Your favourite horse books (non-fiction)

[ThereSheIs]

Now that I've finished my dissertation and exams, I'm quite looking forward to reading things just because I feel like it, rather than because I really have to!

I've lost two of my favourite non-fiction horsey books. One is just a simple horse management one but very good for basic things, the other one is Perfect Manners, which I know people say is just marketing good horse handling - but I thought it was good, and there was some food for thought in there. I hope these two turn up soon!

I found a Molly Sivewright riding book (Thinking Riding) at home the other day, I love her illustrations and the old school tone of it!

What non-fiction horsey books does everyone like? I might treat myself to a new one!

 

[NaeNae87]

I like Bill the B a s t a r d by Roland Perry.

It's a collection of true stories about a horse in WWI on the Galipolli Penninsula. He was a bit of a terror (hence his name) and had a lot of attitude but was an amazing animal.

 

[Enfys]

It depends what you are interested in, every time I buy a new horse it seems I need to buy a dozen books about the breed, or the style of riding etc. I love books, I have dozens, I can't help myself and probably buy about half a dozen a month. God Bless Amazon

Trick training: Carole Fletcher, Alexandra Kurland, Shawna Karrasch

Behavioural: Ulrik Schramm, Dr Martha Wiley-Worthington, Leonie Marshall

Coffee table: superb photography (requires second mortgage to buy new) Gabrielle Boiselle

'Old fashioned' now but eminently readable and talk a lot of sense before the era of Monty Roberts, Kelly Marks, Richard Maxwell, Parelli etc - Henry Wynmalen, Henry Blake (Talking with Horses, and others, he did all sorts of behavioural tests etc)

Anything and everything by EH Edwards especially both editions of Saddlery, Bits and Bitting, he gave me all my copies of all his books, I would have to be starving to part with them, very funny, very knowledgeable and interesting man, God rest him.

Prancy, dancey, pretty photos - Klaus Hemperfling - Dancing with Horses

Cherry Hill, lightweight, practical, sensible - What Horses need to know, Think like a Horse, 101 Ground Exercises, Horse keeping on a small acreage etc, etc etc

Track systems: Paddock Paradise - Jaime Jackson, not just a barefoot rant, but interesting research about wild horses, and very useful if you have good doers or laminitics to contend with.

If you ever wondered about how horses were managed before motors this is interesting : Carriages at eight.