5 Horse Training Books for Your Spring Reading List

​Spring is right around the corner!  This year forget spring cleaning (for a while anyway) and start thinking spring training for you and your horse!  Even when you can’t get outside to ride because it’s still too chilly, there’s time to squeeze in a horse training chapter (or two) during the last days of winter … think a waiting room, your lunch break or a mere 15 minutes before bed.  

But, before you can start on a late winter reading adventure, you’ve got to have a solid reading list … right?  Get ready to dust off that tack and shed those winter blues with some mental prep guaranteed to have you seeing show pen blue when the weather turns warm again!  Here are some sweet reading recommendations that’ll give you a leg up on the competition this year.  

​These 5 book recommendations, selected from the Goodreads Popular Horse Training Books list, should keep you turning plenty of pages …

1.  Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship: Establishing Respect and Control for English and Western Riders ​by Ami Hendrickson

As described by the publisher, "Native Australian Clinton Anderson offers his training methodology for “real life” horses and their owners. Beginning by stressing the importance of a fundamental understanding of horse psychology and “why they do what they do,” the author introduces readers to safe and specific ways to approach training or behavioral problems, then guides them through basic groundwork and under–saddle exercises."

2.  How to Think Like a Horse: Essential Insights for Understanding Equine Behavior and Building an Effective Partnership with Your Horse by Cherry Hill

From the book's back cover, "Equine behavior makes perfect sense when you understand a horse's survival instincts and fears and know what makes him feel calm and confident. As noted horsewoman Cherry Hill describes your horse's basic needs, routines, and responses to sights, smells, sounds, and touch, you will learn to anticipate his reactions and adjust your training methods accordingly. Your lasting reward will be a solid relationship with a curious, trusting, adaptable, and eager-to-please equine companion."

3.  The Man Who Listens to Horses by Monty Roberts

From the Amazon book description page, "Monty Roberts is a real-life horse whisperer–an American original whose gentle Join-Up® training method reveals the depth of communication possible between man and animal. He can take a wild, high-strung horse who has never before been handled and persuade that horse to accept a bridle, saddle, and rider in thirty minutes."

4.  ​Centered Riding by Sally Swift 

From the Amazon book description page, "Widely known for her innovative teaching philosophy stressing body awareness, the value of "soft eyes," proper breathing, centering, and balance, Sally Swift has been a pioneering riding instructor for half a century. In book form for the first time, her methods enable horse and rider to achieve harmony, working together naturally, without pain."

5.  A Good Horse Is Never a Bad Color: Tales of Training through Communication and Trust by Mark Rashid

From the Amazon book description page, "This book is a must-have for compassionate horse trainers and owners. Tales of Arabs, appaloosas, and paints—mistrusted and mistreated because of their breed—will give readers a new perspective on these breeds and others."

So there you have it!  5 books to sharpen your horsemanship skills and get you back in mental shape for show ring success.  Need even more reading inspiration?  Here's an article that should do the trick, 20 Tips to Enjoy Spring with Your Horse from the HorseChannel.com.  Feeling a little nervous about returning to the show pen?Try striking a power pose for increased confidence!  Learn how in my blog post, Don't Let Horse Show Nerves Get the Best of You!
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Good luck this spring, Horse Lovers!

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