you are done flipping through the photos, or like I did, studying each photograph wondering how Harrisson managed to capture the shot, settle into reading the text by Tamsin Pickeral. You won’t be disappointed. The text is a rich history of each breed instead of a bland list of characteristics. One will learn about the legendary origins of the Assateague and Chincoteague horses as well as the myths surrounding the Marwari horses of India. Unfortunately for Pickeral, the photographs really do overshadow the text but I highly recommend taking the time to read each page. This book is the perfect gift for anyone who likes good photography, whether they are a horse enthusiast or not. Plus, the historical content both about the horses themselves and the cultures they have influenced makes this book a great read. - Katherine O. Rizzo, Managing Editor |
 The
Marvelous Book of Magical Horses by Eva Steele-SaccioKlutz This children’s activity book, The Marvelous Book of Magical Horses by Eva Steele-Saccio, is just plan fun. The book comes with six paper horses, three paper fairies, four landscapes and over 200 fashion accessories to play with. There are even step-by-step instructions on how to create your paper horse friends and how to design your own fashions for these four-legged friends. This book is a great gift idea for any horse crazy kid... or adult too! - Katherine O. Rizzo, Managing Editor |
 The
Modern Horseman's Countdown to Broke by Sean PatrickTrafalgar Square On these four DVDs, follow along as Sean Patrick takes a horse through each step of the “countdown,” and see for yourself how effective and efficient this program is. The DVDs are an ideal companion to the best-selling book by the same title. |
 The
Smart Woman's Guide to Midlife Horses by Melinda FolseTrafalgar Square Although the title suggests that this book is just for middle-aged women, it really is more of a “how-to” book on how to get started as an adult in owning and caring for a horse. The book does offer horses as both a metaphor and solution to the natural malaise that often rears its head just about the time women blow out that "midlife" birthday candle. |
 Thoroughbred:
Born to Run by Paul WagnerKET Filmed in HD, this 90-minute documentary embodies the imagery of the Thoroughbred and its surroundings. Thoroughbred focuses on a year of racing, breeding and sales leading up to the 2009 Kentucky Derby where audiences are introduced to and electric community of grooms, jockeys, trainers and owners as they prepare for races. These characters give viewers a glimpse into the fascinating, intense, and sometimes heartbreaking world of Thoroughbred racing. |
 Trick
Training for Horses by Bea Borelle with Gudrun
BraunTrafalgar Square Books This illustrated book on trick training explains the best way to teach a horse tricks using positive reinforcement. Instructions are provided for over 25 different tricks, including classics such as bowing, kneeling, sitting, and lying down. |
 Unbridled
Passion: Show Jumping’s Greatest Horses and Riders by
Jeff Papows, PhD Acanthus Publishing Unbridled Passion is a collection of firsthand accounts of some of North America’s greatest show jumping horses, including Maryland’s own Touch of Class. However, one does wonder how the author decided on which horses and riders to include and although there is a whole chapter with Touch of Class as the header, Maryland readers will be disappointed with the lack of any photo of the stunning mare and the mere two sentences devoted to her. Jennifer Webster, Associate Publisher |
 What
Every Horse Should Know by Cherry HillStorey Publishing Every horse should receive a basic education that prepares him to live safely and confidently in the company of humans. Noted horsewoman Cherry Hill explains how to help a horse overcome the wariness of human touch and restraint, develop trust in a rider or handler, and learn respect and patience. When a horse is no longer surprised or frightened by people, procedures, and things, he has mastered his “ABCs” and is ready to learn to work calmly and willingly with a human partner. |
 Zen
Mind, Zen Horse by Allan J. Hamilton, MDStorey Publishing A scientific approach to training horses by making the rider aware of their brain functions and how a horse using its brain and thus building a better line of communication between the two. |
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2010 Book and DVD Releases |
For anyone who's ever felt a tad misunderstood... No matter how hard he tries, the listt Jack Russell Terrier seems to be getting on the wrong side of Annie Adams, and the stuck-up kitty Esemerelda isn't helping things one bit. But then something happens, something that changes everything... A heart-warming tale for all ages by a beloved writer. And, for extra fun, look for the little lizard hidden in each drawing. |
Down the aisle is a story of a woman whose life has been strengthened and defined by the aisle she has followed for the love of horses. From all early reactions,this captivating collection of stories definately touches the hearts of horse lovers. |
