Horse Sports

In more than a century of American Thoroughbred racing, only 13 horses have won the Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, all won in the same season). Veteran turf writer and racing historian Edward L. Bowen takes us through the rich history of one of the most formidable and exciting challenges in all of sport. Bowen covers the trainers, owners, and jockeys who etched their names into the annals of thoroughbred racing, and the “lucky 13” who captured all three jewels of the Triple Crown, racing’s most prestigious prize.

An engaging, fun and instruction guide with practical ideas to solve even the most frustrating equine problems. In this personable guide, equine professional Nanette Levin illustrates how to get smart, safe and creative when working with your horse. Her positive advice - from how to listen to your horse to crafting a communications and training plan he will embrace - is appropriate for novices and professionals alike.

Mental skills coach Tonya Johnston, MA, has helped thousands of equestrian athletes achieve success at every level, from recreational riders to award-winning international competitors. In Inside Your Ride, she provides specific methods and clear, easy-to-follow directions to help you mentally prepare for your next ride or competition, no matter your discipline and skill level.

How do I stop my horse from being herd-bound? Is one of the most frequently asked questions I get from my blog readers and students. Because of this, I wanted to share my personal approach to dealing with herd-bound horses in this book and help you overcome this vexing issue. Herd-bound behaviors in a horse can range from annoying to outright dangerous and its outcomes can be detrimental to both your safety and your horse’s health. In this book, I have therefore categorized herd-bound behavior into three levels of severity, each with its own easy-to-follow protocol.

The Great Match Race is a captivating account of America's first sports spectacle, a horse race that pitted North against South in three grueling heats. On a bright afternoon in May 1823, an unprecedented sixty thousand people showed up to watch two horses run the equivalent of nine Kentucky Derbys in a few hours' time. Eclipse was the majestic champion representing the North, and Henry, an equine arriviste, was the pride of the South.

From the pen of Texas writer Michael Johnson, comes the tale of his three teachers, Shine, Joe Ben, and the horse called Blue....

On Horsemanship, also sometimes titled The Art of Horsemanship, is a treatise written about 350 BCE by the Athenian historian, soldier, and student of Socrates, Xenophon (c. 430-354 BC). The treatise is a "hands-on" manual which deals with the selection, care, and training of horses in general.

Own your first horse like an expert, regardless of your experience. Discover how to care for and nurture your horse, even if you’ve never set foot in a stable before. The journey from a complete novice to an accomplished rider is a meaningful and rewarding experience that simply can’t be rivaled. The love and affection between horse owners and their animals is astounding–it’s no joke when riders say their horse is their best friend.

Round Penning: First Steps to Starting a Horse: The changes you can make in the round pen are amazing - but training there is about much more than simply running a horse in circles. There are objective and progressive steps. This guide to the proven methods of John Lyons shows you exactly what to do, in which specific order, and why. How to Start a Horse: Bridling to 1st Ride, Step-by-Step: This book offers objective training for the unbroken horse, from first-time bridling and saddling to sacking out, bridle work from the ground, pre-mount work, and your first ride.

Congratulations on deciding to take the step of adding a horse to your life! By now, you’ve made plenty of hard decisions, such as choosing the right horse and finding an ideal environment for him. But now it’s time to interact with your horse. Interaction can be intimidating regardless of how much equine experience you have.

Jo Anne Normile was not supposed to keep the foal, an exuberant Thoroughbred with only a few white hairs on his reddish-brown forehead. But she fell in love with the young horse, who had literally been born into her arms. The breeder finally said she could keep the colt, whom she nicknamed "Baby" - but only if she raced him. It was difficult to take Baby away from the safety of his pasture. But Normile had made a promise.

The foundational work you do now is critical, and you’ll always have it to fall back on. Make sure your horse is never spooked in a dangerous moment again…From desensitizing and disengaging to backing up, these are fundamental training procedures you can’t afford to get wrong...and they’re not procedures you’ll only ever have to engage in once. You don’t need to spend years in equestrian school to learn these skills: You simply need access to all the essential knowledge distilled and explained in one clear resource.

With a show-jumping career spanning over 40 years, Nick Skelton is a legend in the equestrian world. No other rider has won so many major competitions on so many different horses, and he is as popular at Olympia and Hickstead as he is at Aachen, Geneva, Paris and Spruce Meadows. In 2000 Skelton was forced into retirement after he broke his neck. But following an amazing recovery, he came out of retirement in 2002. Now he tells the full story of his eventful life and matchless achievements.

It was a cold and foggy February night in 1983 when a group of armed thieves crept onto Ballymany Stud, near The Curragh in County Kildare, Ireland, to steal Shergar, one of the thoroughbred industry's most renowned stallions. The thieves demanded a hefty ransom for the safe return of one of the most valuable Thoroughbreds in the world, but the ransom was never paid and Shergar's remains have never been found.

Building a barrel horse and training program is essential to being competitive in the industry. You need to understand all aspects of this exciting sport to be able to train properly and set yourself up around each barrel. There are many components of riding a barrel horse, and in this series, we will be giving you all of the top tricks, tips, and training drills you need to become an expert barrel racer with time and practice to become a successful horseman or woman and execute your barrels.

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".

If you've always dreamed of starting a young horse under saddle but are uncomfortable with traditional horse breaking or horse training techniques that assume all horses are the same, this short book is for you. If you're a seasoned equestrian looking for a better way, you'll enjoy trying some of the ideas here too. There are some easy ways you can set up for success with your horseback riding project to keep both you and your horse happy and wanting to learn more together.

Laura Hillenbrand beautifully renders this breathtaking saga of one horse's journey from also-ran to national luminary. Seabiscuit: An American Legend is an inspiring tale of unlikely heroes, a classic story of three embattled individuals overcoming the odds in the Great Depression.

History was made at the 2015 Belmont Stakes when American Pharoah won the Triple Crown, the first since Affirmed in 1978. As magnificent as the champion is, the team behind him has been all too human while on the road to immortality. Written by an award-winning New York Times sportswriter, American Pharoah is the definitive account not only of how the ethereal colt won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, but how he changed lives. Through extensive interviews, Drape explores the making of an exceptional racehorse, chronicling key events en route to history.

Few will hire competitive rider, Viola Parker, since the famous jumper, Wastrel, crashed to his death with her aboard. Not only that, her attitude just landed her out of work...again. She can barely afford her whipped-cream-in-a-can addiction. Now, before she's 30, she must keep a job for one year and receive a glowing letter of recommendation to get a surprise trust fund set up by her absentee parents. A trust fund that could represent freedom and independence - or might be worth nothing.