English Horses

"Every horse story is a love story," writes Jane Smiley, who has loved horses for most of her life and owned and bred them for a good part of it. To love something is to observe it with more than usual attention, and that is precisely what Smiley does in this irresistibly smart, witty, and engaging chronicle of her obsession. In particular she follows a sexy filly named Waterwheel and a grey named Wowie (he "tells" a horse communicator that he wants it changed from Hornblower) as they begin careers at the racetrack.

First published in 1733 as Ecole de Cavalerie by François Robichon de la Guérinière, this book is considered as the beginning of modern equitation. The book is most famous for its introduction of the shoulder-in. The theories in this book provide the basis for all modern equitation, and it is probably the most important work on the subject ever written. It was translated from the French to English by Tracy Boucher.

Learn what it means to have healthy biomechanics, the power of mind-set, setting goals, and the most important conversations you need to be able to have with your horse in order to improve the quality of his movement. This book is in-depth enough to explain the concepts yet short enough to easily listen to and remember. It is an excellent introduction to Karen Rohlf and her "dressage naturally" system.

On an early summer morning in 2001, Mandy Retzlaff received the phone call that she and her family had been dreading. Her farmhouse in northern Zimbabwe was being decimated at the hands of an angry mob of Robert Mugabe’s war veterans, who had been tasked with driving white farmers from their homes. In just a few short days, forty-five of Mandy’s neighbours narrowly escaped with their lives and decided to leave Zimbabwe behind.

In the roaring '20s, adventurous young Sonora Webster sees an exciting act that will change her life forever. Hooves pound as a horse gallops up the ramp of a 40-foot-tall tower. A girl in a sparkly swimsuit waits at the top, and at the last possible second, leaps on its back as they dive through the air, falling to a tank of water far below with thunderous applause. Sonora is hooked. From that moment on, she is determined to BE that girl, despite the danger, and endeavors to join the diving horse troupe. This memoir follows her exciting career and life on the road as a traveling performer.

Now that Abby knows which of her so-called friends is the one behind the video of her talking “trash” on Emery, she’d love to do something with that information—if only her blackmailer didn’t know Abby’s one real secret, the one she can’t risk getting out. So, Abby’s stuck. And, to make matters worse, she’s so rattled by the drama that it’s affecting her performance on Beau. Abby wants to be as great a rider as Sasha Silver, but how can she do that when she’s making rookie mistakes?

When it comes to men, Nealy is very content with her new husband, lawyer Hatch Littletree. When it comes to horses, she is never satisfied. Nobody can measure up to her standards as a trainer, not even her daughter, Emmie, who now runs the family's famous stables, Blue Diamond Farms. But returning to Blue Diamond Farms for a family reunion sends Nealy reeling. Emmie has let the farm slide, and she has picked a small, gutsy colt to send to the Derby - a nice horse but clearly the wrong one.

Small town 17-year-old Vivienne Taylor is a talented equestrian with Olympic dreams and a little something extra going on - she is also an "equine empath", someone who has the ability to read horses’ minds and moods. When she receives a full scholarship to attend Fairmont Riding Academy, a prep school with a famous riding program, she struggles with homesickness, hazing by the school’s snooty drama queen, intense competition in the sport of three-day-eventing, and the not-altogether-unwelcome interest of a hot guy. On top of all of that the horse given to Vivienne via the scholarship is an animal that she cannot "read" or understand.

Princess Ellie is pony-mad! So when top designer Lord Leo arrives to give the palace a makeover, Ellie quickly escapes to the stables to avoid all the fuss. But she soon discovers that there's something strange about Lord Leo, and she suspects there's more to his plans than meets the eye. Can her pony, Starlight, help Ellie uncover the palace plot?

Summer is ending, and Samantha's dad's birthday is right around the corner. When her stepmom picks out a mustang for his present, Sam thinks it's a perfect idea. But will her dad agree?

Mallory loves horses. She loves reading about them. She loves writing about them. And most of all, she loves daydreaming about them.

He was named "Sham" for the sun, this golden red stallion born in the Sultan of Morocco's stone stables. Upon his heel was a small white spot, the symbol of speed. But on his chest was the symbol of misfortune. Although he was as swift as the desert winds, Sham's proud pedigree would be scorned all his life by cruel masters and owners.

Mikey the horse needs a new pair of shoes. Since he’s a horse, he can’t just go to a shoe store. Instead, a farrier comes to take care of his feet. Meet Natasha, the farrier who takes care of Mikey’s hooves. She cleans and clips his hooves—just like humans clip their toenails!—before putting on his special horseshoes. Learn about her job and why it’s important to keep horses’ hooves healthy!

A sequel to the highly popular Healing Shine: A Spiritual Assignment, The Trials of Joe Ben Black: Confessions of a Rope Horse was intended to be a collection of best practices to start a young roping horse. However, the subject matter turned out to encompass a much larger area. What is the best way to train our horse? According to Michael Johnson's latest audiobook, "The process is far less about training the horse...and far more about training ourselves".

Annie Wilkerson is Moose Creek's premiere horse trainer and equine columnist for Montana Living. When Annie's column is cancelled, she's given first shot at a new lovelorn column - and she can't afford to turn it down. Only problem is...Annie's never been in love. She reluctantly strikes a deal with the town's smooth-talking ladies' man Dylan Taylor. Working closely with Dylan is harder than Annie imagined, and she quickly realizes she may have misjudged him. But her conviction that cowboys are nothing but trouble has kept her heart safe for years. And she can't risk getting hurt now.

Zane Grey is considered the first and, by many, the best author of "Western" novels. This second volume contains four of his most popular novels, The Valley of Wild Horses, The Last Trail, The Rustlers of Pecos County and The Lone Star Ranger.

A British jockey, riding in Norway, has disappeared, and with him has gone a day's takings from the turnstiles of Oslo racecourse. The Norwegian police have found no trace of him, nor have the British, and the case is being filed as just one more unsolved theft. David Cleveland, investigator for the Jockey Club, is a last resort. He goes without much expectation, and finds himself in waters as dark and deep as the fjords.

Joseph Johnson has lost just about everyone he's ever loved. He lost his pa in an accident. He lost his ma and his little sister to sickness. And now, he's lost his pony - fast, fierce, beautiful Sarah, taken away by a man who had no right to take her. Joseph can sure enough get her back, though. The odds are stacked against him, but he isn't about to give up. He will face down deadly animals, dangerous men, and the fury of nature itself on his quest to be reunited with the only family he has left.

High on the slopes of mighty Mount Olympus, among the sun-splashed meadows and sparkling waters, glide the winged horses of the ancient gods. Here up high is normally no place for a lost, parentless girl like Pippa. But once every hundred years, the gods and goddesses descend to the mortal realm to choose jockeys for their winged horse race - and Pippa is one of the lucky children chosen to ride.

When Duncan McKinnon learns Fiona and her little girl are in trouble, he vows to protect them with his life, not quite understanding the incredible connection he has to the little girl who looks like him. The threat plaguing Fiona might just expose a link to the McKinnon brothers’ missing father.