As a young girl in the early 50's, Holly'sparents moved their family out to the country.While their farm was very different from everything she knew, soon Holly learned to love the fields and woods, and especially all of their animals: cats, dogs, chickens, geese, a cow and a pig. But when she first sees a group of riders go by on horseback, she is completely swept away! Holly tries to convince her family that a horse is just what their farm needs, and all of her plans will surely mean getting a horse for her birthday - right? With exquisite watercolor illustrations and perfect recollection of howit feels to be a young girl with a single minded love of horses, Holly Hobbie has created an irresistible story for families to share for years to come. Celebrated artist Holly Hobbie has looked back in time to her own childhood for inspiration for her newest children's book Everything But the Horse. In the early 1950s, Holly's family moved out to the country and after seeing some neighbors out riding, Holly felt the desire for a horse of her own. In this beautifully illustrated book, young readers can follow the adventures of Holly herself transitions from city life to country life and tries various ways of convincing her parents to buy her a horse. I have to admit, the part about collecting horse droppings from the road to put in an empty stall was a bit weird, creative of the character, but weird. All in all, the story itself is a bit of a let down but does show that you can't always get exactly what you want. The illustrations overshadow the story by a long shot and are what drew me to the book in the first place. The horses are stylized but in that old fashion Stubbs sort of way, accenting their characteristics and personalities without giving them human features. There are little subtle details throughout each page that make you want to stare at them for hours. And each time you open the book, you notice something new. Buy this book for the illustrations, not for the story. - Katherine O. Rizzo |
A collection of foxhunting stories, most of which were previously published in Covertside, of which Fine was the founder and editor for fifteen years. A lovely collection of foxhunting stories, most of which were previously published in Covertside, of which Fine was the founder and editor for fifteen years. It contains only one tale of hunting in Maryland, with the Howard County-Iron Bridge Hounds in 1998. The hounds met that day at Doughoregan Manor, the seat of the Carroll family, the founders of Maryland (Charles Carroll was a signer of the Declaration of Independance) and still in Carroll family hounds, over 300 years of foxhunting history. In this story, Fine fleshes out the history of Mountain and Muse, hounds owned at one point by the Carroll family and hounds and that ultimately provided the foundation bloodlines for today's American Foxhound. A nice gift for a student of foxhound bloodlines. - Crystal Brumme Kimball |
Jockey Nikki Latrelle gets the chance of a lifetime -- to ride the favorite in a stakes race at Laurel Park -- only to have her dream destroyed when a mysterious intruder kills her mount the night before the race. When Nikki stumbles over the body of a gunshot victim, she quickly becomes the prime suspect in a murder case. Framed and facing a possible murder rap, Nikki is ruled-off the track.With the odds against her, can she clear her name -- and put the real criminals behind bars? Full Mortality is a quick fun read, and another must for the book collection of any Maryland equestrian. Written by Upper Marlboro's Lynda Hill under the pen name Sasscer Hill, Full Mortality is a wicked romp through Maryland's racing backside. Some locations are what they are (Laurel Park is Laurel Park), but if Hill decided to cast a locale in a decidedly seedy light, she cloacked its location with a pseudonym (Dimsboro, Pallboro, Shepherdstown, for example). Nods to greats with Maryland connections abound, such as the filly ridden by our heroine who is said to channel the legendary Gallorette, trained by Ed Christmas and whose Maryland family is still part of racing today. If Dick Francis and Janet Evanovich had a daughter, it would be Sasscer Hill. Great stockig stuffer! - Crystal Brumme Kimball |
Horses: The Story
of Equus Horses: The Story of Equus DVD Release July 2010 by Warner Brothers Home Video Inc. IMAX Release, looks like it must have been 2002 This must have been something to see in an IMAX® Theatre! The photography is stunning, so if you are going to get the DVD, find the biggest and best screen you can on which to view this. The three story lines, one per horse featured, are obviously contrived for the purpose of being able to justify stringing together the different types of footing, so what. You watch this movie to see the gorgeous photography of the gorgeous horses and the gorgeous landscape, and you are grateful not to be distracted by unimportant details such as names (neither horses nor humans receive names, nor do the humans have dialogue), a plot or other human conceits. Indeed, the story lines - like haiku - are spare and elegant, focusing the viewer on the horse. - Crystal Kimball |
Horses and Heartbeats features a number of unforgettable
horses, including elegant contestants at a hunter-jumper show, the schooling
mounts at One Oak Stables, and the horses in various states of physical
conditions and training that come through the auction. One of these,
a young mare fresh off the Dakota plains, is destined for fourteen-year-old
Baily Mason. Horses and Heartbeats would have been my new favorite book
if I were a horse crazed teenager. It brings me back to the days of
begging my parents for my first horse and then learning from trial and
error about basic horse ownership. In this book, we meet Bailey and
Dakota Clover her very first horse. One of the things that I liked the
most about Horses and Heartbeats is very descriptive writing style of
PollyThompson. Even a young reader new to horses can follow the story
and adventures that Bailey and Clover experience together. I did have
some concerns about Bailey being a very novice horseperson with a green
horse, but the supporting characters in the story provide Bailey and
the reader with good advice and help through their first year together.
