Keeping a Horse the Natural Way: A natural approach to horse management for optimum health and performance [Hardcover]

Jo Bird (Author), Pat Parelli (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 17, 2005

Current and prospective horse owners will want to read this large, informative, handsomely illustrated book and keep it handy for frequent reference. They'll find detailed advice on how to work in harmony with their animal's natural instincts to make it a finer, healthier, happier specimen. The author explains how horses interact in their wild state to form herds and hierarchies, and how they communicate with one another. Understanding these traits helps owners develop an affectionate relationship with their horse and overcome any incompatibility problems that might arise between horse and owner. The author also discusses ways to improve the stable for the mutual benefit of horse and owner, and she specifies field requirements from the horse's point of view. As every horse ages, its general needs and dietary requirements change, and it is vital that owners recognize and deal with these changes to ensure their horse's long-term health. Also discussed in detail are ways to determine the best saddles, bridles, and other equipment for the individual horse, how to recognize signs of illness, how and when to employ first-aid treatment for a horse's injuries, and which are the most effective natural remedies for a horse's various ailments. The book features more than 350 brilliant full-color photos.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A beautifully illustrated practical guide to help you ?tune in? to the individual needs of your horse or pony

Your relationship with your horse

Inter-equine relationships

Stabling from your horse?s point of view

Field and grazing requirements

Tack, bits, and gadgets

Nutrition the natural way

Healing and natural remedies

If you?re a current or prospective horse owner, you will want to read this informative, handsomely illustrated book and keep it handy for frequent reference. It presents detailed advice on how to work in harmony with your animal?s natural instincts to make it a finer, healthier, happier specimen. The author explains how horses interact in their wild state to form herds and hierarchies, and how they communicate with one another. Understanding these traits will help you develop an affectionate relationship with your horse and overcome any incompatibility problems that might arise. The author also discusses ways to improve the stable for the mutual benefit of horse and owner, and she specifies field requirements from the horse?s point of view. As every horse ages, its general needs and dietary requirements change, and it is vital that you recognize and deal with these changes to ensure your horse?s long-term health. Additional information includes ways to determine the best saddle, bridle, and other equipment for the individual horse, how to recognize signs of illness, how and when to employ first-aid treatment for injuries, and which are the most effective natural remedies for a horse?s various ailments. The book features more than 350 brilliant full-color photos.

About the Author

Jo Bird grew up in rural Hertfordshire, England, and she has ridden horses for virtually all of her life. She provides management and nutritional advice to horse owners, and currently works in an advisory capacity for an equestrian product manufacturer.

Pat Parelli is one of America's best-known and highly respected teachers of natural horsemanship. He has groomed instructors to teach his Parelli Natural-Horse-Man-Ship (PNH) program at horse and rider clinics across the country.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 156 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; 1 edition (November 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764154117
• ISBN-13: 978-0764154119
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #359,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Think like a horse, February 11, 2005

By 

D. Lyon - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keeping a Horse the Natural Way: A natural approach to horse management for optimum health and performance (Hardcover)

This book uniquely offers equine advice from the perspective of the horse - this is most unique in the stabling/turn out advice. The author also goes into detail about how relationships can be built with the horse, from horse to horse (or other animal) and how those relationships change over their lifetime and a caring touch to loss. In addition to useful information, the author keeps it interesting with lots of pictures/illustrations. This book is not an all-inclusive equine textbook, but it has that "something" the others do not.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A bit disappointed, April 8, 2005

By 

H. Lindner (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keeping a Horse the Natural Way: A natural approach to horse management for optimum health and performance (Hardcover)

This book has some good advice when it comes to looking at stabling from your horse's point of view (he'd rather be out in a field, rolling in mud than be shiny clean and locked in a stall all day). However, I was disappointed that it didn't go into more detail in other areas. For example, I thought it was strange that the topic of sheath cleaning was never even mentioned. The author tries to address horse behavior and the horse-human relationship, but I think it was handled a bit awkwardly, as large portions of the text seem to be directly copied from Pat Parelli's book. The author acknowledges that she does this, but I just didn't like how it was done. The book was also a bit awkward because the author is apparently from Great Britain and parts of the book seemed to assume that the reader is also. I ran into some terms that I, being American, was not familiar with. But like I said before, the book does contain some good advice and I did learn a few things from it, just not as much as I had hoped.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!, January 23, 2012

By 

red.spqr - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Keeping a Horse the Natural Way: A natural approach to horse management for optimum health and performance (Hardcover)

I was a bit skeptical upon purchasing this book, but it was inexpensive and worth a shot. I am happy to report that I am more impressed with this book than by any other horse book I have purchased. I was trained in classical dressage and european style horse keeping. I have always thought that there must be a better way. So...as I try to shake off bad teaching (from a horse's perspective) and learn new ways, I have been researching and buying different books on horses. I was introduced to natural horsemanship about a year ago, by sheer chance. This is what I was looking for! This book is great for anyone. The experienced rider who wants to be a horseman and for the novice. This book starts at the basics with body language and shows what each means, explains the nature of a horse, how to keep them happy and healthy (ex: stabling, feed,and mental stimulus). It goes on to explain how to keep a pasture, healthy and poisonous plants, and much more. It answered all my questions that other books did not answer. It also goes on to address any problems that may arise and ways you can correct them. I am extremely happy with this book!