About the Book
The first complete
reference to help equestrians make the changes needed to ensure social license
and the ability to ride and compete horses for years to come.
Renowned
wild horse ecologist and equine behaviorist Mary Ann Simonds provides a
practical soup-to-nuts manual for understanding how horses think, feel, learn,
communicate, and interact with each other and with humans. Integrating over 30
years of field research, identifying functional social behaviors in wild horses
with her lifelong professional practice working with equestrians solving equine
behavioral issues, Simonds helps readers gain a strong foundation into the
emotional and cognitive lives of horses and explore various horse-human
relationships. She provides numerous tools for assessing personalities,
communicating with horses, and understanding how horses learn, with an emphasis
on improving care and reducing stress in competitions and sports.
In three
parts, each introduced by top researchers and scientists in the equestrian
field, readers will:
- LEARN the
natural history and social ecology of free-roaming wild horses. - UNDERSTAND the
instincts, learned behaviors, gender differences, social roles, and social
bonds that are the driving factors in horse culture. - DISCOVER how
adaptable horses really are, and how that makes them an ideal species to share
their social lives with humans. - FOCUS on horse-human
relationships applying the knowledge from Part One to reduce equine stress and
improve communication in the management and training of all horses. - EXPLORE how to better
assess the horse's personality and emotions, understand his learning style, and
use various communication channels to establish trust, improve friendship, and
enhance performance. - ADDRESS the ethics of
horse sports and ask the questions needed to ensure horse welfare in all the
disciplines. - CONSIDER dozens of
changes related to horse management and competition recommended by respected
industry professionals. - BE EMPOWERED to be an
influencer to improve the lives of horses, whatever the profession, breed, or
sport.
Filled with
hundreds of color-coded tips and beautiful photos, and backed by science,
personal stories, and unique insights, readers have multiple ways to quickly
find useful information and apply it to their own horse-human situations.
Whether preparing for a horse show, working with young stock, riding on the
trails, adopting a wild horse, running a rescue, or just hoping to improve your
communication and relationships with all horses, this book is a catalyst for
much-needed change in the equine industry.