I would recommend this story to young horse lovers, but us older, more
seasoned riders might find the story line a bit predictable. |
The first book of its kind for mini lovers, Mini School takes the training and conditioning of minis as seriously as that of their full-size cousins. With real, honest - to goodness in-hand work that promises a relaxed, supple body and correct frame as well as obedience, you're given the tools to transform your cuddly companion into a sleek, well-muscled athlete and a talented entertainer. |
Increasingly, savvy riders are discovering the benefits that Pilates can bring to their sport. Pilates can help improve a rider's results to give them that winning edge that can make the difference between triumph and, well, less-than-triumph. Dressage riders achieve better harmony with their horse. Eventers or showjumpers improve their balance over a fence, and become more effective in their seat. |
Whether your goal is to reduce posture-related back pain or access that vital extra percent out of your competion horse, Pilates is the solution you have been looking for. Pilates for Riders offers a holistic approach to body conditioning geared toward making you a better balanced, more effective and elegant rider. This book was a pleasant departure from the "do the exercises" book. The author tells a compelling story of how her incorrect seat /position kept her from making the progress she desired and made riding a chore for both her and the horse. There are lots of good descriptions of how the pilates peerspective relate to riding perspective. Then there is some very good anatomy discussion and then comes the exercise section. Each excercise is nicely related to a riding fault and how it can be used to correct the fault. Some nice hints for use on and off the horse. These excercises are a good bit easier than previous books but the usual caveat to be careful still applies. Definately worth a read! Enjoy! - Carolyn Del Grosso |
Point of Aim Point of Impact is one man's recollection of his Vietnam experience. That young man was a Marine Corps Scout Sniper and the book addresses many issues of the Scouts Snipers and Vietnam Veterans both during the war and present day. It is not a book that glorifies war or weaves a Holloywood script around lies and half truths. In telling the story of one young Marine Sniper, it attempts to deal with the real issues that evolved from the traumatic experiences of killing people and watching friends being maimed and killed. |
Born in Louisiana's Cajun Country in 1957, Randy Romero showed an early flair for riding and an uncompromising fearlessness that would follow him throughout his life. This candid biography begins with the jockey's unstable childhood in an abusive home and continues through the riding career that would make him a legend. For any racing fan, Randy Romero's Remarkable Ride is a thrilling treat. The biography begins with an overview of Romero's life, chronicling his struggles and triumphs both on and off the track. From a childhood riddled with abuse, Romero rose up and found his escape: horses. His natural equestrian talent was evident from his fearless first ride, as was his knack for getting hurt. When the book turns to focus on his professional riding career, you instantly feel this jockey's total dedication to his sport. His early rides at a small track in Louisiana led the “Ragin' Cajun” to be noticed by the owner and trainer of Personal Ensign, who Romero rode through an undefeated career. After 26-years of racing, Romero retired with 4,285 wins. From the very first page, this book shows Randy Romero's strength and courage. He overcame numerous obstacles to follow his passion. From the first page, which details twelve of his body parts that were mangled in the first few years of his career, the theme of recovery and resolve that has shaped his extraordinary life is clear. From his incredible ride in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff to a near-fatal sweatbox explosion that burned over 60% of Romero's body, the book is a riveting inside look at one of racing's great horseman. - Devon Butts |
