Pieh Tool

Morgan Ford and Heintzberger
Forward by Kanre O'Connor

Renowned for their amazing athleticism and unparalleled work ethic, and famed for their "great heart" and willingness to go the extra mile, off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) have proven to be the ultimate equine partner in a host of disciplines: dressage, eventing, hunter/jumpers, trail riding-even barrel racing! Now discover all you need to know to find the right OTTB and give him the solid educational foundation he needs to excel in a new career, whether as a highly trained competitor, pleasure mount, or companion animal.

Author and veterinarian Nancy Love reveals this information in a concise and highly readable format. Her text helps the reader put each conformation characteristic into perspective. Under each chapter are discussed different physical characteristics, such as "Short Back" or "Hollow Behind Withers." Each characteristic is fully explained on two facing pages. On the left is the text. This includes a description, lists breeds and activities most affected, performance consequences and training strategies. Dr. Loving concludes with a list of jobs best suited for this kind of horse.

McDonald and Jaffer

Olympic medalist Debbie McDonald and her fabulous partner, Brentina, have thrilled crowds the world over with their stunning performances. In her new book, Riding Through, Debbie describes her system for success in dressage and relates her life story:

"There is more than one reason that I call this book Riding Through. Of course, first and foremost, riding through is a dressage term, something you strive for as you attempt to get your horse on the aids and moving back-to-front. You have achieved it when everything the two of you do together is one fluid motion, the ultimate of coordination and expression, in which the horse is maximizing his assets. It's all about harmony and correctness, summing up the meaning of dressage in a single short phrase. But "riding through" has other meanings for me as well. I've learned to ride through hard times, on and off a horse, when I thought about giving up. We all have to learn about riding through, because that's the only way we will arrive at our destination, whatever it may be."

Jackson

Jaime Jackson has been a professional farrier and horseman for 22 years. But it was over 10 years ago that he headed alone into America's wild horse country, hoping to find a humane, "natural" model for domestic horse care. Frustrated by the way horses are often mistreated by their owners, Jackson felt much of this resulted from misunderstanding the nature of the horse. What Jackson discovered is that horses do indeed have a natural order, and that knowledge can be applied in truly helpful ways to our domestic horses. In a thoughtful, systematic approach, Jackson lays out his revolutionary ideas about natural horse care in this remarkable book. In the first chapters, the reader steps through wild horse country with Jackson as guide, and is drawn into the nuances of social structure, locomotion and gaits, and the hooves-which Jackson states with authority, "are terribly misunderstood in the domestic horse world." Having armed the reader with a solid foundation of the horse's natural world, Jackson then challenges the reader and nearly every major principle of modern horse care, to "apply what we have learned." The final chapters demonstrate step-by-step what horsemen
and horsewomen can and should do.

From hoof care and balanced riding in concert with the horse's natural abilities, to new forms of communication and humane care, The Natural Horse challenges conventional horse care on every front. First published in 1992 and just re-released in a handsome new edition, The Natural Horse is a must for those interested in applying natural methods to the care of their
horses.

Hoverson

THE PACKER'S FIELD MANUAL - FEATURING THE DECKER PACK SADDLE - With photographic illustrations by Roger Inghram. The Packer's Field Manual is in a big format for ease in taking it into the field. Written by the recognized "top expert" in the country on packing on mules or horses with a Decker Pack Saddle, this book is intended to provide "state of the art" basic instruction on the subject. From the selection of pack stock on to the basics of Decker saddles, pads and tack, author Bob Hoverson takes you through the entire packing process step-by-step - using text and photographs to show the process. He also covers, chapter-by-chapter, the various hitches used in Decker packing, ropes, knots and splicing, caring for your tack, and other useful information on such subjects as feeding, shoeing, vaccinations and worming, dental care, stock first aid, and dealing with brand and health inspections. Hoverson also covers in detail one of his favorite subjects - the use of equipment and techniques so the wilderness horse traveler will leave only tracks and make low impact on the land. 186 black & white photographs, numerous illustrations.

Elser & Brown

Jammed with good pictures, illustrations, and advice on just about anything you'd want to know about packing in and camping.  For those who yearn to pack in the wilderness country of the West, either on their own mules and horses or those of a professional packer, here is a book that takes the mystery out of backcountry pack string travel.  By teaching you the tricks of the trade, professional outfitter Smoke Elser show how your trip will be easier and more enjoyable by knowing more about the animals used and why, and how they carry their loads as they do.