Customer Reviews

There Are No Problem Horses, Only Problem Riders

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This is one of my favorite books, and the name says it all, being the most truthful phrase i know in horsemanship. If you think you have a problem horse ~ think again! The author writes about communication, 'training', prevention and 'curing' many of the most common problems encountered by riders and anyone 'working' with horses. I think the writer of one of the other reviews shown misunderstood the paragraph from the book that i think she is referring to. I have read this book over and over and the most strongest message i feel from it is developing the skill to use your aids properly ( "properly in my book is the easiest way to get the best results" quoted from Mary Twelveponies herself.) so you use the least amount of effort needed to teach your horse, and to do it in a way that has the horses physical, mental and emotional states in mind. My understanding is not to under do it, and NOT to overdo it, and NOT to be mean about it. For a horse to be safe around humans he needs to respect and trust the human as dominant, as the leader, and as a friend. This is not mean, this is education in the most respecting and compassionate way to a horse. I feel this book is about learning to ride and interact with horses properly ~ to use the least amount of effort, properly, so it works, horse and human understand each other, and learn to both be HAPPY 'working' TOGETHER. It clearly and compassionately explains communicating to horses in a way they understand. I would recommend this book to everyone who ever interacts with horses! Mary Twelveponies clearly has a love, understanding, respect, and compassion for horses than can be a rare find in todays equine 'industries'.

Galaxy Jade Taylor BC Canada

If you don't have this book, your horse library is not complete. I've found most horse trainers concerned with either the horse or the rider. Ms. Twelveponies is one of the few I've encountered who knows and cares about both. I started a youngster using her principles and avoided most of the problems I had heard or read about. She uses the the term "respectful." This is the correct path between beating and coddling. By the time you finish the book, you'll have a better insight into her horses and yours. Refer to it often.

I've read it front to back so many times that I've worn out my second copy already! I find something that pertains to me or my horses every time I read it. It has helped me overcome simple misunderstanding to major problems. This book is a lesson on understanding your horses instincts and how those instincts play into your horses daily ranch life. I recommend this book to everybody who has ANY horse involvement.

In thirty odd years of experiences with horses, I can tell you that the principles and techniques used in this book are very practical for the average horse owner to implement on a daily basis. Not everyone can afford the expensive trainer or round pen and so many horse owners are left to thier own devices. So what do you do when your horse is not responding? You must communicate and redirect the horses thinking to the fact that you are the dominate herd member. This book will help provide techniques on how to accomplish this. It is written so that even the hardest problems have a solution. It teaches you how to obtain obedience through basic herd behavior and the natural tendecy of horses to follow the dominate one without being abusive to the horse or owner. Keep in mind that horses are much more abusive to one another than most people realize. There are NO problem horses...And with the help of this book there will be fewer problem riders...

Although I enjoyed reading most of the book the first time through, it's true value became apparent as I referred back to it time and again. On my adventures with several different horses, I run into new and different challenges. I'll frequently pull Mary's book back out and read up on her suggestions. Down to earth, easy to understand.

I bought this book thinking it would be full of wonderful advice, but I really did not gain a thing from it. I get much better results from communicating with my horse, rather than threatening him. Also, the advice on mounting a tied horse is outright DANGEROUS! DO NOT DO THAT! When I started my horse, he was hard to mount, so I just taught him the verbal command of 'stand' (which I use for all kinds of other things too, not just mounting) and now he knows to stand quietly when I ask. I agree with another reviewer, Pat Parelli and John Lyons have much better advice.

this book is very helpful! it tells you how to control a horse so that he respects your postition as boss. if your horse is being stubborn, it gives you #1 ways to get the horse responding again.

I have read and continue to use this book through-out my relationship with my horses. I unequivocally agree with both the reviewer from Canada and Singapore. The other reviewers seemed to have forgotten to read the book. This is a carry all tool for new and advanced riders who wish to co-exist happily with their horses. In addition to helping people with riding this book also on several levels helps people to understand how many other farm species see humans. Best of luck for your training and reading.

Twelveponies falls for the oldest mistake in the book. Since she is a trainer, she thinks all problems can be solved by training.

I've "retrained" many problem horses. In many cases, the problem was not the former rider/trainer. It was a physical problem. I always start with a farrier and vet, and look for conformation problems that call for a specialty saddle. It is so rewarding to give a problem horse a rest and treatment to heal sore muscles, arthritic joints or a damaged spine. It's so easy to get proper corrective shoes, fit the right saddle, and then all is well. Once in a while the problem is more serious, but still is fixable by a vet. Example: a retained testicle. No amount of training will get an apparent gelding with a hidden testicle to stop acting like a stallion.[...]

As other reviewers have already stated, this is old school training that relies upon physical intimidation and pain to gain compliance. Mary Twelveponies does emphasize the importance of building trust between horse and human, but I fail to see how that is possible with the threat of physical punishment for disobedience.

If the rider is the problem, why is it necessary to use harsh corrections for the horse? Would the rider learn how to communicate better and faster when punched in the face with a nail?