Secretariat was the bets known and most beloved race horse of the twentieth century. In 1973 his legacy as the greatest horse of all time was permanently etched into the consciousness of the world when he won the Triple Crown. Raymond G. Woolfe Jr. tells the story of Secretariat from the coin toss that sent him to Helen Chenery to his burial at Claiborne Farm. Secretariat by Raymond G. Woolfe, Jr is a beautiful book. First published in 1974 and then an updated version again in 1981 it is more than a coffee table book. Chock full of captivating photos and a real insiders knowledge of horse racing at times it is breath taking. I had goosebumps more than once (But I'm pretty easy on that score). Woolfe is the son of a horse trainer. He was a professional steeplechase jockey for a number of years. After putting up his boots Woolfe went on to pursuing photography for the Daily Racing Form. His father was friends with Lucien Laurin, and Woolfe himself was friends with Secretariat's groom Eddie Sweat and jockey Ron Turcotte. Needless to say he had just about unlimited access to Big Red. Even if you don't read the text the book presents a very captivating look at the horse's life, not just the two years of racing. The text is wonderfully written, plenty of color. He is able to capture Penny Chenery Tweedy, Lucien Laurin, Ron Turcotte, Saratoga, Churchill Downs, Pimlico, and Aqueduct and really bring them practically into your living room. The big red horse's life has all the elements for a great movie; father builds thoroughbred legacy, father becomes ill, daughter tries to save legacy, coin toss for ultimate ownership, farm needs big horse to save it, one comes along and saves the farm. You you can't make this stuff up. The photos, almost all taken by Woolfe, both color and black and white capture Secretariat during races, workouts, and down time. There are also several shots of the people important in that great horse's life. There are also several appendixes covering information such as Secretariat's daily training log, his contribution to the thoroughbred breed, and "where are they now" section. The only downside to this book is that a couple of the photos appear to be misidentified. But, otherwise it would be a wonderful addition to anybody's coffee table. - Kathy Ersman |
In early 1973, a sleek, sturdy bay named Sham was winning races by impressive margins as great as 15 lengths.After defeating the mighty Secretariat in the Wood Memorial, many turf writers were touting Sham as the Kentucky Derby favorite. The stage was set for Sham-mania to sweep the country at a time when the nation needed a hero. With rising inflation, the Vietnam conflict, and Watergate dominating current events, people were ready to cheer for someone, for something. But it was secretariat who won over the nation. This is the other side of the story of Secretriat's famous Triple Crown season and of his remarkable challenger who found that great was only second best. SHAM Great Was Second Best, A Brave
Bay's Rivalry with the Legendary Secretariat by Phil Dandrea is a thrilling
account of the horse to finish second to Secretariat in the Kentucky
Derby and the Preakness. Dandrea covers a lot of ground with background
on Sham's ancestors and the road that lead him to the people that believed
in him whole-heartedly. He goes on to cover the training and races that
set this colt up to meet Secretariat, and to present his argument that
Sham made Secretariat the Superhorse we all accept him to be. The book
is well written and grabbed me right from the start. This type of book
is in danger of being very dry and slow slogging through all the history
and its bearing to the tale. Even though I knew the outcome Dandrea
kept the action interesting and page turner exciting with electrifying
race descriptions and colorful quotes from trainers, jockeys and owners.
Of course it is hard to have a story about this great horse without
Secretariat barging in to the tale. But, a little too much Secretariat
history was present, overshadowing Sham's tale. Art imitates life. I
don't want to take anything away from Sham, a great horse in his own
right; he was unfortunate enough to be born in 1970. But there is just
something a little "bigger" about Secretariat that made him
stand out more from the crowd. The book's chapters are chronologically
arranged, with the requisite pictures, about a quarter of them are by
Maryland's own Cappy Jackson. It would have been nice to see some pictures
of Sham other than racing. But, I don't think Dandrea brought home the
argument that Sham made Secretariat a superhorse. They only met 4 times
in their racing careers (Secretariat started 21 times, Sham 13 times),
there were other notable horses to race against Secretariat Forego is
one. 1970 produced a several horses of class providing Secretariat with
some competition. But, Sham was still a class act and quite possibly
would have won the Triple Crown if he had just been born in another
year. Phil Dandrea has spent time at tracks both behind the scenes and
most notably as a member of Big Brown's ownership group IEAH Stables.
