First Horse Books and YouTube for Teens

[klthomason]

I think we've found a great horse for one of my daughters. While she's done a share and worked in barns, this is the first horse we've owned. We will be doing a full livery with an experienced horse owner who is well trusted so there will be some oversight. I did not grow up with horses, it's very new to me. Looking for recommendation on books, youtube channels, podcasts etc. Dense books with technical writing are probably not going to be the best. My daughter is 14 and very visual, so books with illustrations and lots of white space that are easy on the eyes would probably be more engaging for her. She is interested in dressage and her twin sister is interested in show jumping. We are still looking for the show jumping horse. Thanks!

 

[LEC]

I would start with the pony club manual of horsemanship as aimed at under 24s.
Has everything you need to get you started.
Youtube I am not sure as tends to not be that educational maybe This Esme?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I would start with the pony club manual of horsemanship as aimed at under 24s.
Has everything you need to get you started.
Youtube I am not sure as tends to not be that educational maybe This Esme?

Yeah This Esme and elphick event ponies

 

[dottylottie]

this esme is wonderful, i love meg elphick but i’m not sure she’s really ideal for younger audiences even though it seems to be her target - i’m looking at you, yfood. she definitely has some cracking informational videos though.

for books, i adored the pony club secrets book series when i was younger - i learnt heaps, but the stories are ace. i still have them all and regularly read them

 

[LEC]

Megs older videos probably a lot better but now it’s crappy sales after crappy sales. This Esme is very good at walking a good line of tone and privilege.

 

[dottylottie]

Megs older videos probably a lot better but now it’s crappy sales after crappy sales. This Esme is very good at walking a good line of tone and privilege.

second this, her older vlogs where she goes through her day in the life and the older training videos are brill. not sure what she’s doing with her ads atm, brought out a children’s book but doing ads for wine subscriptions

 

[smolmaus]

not sure what she’s doing with her ads atm, brought out a children’s book but doing ads for wine subscriptions

Gotta target as many markets as possible!!

ThisEsme is definitely more child friendly. I dont see EPP's actual youtube channel being targeted to children but she does work with PonyMag etc so will have a following from there for her kids book maybe?

A subscription to Pony Magazine might be a good shout for your daughter too actually OP!

 

[dottylottie]

definitely second the pony mag subscription, im 21 and still have one

 

[Bobthecob15]

Pony magazine subscription! My 8yr old loves hers!!!

This Esme is great...but 100% keep away from Harlow and Popcorn!!!! Gives kids such unrealistic expectations of horse owning!! Can't stand them!

Downside to these equine influencers is they constantly shove their sponsors down your throats....and to an extent they all give the impression kids NEED 800 matchy matchy sets! Esme isn't too bad though for that x

 

[Most Curious]

Ricks YouTube site 'Think Like a Horse' is a great place to learn about proper horse man ship. He could probably teach a few popular members on the Horse and Hound forum a thing or two about horses.
Other YouTube sites I would recommend are Raleigh Link. Its a great site to learn about all the different types of horse riding. Its a real eye opener, informing people about horse abuse in certain horse disciplines and by certain people (allegedly).
Special mentions must go to -
About Horses. - Petting, Hugging and Kissing horses.
Dressage Hub - For all the juicy gossip about dressage riding.
KPC Kyalami Park Club - Interesting / amusing videos about hobby horses
MSG Polo eventing. - Exciting trail riding videos. Something I would like to do in the future.

 

[stangs]

Think like a horse and Raleigh Link have strong opinions that aren't always backed up by the science. Don't think I'd recommend them to anyone who doesn't have enough experience to distinguish what's nonsense and what's not. The former is also a raging misogynist.

I reckon your best bet would be some Pony Club/BHS books to have them as references. If you want something a bit more academic but with lots of photos, Gillian Higgins and Jec Bellou have some nice books that would be relevant regardless of discipline. Podcasts-wise, De-complicating Dressage for the dressage rider or The Whole Horse Podcast With Alexa Linton - not discipline specific, and on the alternative side, but something for everyone there.

Elphick Event Ponies content is also very mixed, but she and Life on the Left Rein have plenty of lesson videos that I find interesting to watch. Lauren Allport's content isn't educational per say, but her videos aren't too long, and often contain information related to equine physio, and voiceovers on her SJ rounds. Holly Lenahan's another one to watch if you want relatively educational SJ content.

 

[Katieg123]

Agree RaleighLink has some very strong (sometimes right but exceptionally narrow minded) opinions. Wouldn't recommend her to someone young and impressionable!

 

[toppedoff]

This Esme 100%

Megan - I am a bit 50/50. I feel it depends on the vlog? She has a kids book, works with pony mag and does Star Stable sponsors with Yfood and Wine.. think it's just a snatch everything and run.

I also like Riding with Rhi, but she unfortunately lost her horse. She had a share at first then brought her own as an adult.

Also Hackett Equine - hers are more ground work/Training sort of? I find her really good

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

This Esme 100%

Megan - I am a bit 50/50. I feel it depends on the vlog? She has a kids book, works with pony mag and does Star Stable sponsors with Yfood and Wine.. think it's just a snatch everything and run.

I also like Riding with Rhi, but she unfortunately lost her horse. She had a share at first then brought her own as an adult.

Also Hackett Equine - hers are more ground work/Training sort of? I find her really good

Snatch and run is a bit mean, I think it's probably more that she started off young and events ponies, thus attracting a younger audience naturally, but she is also growing up having started the channel very young, and wants her content to mature as she does, she is 24!

I would second Hackett Equine - super content with the highs and lows and very imformative, ThisEsme I find a little irritating to listen to but she is great for youngsters to watch.

Life on the left rein is also great, again very much shows the ups and downs and has great lesson vlogs etc.

 

[toppedoff]

Snatch and run is a bit mean, I think it's probably more that she started off young and events ponies, thus attracting a younger audience naturally, but she is also growing up having started the channel very young, and wants her content to mature as she does, she is 24!

I would second Hackett Equine - super content with the highs and lows and very imformative, ThisEsme I find a little irritating to listen to but she is great for youngsters to watch.

Life on the left rein is also great, again very much shows the ups and downs and has great lesson vlogs etc.

Yeah, I'm not really sure how to describe it sorry. I just think it comes across a bit all over the place in terms of who she wants to target at the minute, Sorry. My fault

 

[Burnerbee]

Clever Cowgirl - for people aged 6 to 100+

 

[seriously festive equine]

This Esme, Elphick Event Ponies, and Equine Helper (Carmella Abel) are all awesome channels. Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship and the British Horse Society riding manual

 

[Lois Lame]

I really liked Diana R Tuke's book Horse By Horse. I always enjoyed reading books on horse care and hers I found chatty and pleasant. She might 'go on a bit' for some readers but I felt included in her words, as though I was listening to her.

I don't know how easy or difficult it would be to find a copy. It was first published in 1973 by JA Allen and Co Ltd. In checking it, I find a have a first edition . I would have bought that book in the '70s.