Customer Reviews

True Horsemanship Through Feel, Second Edition

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
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If you can pour over only one book regarding your journey with your horse, make it this one. Each time you return to it you will see things that were not there before. It's all there. It is rich and deep, from training and teaching to observing and comparing. Your horse will thank you.

This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in developing a relationship with your horse based in respect. Bill Dorrance has a folksy way of expressing himself, which makes for an enjoyable read, but the information provided is invaluable for those interested in natural horsemanship.

I for one am so glad this book was written, then fine tuned. While only part way through as this wonderful tome is not a quick read but something to digest slowly, working on exercises in succession until they are done well has proven immense. "Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect." By investing time in yourself and your horse(s), using this possibly as a new way of thinking about and feeling the horse so s/he can feel of you, progress towards unity is nearly assured. It is the next best thing to having Bill Dorrance himself right next to you.

I've 'studied' with Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance for over 20 years. Putting things in writing from these guys is difficult. If you really want a change in your life and your horses life you will listen, learn, feel, and read this. It's there. Your thoughts in writing. Desire to be better is there, don't dismiss it. This is about your life which has an affect of how you and your horse (other animals, dog, cats etc) and people react to you and you to them. I used many of these ideas in teaching for over 30 years. It is basic to communication. We get too complicated and think of ourselves when communicating. "The horse is trying to be stubborn, the kid is just a teenager, etc". Well, figure out a way to communicate. Oh my, when you do it feels so good to everyone.

If you have to have more written down in order to communicate and have almost simple steps, you will find that Parelli has done so in his DVD's. It is there, in a different format but the bottom line is what Bill Dorrance is trying to tell you.

Leslie has taken the awesome task of organizing Bill's words so those of us who WANT a quick fix to our problems, can get a little closer to that. As Ray Hunt says THINK. It isn't like asking and getting an answer right away. You have to THINK and really FEEL. Some people will never get it, they don't want to think --- just want the quick answer.

This way of communicating is so important for horses and animals. They want you to communicate with them. It isn't easy, you have to read, think. read, think. But oh boy, when it starts to come you will be amazed, find peace in yourself. Give it a try.

As a beginner (at 50), I found this book to be most informative and a great help in helping me to understand my horse. Maybe my reading this book helped my horse to understand me!!! Anyway we get along great thanks in part to this book.

Although Bill Dorrance's way of speaking is a bit cumbersome at times, I chuckle at his understatement and am discovering why this horseman is so revered. After years of natural horsemanship clinics and study, it is becoming evident how much "make" I was using and how unhappy my mare was. Although she performed as I asked, she was not happy about it and had become dull with the endless tasks. She is now willing and full of life, clearly enjoying the new understanding I am gaining from this book. Working with Kyle Kimball, a disciple of Bill's who traveled with his scribe has been priceless, as she clarifies and demonstrates his teachings. wahoo!

Bill Dorrance's advice, along with that of Leslie Desmond, offer the most generous account of what one needs to do in order to move away from the business of just knowing about horses and toward the more mature experience of actually knowing horses. This is a true form of horsemanship, as it places emphasis on the relationship between man and horse - it does not rely on equipment, a series of "cues", or some kind of secret feed strategy. There is no round pen requirement - often a halter and a rope is all that is used to help the horse understand what is desired. A willingness to observe and consider the horse within the bounds of its natural make up - with respect - is key to being successful with horsemanship through feel. Once the relationship develops, the rewards are amazing. One might not ever have expected that a horse could offer such sensitive (and giving) companionship to a human. I wore the pages out on my first copy of this book. I constantly rely on their collective wisdom. My horsemanship has improved since discovering Bill and Leslie. If you care about the quality of your experience with horses, you should have this book. Leslie deserves some kind of journalism award for the care she exercised in preserving Bill's view (and voice) throughout. If you spend siginificant time with these chapters, you can also almost hear echoes of the American west. I felt a kind of sadness when I reached the closing chapters. I felt that our world has changed so much that few will have the skills offered here. They are invaluable,however, for those genuinely working on becoming true horsemen. A brilliant book - I recommend it highly.

For anyone who really wants to connect with their horse through feel, this is a must read. Attended a clinic based on this book and was amazed at the immediate response I got from my Arabian Mare. We already have a strong connection, but the basics in this book enable a greater understanding of your horse through "feel" as opposed to dominance. Take what you like and leave the rest, but there is a lot of good information to take with you on your journey with your horse.

This is the most intelligently written book about horsemanship I have ever read. While Bill Dorrance's way of expressing himself may seem simple and folksy, there is tremendous value and meaning in what he has to say. His co-author, Leslie Desmond, has done a wonderful job of organizing his wisdom into a lucid roadmap to better communication with your horses. If you are ready to get to another level with your horsmanship, this is one book that will truly help guide you there. This is not about gimmicks or tools or tricks; the book describes, in carefully illustrated and detailed steps, exercises to build a foundation of cooperation and respect with your horse, from the ground to the saddle. Anyone who works with horses needs to read and use this book!

In every field of human endeavor, there are certain books and teachers which are foundational. While he is clearly not the only one, for those who wish to train, ride, or simply understand horses, Bill Dorrance is among those teachers.