As such he is able to bring to life track life, and the emotional roller
coaster of having the really good horse. I found myself rooting for
Sham even though I knew he wasn't going to triumph. Overall, Sham is
a great read, entertaining, interesting, and thrilling. You can't really
ask for more. |
Core fitness for EVERY equestrian |
This is the first book to cover the complete history of the horse in the Old Dominion. The books is beautifully illustrated throughout, including numerous historical depictions of the horse by painters, photographers, and even commercial artists. The equine tradition in Virginia is unique and enduring; this book is the celebration it deserves. |
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ride in a Steeplechase race? Now you can experience the thrills and spills of racing from the comfort of your own home through the Ski Roundtop Jockey cam. Ride with Jockey James Stierhoff and his mount “Twill Do” as they ride to victory in America’s most prestigious and difficult timber race, the Maryland Hunt Cup. A must for any equine enthusiast, sit back and enjoy a true test of horse and rider. Overall, the DVD “The Maryland
Hunt Cup: A Jockey's Perspective” directed by Nick Carter gives
a fantastic insiders view, and a unique “jockey cam” perspective
of one of the oldest and most prestigious steeplechase races in the
world. The editing for the opening montage is very well done but for
those viewers who do not recognize the faces of the various trainers
and jockeys speaking at the beginning, the importance of what they are
saying, because of who they are, is lost. After the opening credits,
the historical commentary from various Maryland steeplechase jockeys
and trainers begins, and at this point, names are flashed on the screen.
However, again, no background is given on who these people are, not
even farm names, and so you once again loose the importance of their
words. Viewers are not even informed as to who is a jockey and who is
a trainer or owner. A little more thought should have been put into
this part of the DVD. For those who don't know about the Hunt Cup, the
information provided was a little too short and sometimes a bit vague.
Steeplechase legend Jay Griswold, does give one piece of information
so eloquently that is stands out above the other commentary about the
Hunt Cup. Griswold describes the Hunt Cup horse as, “A good hunt
cup horse has to be both very smart and very brave. And most horses,
the smart ones are not brave and the brave ones are not smart. So it
takes a very unique combination.” Viewers feel the true meaning
behind his words once the Ski Roundtop jockey cam footage begins. The
camera was placed on the helmet of James Stierholf, who rode Twill Do
for owner Lucy A. Goelet and trainer by William Meister. Luck played
a significant part in the making of the rest of this film. There was
no possible way that the director could have known that Twill Do would
lag behind for most of the race, giving perfect views of the race unfolding
in front of Stierholf. Nor could Carter predict that coming to the second
to last fence, Twill Do and Stierholf would surge ahead to victory.
The jockey cam perspective actually allows viewers to feel the rhythm
of the horses galloping. You can feel the speed, lean into the turns
with the jockeys and hold your breath at every fence. And as the battle
to the finish line between Twill Do and Private Attack forges on in
the last seconds of the race, you can actually feel the horses accelerate.
The raw emotions of Stierholf and Meister at the end of the race are
priceless and after feeling like you rode the race with them, one can
share in the emotions and celebrate their victory along side of them.
And in this way, the DVD does accomplish what is stated in the opening
credits; to ride in the Maryland Hunt Cup is a “chance to become
part of history.” |
Collection is one of the most misunderstood
concepts in Western and English riding. Everyone wants it, but few people
know how to get it. World-class rider, trainer and clinician Lynn Palm
now offers the one and only book that explains away the mysteries of
collection while telling you exactly how to attain it. The Rider's Guide
to Real Collection is really not for the advanced dressage rider. If
you are an upper level rider looking for technical pointers on how to
move up the levels this book is not for you. |
Thomas Foley's The Simple Game, An Irish Jockeys Memoir
offers a rare glimpse into the life lived by a professional athlete and
the sacrifices needed to succeed. I don't know Tom Foley, but this book
seems not to have been so much "written" as recorded, as if
two friends sat down in a pub for a pint, and Tom started telling a story
that was recorded, and later transcribed. This is what makes the book
a quick and easy read, but also a compelling one. Foley does not shy from
letting the reader know some of the most intimate and painful things about
his life, particularly the illness that has framed his professional life,
and threatens to destroy him on a daily basis. To keep his racing weight
down, Foley became a "flipper", or bulimic. The book opens with
a photograph of a toilet designed specifically for "flipping".
