The Horse's Choice [Paperback]

Staci Layne Wilson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0967518504 | ISBN-13: 978-0967518503 | Publication Date: January 15, 2000

If you were a horse, would you want to be your horse?

The Horses Choice, using the S.T.A.C.I. (Sane Training and Centered Ideas) method, will teach you how to imagine yourself in your horses shoes. In so doing, you will understand his point of view and learn why he does the things he does. Does your horse rear? Prance? Spook? Using this very natural, low-key and easy training method, you can solve those problems and more. Best of all, you can do it yourself it just takes a little horse sense and a lot of patience.

Whether you are brand new to the world of horses or an old hand, The Horses Choice is a valuable addition to your library because unlike most traditional training books, The Horses Choice not only shows you everything from the horses viewpoint, but how to deal with the problems from a human standpoint.

Using personal anecdotes and stories about her own horses, Wilson tells you in a fun, easy-to-understand way how to: acclimate a new horse into your stable; teach your horse to longe; figure out which bit to use; catch your horse in the field; get your horse to stand still while mounting; keep your horse from bolting; walk home at an easy pace; and much more.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to help horses in the HorseAid equine welfare programme.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Horse's Choice is a winner! This was an excellent read. Fun and practical, that about sums it up. Staci Wilson said all the right things to keep me interested, make me laugh, and nod my head a lot. I wish I had had this when I bought my first horse. The story she told of her first horse reminded me so much of my first experience choosing a horse.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Horse's Choice. I was afraid that it would be another boring 'How to'. Wow was I wrong. Staci did a great job of organizing and putting this book together. The advice and commentary, she give on picking out a horse and what do with it when you get it, is priceless.

The Horse's Choice is well written and easy to read. I couldn't help but recall many horse adventures of my own, which strongly validated the advice she gives. In fact, my interest was peaked while reading the preface, and I was hooked the middle of the first chapter. If anyone ever needed a practical guide to picking out a horse and what to do with it afterward, this is it. I highly recommend it to horse lovers, owners, or want to be owners. -- Word Weaving, review by Jeramy Smith

About the Author

Staci Layne Wilson has loved horses ever since she could formulate the word. She got her first pony at the age of five, and her first job training horses at the age of twelve. From ages twelve to eighteen she showed both her own and clients horses extensively in events ranging from weekend Western playdays to formal English events. Staci has over 500 published horse articles, as well as fiction, in the U.S., Europe and the Pacific Rim) and busies herself with HorseAid, a worldwide equine relief and adoption programme she co-founded. She is also the Secretary / Registrar of The International Generic Horse Association (the worlds largest all-breeds registry).

Product Details

• Paperback: 90 pages
• Publisher: Running Free Pr (January 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967518504
• ISBN-13: 978-0967518503
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,319,748 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book before your horse does!, February 14, 2000

By 

Hanne Bruun (Gesten, DENMARK (Europe)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Horse's Choice (Paperback)

He would just laugh and tell you that he was right all along.... Did you know that your problem horse's problem is YOU? Or if not you, then a previous owner or handler. Your horse knows and he is trying to tell you. Staci Layne Wilson also knows, and this is the approach she takes when she explains why a horse has a problem. The good thing with this book is that it not only tells you how to cure a problem - it also explains why the problem arose in the first place and how to avoid that it re-occurs. So, even if you don't have a problem horse at home, this book is a definite must! The book takes its starting point in the natural horsemanship methods. Staci Wilson has studied these methods for years and has found her own method to incorporate them into her training in a way that they are adjusted to fit the kind of horse she's working with. She does this in her book by describing how different kinds of horses need different approaches. All the time throughout the book Staci Wilson considers what will be the most natural thing for the horse to do in a given situation, and she adjusts her training advises accordingly. The book is a must for beginners and intermediate riders, but even if you are experienced like myself, there is something you can use in this book. Things you maybe just hadn't thought of in the first place. The training methods are easy to understand, and more important: Easy to follow as well. Staci Wilson puts a lot of significance into the aspect of safety, which I think is very important. The book also emphasizes that being a good horseman requires a lot of time and work, which is true. Nothing comes from nothing, and as the book says, it's you and your horse who must walk the walk - no trainer can do it for you. But when you read this book the walk won't feel as long and it will be a lot easier because you get to know the basics and how to work your way up from there. A simple thing like the horse's flight instinct is the root of most kinds of problems and Staci tells you why that it is and how to avoid getting yourself or your horse into trouble. And the methods described in this book makes it both fun and interesting to work with your horse! Results show quickly and both of you get something out of the deal and will end up a lot happier. The book is illustrated with great photos and it is very humourously written! I was laughing a lot while I read it - Staci Wilson hits home every time she describes a situation. I read it in one sitting too - you simply cannot put it down! Needless to say I find this book absolutely great.

And for you who also enjoyed the excerpt from Staci Layne Wilson's next novel, The Dance: You can look forward to reading the rest! I've read the whole script (in one sitting as well..) and it continues in the same fun and enthralling style - just even more so!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Word of Mouth Book Reviews, May 21, 2000

By 

Xina Uhl "Author of NECROPOLIS" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Horse's Choice (Paperback)

The Horse's Choice covers horse training from both a horse's perspective and a human's perspective, explaining what motivates your horse's behavior, and how to get him to respond to you using brains and compassion instead of brute strength. With compelling, easily understood examples, The Horse's Choice covers everything from the first-time horse purchase to caring for your horse, establishing training routines, and correcting problem behaviors. Written in an engaging, knowledgeable manner, horse expert Staci Layne Wilson has produced an excellent guide to the compassionate care and training of your horse that you'll want to study from cover to cover. Highly recommended!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Horse's Choice, February 10, 2000

By 

Playful T (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Horse's Choice (Paperback)

Finally a training book for all of us. Hats or should I say helmets off to Ms. Wilson! I am no longer a horse rider but a horse driver and very few books have info that I can relate to my new discipline. Staci has such a wonderful amount of practicle advice for every discipline. Lots of ground work that I have put to use with my latest member of my horsey family, Sugar a white welsh/shetland pony with a small amount of training. Already I see a change in her ground manners! Wow and Thanks to Ms. Wilson for some real down to earth advice. I like her honesty with mistakes she has made as all of us have, and her help in trying not to repeat them. This book is for the beginner yes but also for those of us who want to get back to the basics. We can all use a trip back to the beginning and we will be amazed at how many bad habits we and our mounts have picked up. Thank you Ms. Wilson for showing us a way to make better riders/drivers of us and happier horses or ponies. You have a wonderful understanding of our equine friends and I hope to see more in the future when you "learn a bit more" [as she said never believe anyone who says they know it all about horses] and care enough to share it with us and our horses.