What Your Horse Wants You to Know: What Horses' "Bad" Behavior Means, and How to Correct It (Paperback)

by Gincy Self Bucklin (Author) "And, of course, the safety of anyone nearby..." (more)
Key Phrases: Stall Problems, Feeding Problems, Panicking Against Crossties (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Listen to and communicate with your horse–successfully

"This is a book for everyone who has ever looked at the constantly increasing list of methods and systems marketed as ‘horsemanship’ and wondered which of the many possible approaches would be most suitable for a particular behavior problem. Gincy Bucklin has distilled her many years of experience with horses and riders into a very useful, step-by-step, hands-on book. Bucklin’s writing is smooth and easy to read, and no matter where you open this book, you’ll find that her deep respect and affection for both equines and humans shines through."
–Dr. Jessica Jahiel, author of Riding for the Rest of Us

"Gincy Bucklin uses her decades-long experience with horses to answer that most frequently asked question: ‘Why did my horse do that?’ And she comes up with creative solutions that weave together traditional horse handling with the best of modern horse training, including my own personal favorite, clicker training."
–Alexandra Kurland, author of Clicker Training for Your Horse and The Click That Teaches video lesson series

It takes time for a horse to learn everything we want him to know. If we don’t make our intentions clear to him in ways that he can understand, or if we don’t listen to what he wants, problems may result. Featuring easy-to-follow, step-by-step advice, What Your Horse Wants You to Know reveals how to communicate effectively with your horse to create an atmosphere of mutual cooperation.

What Your Horse Wants You to Know focuses on improving your horse’s behavior on the ground, so you can develop relationship and communications skills without the more challenging problems that arise once you’re on his back.

• Use your entire body to communicate with your horse
• Show your horse that you respect his needs and feelings
• Be patient and consistent with your horse while having fun
• Understand your horse’s fears and overcome them
• Respond appropriately to physiological or nutritional problems
• Use praise to make your horse feel confident and successful

From the Back Cover
Listen to and communicate with your horse--successfully

"This is a book for everyone who has ever looked at the constantly increasing list of methods and systems marketed as ‘horsemanship’ and wondered which of the many possible approaches would be most suitable for a particular behavior problem. Gincy Bucklin has distilled her many years of experience with horses and riders into a very useful, step-by-step, hands-on book. Bucklin’s writing is smooth and easy to read, and no matter where you open this book, you’ll find that her deep respect and affection for both equines and humans shines through."
--Dr. Jessica Jahiel, author of Riding for the Rest of Us

"Gincy Bucklin uses her decades-long experience with horses to answer that most frequently asked question: ‘Why did my horse do that?’ And she comes up with creative solutions that weave together traditional horse handling with the best of modern horse training, including my own personal favorite, clicker training."
--Alexandra Kurland, author of Clicker Training for Your Horse and The Click That Teaches video lesson series

It takes time for a horse to learn everything we want him to know. If we don’t make our intentions clear to him in ways that he can understand, or if we don’t listen to what he wants, problems may result. Featuring easy-to-follow, step-by-step advice, What Your Horse Wants You to Know reveals how to communicate effectively with your horse to create an atmosphere of mutual cooperation.

What Your Horse Wants You to Know focuses on improving your horse’s behavior on the ground, so you can develop relationship and communications skills without the more challenging problems that arise once you’re on his back.

• Use your entire body to communicate with your horse
• Show your horse that you respect his needs and feelings
• Be patient and consistent with your horse while having fun
• Understand your horse’s fears and overcome them
• Respond appropriately to physiological or nutritional problems
• Use praise to make your horse feel confident and successful

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House (October 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764540858
• ISBN-13: 978-0764540851
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,969 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #11 in	Books > Home & Garden > Animal Care & Pets > Horses > Showing & Training
  #13 in	Books > Home & Garden > Animal Care & Pets > Horses > Riding
  #20 in	Books > Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Animal Behavior & Communication

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sound advice from one of the best teachers., December 27, 2003

By	Panda "Panda" (Oregon) - See all my reviews

I have known Gincy Bucklin via cyberspace for quite a few years. We were fellow subscribers to the Horseman list until it fell into disuse, and when Gincy started her own list (Riding With Confidence) I subscribed immediately.
Gincy is one of the best and most knowledgeable teachers of riding that I know, and she not only has years of experience behind her, but also specializes in helping timid, fearful and/or aging riders who have for some reason lost their confidence. She is uncanny at figuring out physical, mental and emotional problems and resolving rider error and is highly sympathetic to those who are having problems with riding or their horses, so it really came as no surprise that she would write a book to bridge the gap between horse and rider.
This teacher turned writer has greater works yet to come, and this book is the first of such. It is in encyclopedic form, and easy to read and comprehend.
Bravo, Gincy.

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for horseowners, November 6, 2003

By	"pegmegan" (Middletown, RI United States) - See all my reviews

As an adult novice, this is the best book I've found on understanding horses. I rode as a child, but as an adult, I am very interested in natural horsemanship - not forcing the horse to do what I want, but working in partnership. I have read a number of books on natural techniques, and the introduction to this book is the best material I've read by far. The author gives terrific overviews of 4 relationship-building schools of horsemanship: clicker training, Parelli, round-pen training, and Tteam, and the hows and whys each can be used. Great section as well on communication with a horse. Very readable and highly recommended!

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You will like this one. . ., November 22, 2003

By	Janice L Bagley (Norwalk, CT United States) - See all my reviews

All horsehandlers will appreciate the way Gincy has blended tried-and-true oldtime training methods with the best of the new ideas from Swift, Tellington-Jones, Parelli and others to help anyone create a safe, horse-friendly, stress-free stable environment and nurture your relationship with your horse. Her insight into horse's real motives is enlightening and sometimes startling but always right on the money. Nice to know there really are good, effective ways to deal with bad habits that are kindly and humane (Spare the rod and you WON'T spoil the horse!) Gincy has really put it all together in this book!