What's particularly horrifying is that there is a company that makes a
toilet for such a purpose, and there's a line item in the budget at race
tracks for purchasing such an item. Foley confesses the things that he
has done that do not make him proud. Relating one incident in which he
lies to the stewards after a race, and Gregg Ryan, another jockey, calls
him on it, and asks him it that's the kind of man he wants to become.
Throughout the book, Foley asks himself the same question, and acknowledges
that he doesn't know the man he's become, and he doesn't know how to get
back to that man. |
Why We Ride
by Verna Dreisbach A collection of stories by women writers who have a connection with horses. |
Taylor Henry loves horses, but her single mom can't afford riding lessons, much less a horse. So when she discovers an abandoned gelding and pony, Taylor is happy just to be around them. But the rescued animals have nowhere to go, and Taylor is running out of time to find them a good home. Could the empty old barn on Wildwood Lane be the answer? And could Taylor's wildest dream - of a horse to call her own - finally be coming true? |
Taylor Henry thinks Wildwood Stables is perfect - even if it needs repair and a lot more money, it's become a home to her and her new horse, Prince Albert. And as soon as Taylor trains Prince Albert to give lessons, Wildwood will be in business! But the gelding refuses to let anyone ride him except Taylor. Can she convince Prince Albert to earn his keep? Or will Taylor need the help of her worst enemy to save her beloved new home? |
We've all seen them - muddied, bedraggled, groggy from too little sleep or bussing from too much coffee, There maybe a charachteristic green smear of horse slobber across the shirt, perhaps an errant wisp of hay clinging to the front of the jeans. Often, they are in the midst of performing several tasks: load bearing (hauling shavings bales, water buckets, heavy saddles); couriering (parking oversized rigs,, rushing to the secretarary's office with last-minute entries... Who are htese hardworking, agreeable creatures? They are the ever-patient partners of horse-crazy women - husbands, boyfriends, fathers, brothers - and they are often introduced to "planet horse" and all of its sweaty, expensive glory without knowing any better (or when they do know better, blantantly against their will). They "come along for the ride because they love the women in their life, and well, those women love horses. Now, a man on the inside shares his planet-horse experiences, with the bare-it-all bravery of a desperate individual trying to understand the strange world of which he has become part. |
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2009
Book and DVD Releases |
A commemorative tome celebrating the Centennial of the Masters of the Foxhounds Association and 100 years of organized foxhunting in North America. An absolute must for the library of any Maryland equestrian,this long awaited commemorative compendium celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Masters of the Foxhounds Association and 100 years of organized foxchasing sport in Northern America arrived late in 2009 - too late for our 2009 book review, but eligible for this year's review. Obviously a labor of love, the tome is 433 pages of fascinating stories and foxhunting philosophy, fabulous photos and rich, glorious art. Most foxhunters who order this book will quickly flip through it, looking for familiar faces, places, hounds and horses. Marylanders won't be disappointed, as we pop up everywhere (and only Virginia and Pennsylvania have more recognized packs than Maryland, and we are a fraction of their geographic size!). The comprehensive history of foxhunting in America gives Maryland her rightful due as the cradle of American foxhunting - and the American Foxhound. Norman Fine's historic overview provides oa detailed account of the first pack of hounds imported into the Colonies by Robert Brooke in 1650, noting that "The Brooke hound bloodlines…provided basic stock for American strains fielded today." De La Brooke Hounds today pays tribute to Robert Brooke. Tobacco planters on Maryland's Eastern Shore are credited with introducing the red fox to the colonies, as they felt the red fox was more game than the native gray fox. When the Chesapeake Bay froze in that bitter winter of 1779-17780, the