Enjoy this Listening to the Horse-inspired book, packed full of stories, lessons, case studies, and exercises for you and your horse. This book is the first book in the Equine Listenology trilogy.

In this illuminating book, brain scientist and horsewoman Janet Jones describes human and equine brains working together. Using plain language, she explores the differences and similarities between equine and human ways of negotiating the world. Mental abilities—like seeing, learning, fearing, trusting, and focusing—are discussed from both human and horse perspectives. Throughout, true stories of horses and handlers attempting to understand each other—sometimes successfully, sometimes not—help to illustrate the principles.

There are silent, yet powerful, ingredients missing from current horse training, riding, and natural horsemanship instruction. In her research of horsemen and women who have a gift with horses, Dr. Susan Fay outlines the invisible things these equestrians do that make their interactions with horses seem effortless. As a research scientist and life-long equestrian, Dr. Fay spent more than two decades searching for scientific explanations for why some people are able to develop seemingly spiritual relationships with horses.

Grant Golliher is what some would call a “horse whisperer”, able to get a wild horse to calmly accept a saddle and a rider in just hours without the use of force. Through training thousands of horses, many traumatized or abused, Golliher was able to learn essential lessons about communication, boundaries, fairness, trust, and respect to foster more fulfilled relationships, and in turn, create a richer life.

Listen Like a Horse is a narrative story about the time and interactions shared by Kerri and Cooper, a gifted gelding whose playful communications had been misunderstood and handled with dominance. Infused with perspectives and tools of communication between horses and people, the story invokes and reveals awareness and insight for relationships not just with animals, but with other people and within ourselves.

In 2008, 26-year-old Tik Maynard faced a crossroads not unlike that of other young adults. A university graduate and modern pentathlete, he suffered both a career-ending injury and a painful breakup, leaving him suddenly adrift. The son of prominent Canadian equestrians, Maynard decided to spend the next year as a "working student." In the horse industry, working students aspire to become professional riders or trainers, and willingly trade labor for hands-on education.

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.

This is what happens when a writer, preacher, and lover of words encounters some of creation’s wisest theologians: horses. First, she argues with them. They are, after all, horses. What could they possibly know about life and God that theologians haven’t already written? But slowly, she engages their language and listens to their holy wisdom, attending to how they express their being, actions, and relationships. She allows horses to draw her out of the faith of intellect and into a deeper faith of emotion, body, and soul.

Horse ownership opens the door to companionship, happiness, and stress relief. But to benefit from all of these things, you need to have a true bond with your horse. And you need to be able to trust they have all the foundational skills they need to keep both of you safe. This is the key to successful horsemanship. Everything you need to know in order to do just that is right at your fingertips. Discover the secrets to building strong foundations with your horse…and watch as everything else falls into place naturally.

From Buck Brannaman, best-selling author of The Faraway Horses, Believe: A Horseman's Journey continues to chronicle Buck's efforts as a catalyst and mentor through the stories of thirteen people with whom he has worked.