Zen and Horses: Lessons from a Year of Riding (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Henry Miller once said that a hero is a man who has conquered his fears..." (more)
Key Phrases: leg yielding, Henry Miller, Nuno Oliveira, Alexander Technique

Editorial Reviews

Review

"What a lovely book! Not only for those of us who know the special magic of time spent with horses, but for anyone navigating a journey of self-discovery and understanding."--Tami Hoag, best-selling author of Dust to Dust and champion amateur Grand Prix dressage rider

"It's so moving.... A very powerful read."--London Evening Standard

"For the horse rider, it is a book of constant recognition; you will find yourself nodding in agreement, smiling...."--Irish Examiner

"Amusing and enjoyable.... A fascinating take on overcoming fears."--Cambridgeshire Journal
-- Review

Review

"What a lovely book! Not only for those of us who know the special magic of time spent with horses, but for anyone navigating a journey of self-discovery and understanding."--Tami Hoag, best-selling author of Dust to Dust and champion amateur Grand Prix dressage rider

"It's so moving.... A very powerful read."--London Evening Standard

"For the horse rider, it is a book of constant recognition; you will find yourself nodding in agreement, smiling...."--Irish Examiner

"Amusing and enjoyable.... A fascinating take on overcoming fears."--Cambridgeshire Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (April 20, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579545483
• ISBN-13: 978-1579545482
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #787,035 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Calming and wonderful, May 20, 2002

By	MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

The cover photo and the title is what caught my eye. And we are a horse loving, horse riding family going back generations. And the book is small. A tad bigger than 5X7 but it is so full of wisdom. And until I read it I never had thought of the Zen aspect of horses. Their stillness and power and the way they just "are".

The way she speaks of Ducie and the other horses she rode, the reader feels like they are there almost as an eavesdropper or horse voyeur. In chapter four A Portion Of Genius I could almost smell the stables when she writes "several girls were mucking out the stables when I arrived. Piles of dirty straw littered the cobbles, and two horses were drinking from a stone trough at one end." And when she speaks of Johnny as being camp and how he was slight, dainty and balding in a lavender shirt and salmon pink carvat I had to chuckle thinking of a man this reminds me of.

Chapter Twelve Surrender and Trust was enchanting. The way she writes of Jade the horse and practicing her dressage and how animals (page 99) have much to teach us about acceptance and how riding is really a Zen like state of mind. Where you become one with the animal and the rest of the world seems to fade away.

How horse therapy with children as well as adults helps bridge the gap of fear into a world where this large animal that so many see as a power force can become the trusted friend that rather than hurt will instead with its rocking motion as you ride, will soothe and calm and take the fear away.

I am not going to tell anymore about the book because it is so special and I simply want you to read it and treasure it and be better for it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for students of riding and students of life, August 15, 2003

By	Ayris Smith (Arizona) - See all my reviews

Ingrid Sorens' touching recount of her first years of riding is intelligent and insightful. I think it is fabulous that someone riding for such a relativley short period of time was able to come to the realization of allowing the horse to just be and not get in their way, the path to truly harmonious riding.
To read her descriptions is to be there. She is a vibrant writer who brings you into her space with masterful skill. You do not have to be searching for a book on riding(although all riders should read it) to find this one intriguing. It is a fabulous journey about living life, overcoming fears and an intimate exploraton of Zen philosophy. It has helped me refocus in my life. THANK YOU.
Horses or no, I will be looking forward greatly to her next release. Can't wait.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have , June 3, 2007

By	Priscilla V. Rooyen - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book to read about another person's journey learning to ride horse. I closed this book knowing and understanding myself and my riding much better. I would never have thought of me and my horse becoming like one skin. It is amazing how Ingred after such a short time riding, could feel her horse tense under her and even predict what her horse's next move would be...I've been riding for 2 years, and I still feel like I don't have a clue what's going on in my horses' minds. But, I know a lot more now, and I know how to improve my riding. It starts with letting the horse be itself. And "opening the tunnel"!