opportunistic Reynard crossed into Virginia and then spread throughout the country. The quest for a hound that could hunt this now ubiquitous quarry in the young county's territory led, in 1814, to the importation of two Irish hounds, the famed Mountain & Muse, by Baltimore immigrant Bolton Jackson. He gave the hounds to Ellicott City's Charles Sterrett Ridgley; from there they transferred down to Benjamin Ogle, Jr.'s famed Belair Stud in Prince George's County. To read the rest of Mountain and Muse's story, however, readers will need to skip to Fine's own book, for at this point in is overview he leaves off their story, jumping ahead to how their blood can today be found in the American hounds Trigg, July and Walker. Readers also find more of the story of these famed Maryland bloodlines by reading Chapter 21, "All A Matter of Longevity," in which J.W.Y. Martin, MFH discusses the founding of the Green Spring Valley Hounds. Although the club was formally organized in 1892, founder Redmond C. Stewart began forming his pack when he was 15 years old, focusing on old Maryland bloodlines and following the advice of "ancient" Howard County foxhunters, eventually acquiring the pack of hounds from Patapsco Hunt upon the retirement of its master, Dorsey Rogers,and the Patapsco Hounds had a direct line back to Mountain & Muse. (It is interesting to note that most of these Maryland family names still appear regularly in the pages of your local horse publication.) Green Spring MFHs judiciously bred these old Maryland lines to select English lines, establishing what we today call the "Crossbred Hound." With its proximity to the nation's capital, Maryland is home to scads of policy wonks who will appreciate Fine's history and analysis of the evolution of the Masters of the Foxhounds Association, the vision of its founders, the tenacity of its early leadership in hewing to the founders' mission, the decades that it took to achieve these initial goals, the particular personality traits of each leader and how those traits helped to move (or not move) the organization forward. For anyone involved in volunteer driven, not-for-profit sporting associations, the story of the MFHA provides valuable guidance in the necessity for vision, patience, tenacity and diplomacy. However, many will skip this history section and instead dive right into the action! The reader will enjoy conversations with noted huntsmen and hunt with packs around North American without ever leaving the comfort of his sofa (this book is too heavy to have on your lap; it really IS a coffee table book). Each chapter has a different author. Larry Pitts will regale the reader with kennel antics and heart-stopping moments; woven in, around and through these tales is his philosophy on hounds and hound training - and what he has learned over the years. The last part of the book focuses on the various activities to celebrate the MFHA's centennial, including the Foxhound Performance Trials, the Field Hunter Championships, the various Joint Meets and the grand finale Hunt Ball. No self respecting coffee table book is complete with out lush illustrations, and this book is packed full of them. Unfortunately, photo credits are relegated to an index in the back of the book, which means a lot of flipping while reading (and remember, this is a BIG book). A quick scan of the photographer index reveals old Equiery friends, including Cappy Jackson, Isabel Kurek, Karen Kandra Wenzel and Kerry McCoy. There may be other Marylanders in there, but it is hard to tell. The oil paintings, pastels and other original artwork are lovingly reproduced, so it is disappointing and unfortunate that the book lacks an index of artists. In a nod to the digital evolution of publishing, a DVD is included with the printed book; the DVD includes detailed information, photos and videos on all the various hunt clubs - essentially a digital roster. Obviously, the 2007 information was dated as of the release of the book, but the DVD should be able to be easily updated and resold each year (or every few years) and can be used as a fundraising tool for the organization. A word of warning: the DVD does require certain software (which is included on the disc). - Crystal Brumme Kimball |
