Horse and rider are one. Theirs is a relationship of trust, harmony, and respect born of a way of life that is all but lost. One man puts it within our grasp again. In this magnificent book, GaWaNi Pony Boy illustrates the traditional training methods—methods that are steeped in common sense and age-old wisdom—of his ancestors, America’s first great horsemen. The stunning full-color photographs and simple eloquence takes us back to the days when horse training was not merely about getting results but about creating a bond for life. An inspiration for riders and a feast for horse and Native American culture enthusiasts, this book forges a relationship with readers that few books can ever hope to achieve.
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Book Description
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About the Author
GaWaNi Pony Boy is an accomplished horseman and trainer. He has been recognized throughout the country as an authority on Native American Horsemanship® and is considered an innovative educator in the field of Native American history. He and his equine partner, Kola, travel to schools, universities, equine and other events in an attempt to enlighten those who have an interest in the history of the great horseman of the plains.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Think differently about your relationship with your horse...,
By
This review is from: Horse, Follow Closely: Native American Horsemanship (Hardcover)
I bought this book for my husband this past Christmas, but wasn't sure I would like it all that well. I am a classically trained English rider (have been riding on and off since I was 3) and have worked with horses in many different environments. My husband rides Western though, and I have spent some time on a Native American reservation, so I thought we'd like it. The surprise for me was how it has changed the way I think. Many riders are trained to dominate their horse, to "show him who's boss". This attitude works, sometimes, but doesn't always lead to a healthy partnership, and sometimes leads to frustration and agression. GaWaNi, like some other trainers these days (Mark Rashid comes to mind), suggests a different approach, one I was quite impressed with when reading. He speaks of Relationship Training, of the creation of the two-member herd, the "Itancan" (leader) and "Waunca" (imitator). When we are with our horse, we can establish such a relationship with him (or her), and using natural herd behavior, work together with our animals in a partnership, rather than force them to do things simply because we "tell" them to. It seems a very natural way to do things, and one I plan to put into effect with my own horse (I'll come back and write another review once I've tried these techniques). I have only a few tiny quibbles. The book is gorgeous, and that prevents me from taking it with me to the barn, which I'd like to do. It's almost a cross between a coffee table book and a manual, and frankly, I'd have had more use for a manual I wouldn't be afraid to get dirty. But, that just means I'll have to take notes, not a bad thing in and of itself. As well, I do think there was some generalization going on regarding Native American peoples that might have been avoided (not all NAs are alike, any more than any other type or race of person). All in all though, if you're looking for a fresh view at the relationship you have with your horse, this book can provide it to you. It made me think, and decide to change the way I do things with my horse. And I plan to try a number of the exercises listed in the book (I'm always looking for an excuse to ride bareback anyway!). So if you're a serious rider who respects and loves their horse, and who desires to learn to communicate more effectively with him or her, buy this book.
52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely A Great Beginner's Book,
By "fiercetigress" (MN United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Horse, Follow Closely: Native American Horsemanship (Hardcover)
...Personally, I loved the book with its horse training ("Relationship Training") methods combined with Native American philosophy regarding human-animal relationships. However, .. Pony Boy does chunk all NA training methods together as if all tribes trained horses the same way. Naturally there would be differences between tribes, and it would have been nice if he'd mentioned these differences. And I'm sure there were some NA's that were cruel to horses, just as you find animal cruelty in all parts of the world. Maybe Pony Boy didn't want to portray any negative aspects of some tribes ... Also, while I think that most beginners with horses (such as I) would delight in this book, I would think (and judging by the previous reviews, my assumption looks correct) that opinions from experienced trainers would be much more mixed. I don't think the book was really targeted towards experienced trainers, judging by the simple, beginning exercises (including falling off, or what some refer to as the "emergency dismount") explained in the book. Most experienced horse people know how to fall off a horse properly. But this is essential information for a beginner (especially if you're gonna bareback ride!), and I'm glad Pony Boy included it in the book. But it doesn't surprise me that more experienced people are disappointed that the book doesn't contain more information. I know some reviewers weren't happy with the professional photography in the book either, feeling it's just fluff. Being an amateur photographer with a degree in Technical Communication, where you're taught good design, I simply cannot fault the book for it's wonderful imagery and good overall design. It also has good photos demonstrating many of the exercises Pony Boy describes, which helps me immensely with visualizing how to do it so I can duplicate them. Again, an experienced trainer probably has less need of so many descriptive photographs. The best & most important part of the book is the general idea that you don't just train a horse to tell it what to do: you have a lifetime relationship with your horse that includes much more than just training. I've just begun studying some different training methods, and I found several similarities between Pony Boy's ideals and methods and Pat Parelli's, and also, perhaps to a lesser extent, to Monty Roberts's. There may be similarities to others, but as I mentioned, I've just started my "horse training research." Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone beginning with horses who wants to learn positive ways of training and relating to their horse. I would also recommend it to trainers interested in different philosophies about horse training, though I would warn that there probably won't be as many exercises described in the book as you'd like, and it's not a cheap book. I, too, wish it were longer. But I feel I've already got a lot from the book, so I'm not complaining about the money spent on it.
41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book is amazingly beautiful!,
This review is from: Horse, Follow Closely: Native American Horsemanship (Hardcover)
I could not put this book down. The photography is supernaturally beautiful; it really captures the bond between Pony and his horses. I love the mixture of philosophical spirituality and common sense that Relationship Training provides, and I will definitely attempt to use it with my young horse. Reading this book reawakened my appreciation of the relationship that can exist between a person and a horse. It is definitely a must-read-must-own book, worth far more than the sticker price.
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