For a century the My Lady's Manor Races have formed part of the three major timber race meetings in Maryland. Writer Margaret Worrall has created centennial chronicles for the Grand National in Butler and the Maryland Hunt Cup in Glyndon. Now she puts her love of racing and history together again for a limited edition on the My Lady's Manor Point-to-Point, an event that has never been covered in depth before. Another absolute must for a complete Maryland library, regardless of whether it is a library on Maryland history in general or a library of Maryland horse books. Written by one of The Equiery's favorite writers, Margaret Worrall, this book chronicles all the color, glory and guts that is the racing and foxhunting world. Too often, these kinds of books can seem insular to those on the outside, like a yearbook for an unfamiliar school. Worrall generously invites the reader who is not "of the Manor born" to not only step into the world of The Manor, but makes us feel a part of that world. Lavishly illustrated with photos and paintings (Voss paintings, of course). We should all be so fortunate as to have Worrall craft our life stories. - Crystal Brumme Kimball |
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2004 Book and
DVD Releases |
Winter's Gift
by Jane Monroe Donovan It may be Christmastime but on a small, forlorn farm the holiday season is best forgotten, along with painful memories of loved ones lost. Mother Nature has other plans, however, and a chance snowstorm brings together two unlikely hearts, one human and one beast, yet both yearning for comfort, companionship, and that most elusive gift of all, hope. This lustrous jewel of a story, quietly told and perfectly complemented by soft, evocative paintings, reminds even the most cynical of readers that the heart indeed can recover and go on. |
© The Equiery 2010
7
Clinics with Buck Brannaman (DVD) by Cindy Meehl & Cedar
Creek Productions
101
Ground Training Exercises for Every Horse & Handler
by Cherry Hill
Balancing
Act: The Horse in Sport - An Irreconcilable Conflict? by
Dr. Greg Heuschmann
Chincoteague
Ponies: Untold Tales by Lois Szymanski
Crown
Prince by Linda Snow McLoon
Crown
Prince Challenged by Linda Snow McLoon
Flying
Change: A Year of Racing and Family and Steeplechasing by
Patrick Smithwick
For
the Love of the Horse: Volume IV by Ann Jamieson 
Horse
Bits & Pieces by Sarah Widdicombe
Horse
Profiling: the Secret to Motivating Equine Athletes by Kerry
Thomas, Calvin L. Carter
Knowing
Horses: Q&As to Boost Your Equine IQ by Les Sellnow
& Carol A. Butler 
Morning
Meditations from your Abba Father by Alyse Best Muldoon
Musings
of a Horse Farm Corgi by Leslie McDonald
Nine
Pilates Essentials for the Balanced Rider (DVD) by Janice
Dulak
Peter
Leone’s Show Jumping Clinic by Peter Leone
Pidgy’s
Surprise by Jeanne Mellin
Racing
from Death: A Nikki Latrelle Racing Mystery by Sasscer Hill
Relentless
by P.J. O’Dwyer 
Riding
on the Autism Spectrum by Claudine Pelletier-Milet
Sport
Horse Conformation by Christian Schacht
The
Horse Agility Handbook by Vanessa Bee
The
Marlborough Hunt Club 1936-2011: 75 Years of Traditional Maryland Foxchasing
by Barbara Smith 
The
Tale of Strawberry Snow by P. L. Caudle 
Wild
Colt by Lois Szymanski 
40
Fundamentals of English Riding by Hollie H. McNeil
Cross
Country with Jim Wofford by Jim Wofford
Meditation
for Two by Dominique Barbier and Keron Psillas
The
Barns of Southern Maryland by J. Carlton Sharp
Down
the Aisle - For the Love of Horses by Leslie McDonald 
Everything
but the Horse by Holly Hobbie 
Foxhunting
Adventures by Norman Fine 
Full
Mortality by Sasscer
Horses
and Heartbeats by Polly Thompson 
Mini
School by Sabine Ellinger 
Pilates
for Equestrians by Liza Randall 
Pilates
for Riders by Lindsay Wilcox-Reid 
Point
of Aim, Point of Impact by Jay Taylor 
Randy
Romero's Remarkable Ride by Bill Heller 
Secretariat:
Updated Edition by Raymond G. Woolfe Jr. 
Sham
- Great Was Second Best by Phil Dandrea 
Success
in the Saddle with Debbie Rodriguez by
Debbie Rodriguez 
The
Horse In Virginia by Julie A. Campbell 
The
Maryland Hunt Cup: A Jockey's Perspective produced by
Nick Carter 
The
Riders Guide to Real Collection by Lynn Palm 
The
Simple Game by Thomas Foley 
Wildwood
Stables: Daring to Dream by Suzanne Weyn 
Wildwood
Stables: Playing for Keeps by Suzanne Weyn 
Women
are from Venus and So Are Their Horses by Menno Kalmann
A
Centennial View edited by John Strassburger 
The
My Lady's Manor Races1901-2009 by Margaret Worrall