BOOK REVIEWS
On this page I have reviewed some of the books that I have read and found useful. I will be continually adding to this list. I have included a link to Amazon for those who would like more information or would like to read it themselves.

If you have a book you think is useful, inspirational or just wonderful and would like to share with others please send your review to me (contact me) and I will get it up on the site!

SHIATSU THERAPY FOR HORSES - PAMELA HANNAY
This is a very nice introduction to shiatsu; it has a good section with useful definitions (Meridians, Yin and Yang etc). Exercises for the reader (self shiatsu) and of course exercises for the horse. The book has plenty of pictures so you can see what you should be doing as well as each exercise being clearly explained. There is plenty of detail for those who want it but is also a user-friendly book for those who want to get stuck in!

EQUINE ACUPRESSURE - NANCY ZIDONIS
Equine Acupressure is more of a book for the prospective student or those wanting more detail about the individual points. A very good book but concentrates on acupressure points rather than working the meridian and there are more diagrams than photos. However it is an excellent book for those wanting to learn more about point work and what the points relate to.

AROMATHERAPY FOR ANIMALS - CAROLINE INGRAHAM
A really informative book for those who want to get stuck in and have a go at using aromatherapy with their animals! There is lots of information in this book to help you use the oils safely including carrier products and dilutions etc. This has the advantage of being easy reading and quick reference.

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR HORSES - CAROLE FAITH
This book is written for the use of the oils with horses and has lots of information about aromatherapy, different oils useful for horses and also recipes for fly sprays, mud fever, spooking and other common uses. It also has quite a big section on massage (including some shiatsu and TTouch techniques). A good book if you are interested in using the oils for your horse and fancy having a go at some massage / bodywork to.

THE TREATMENT OF HORSES BY HOMEOPATHY - MACLEOD
This is not a book that would not normally be read from cover to cover but is a very useful reference book to dip into. Look up the illness, check the symptoms and find the suggested homeopathic remedies and the dosage.

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO NATURAL PET CARE FOR CATS AND DOGS - JOAN HUSTACE WALKER
Although this is a horse site, many of us have cats and dogs. If you are struggling with arthritis this is a useful little book to give you some ideas of other ways you can help apart from the conventional approach. Various complementary therapies are listed, diet, supplements, bodywork etc is discussed. Not an in depth book but helpful for those who are new to looking into the more natural approach and don't really know where to start.

A MODERN HORSE HERBAL - HILARY PAGE SELF
I really like this book and use it a lot. The first part of the book details some herbs and their uses and the second part looks at common complaints and useful herbs. There is also a section at the back that discusses other alternative approaches. Easy to use and read.

GETTING IN TOUCH WITH HORSES - LINDA TELLINGTON-JONES
This is a nice fun book. Linda evaluates different physical characteristics of the horse and explains the meanings and the horse's character traits. Having looked up my horse's whirls, the shape of his nostrils etc I found it extremely accurate! Later on in the book are lots of useful exercises and TTouches.

WHY DOES MY HORSE...? - PAUL MCGREEVY
Paul McGreevy is a great source of information! The fist part of this book acts an alphabetical reference and the second half is complied of people's questions and the answers. Great if you are interested in case scenarios.

PERFECT MANNERS: HOW TO BEHAVE SO YOUR HORSE WILL TOO - KELLY MARKS
A Very practical book, lots of exercises and ways to tackle common problems. I am not a fan of some of the IH techniques but there's plenty in here that's helpful and useful.

THE BHS VETERINARY MANUAL - STEWART HASTIE
This book is extremely useful for any equine student or for the owner who wants to know more about their horse. It guides the reader through the horses body (digestive system, Nervous system, endocrine system etc) as well as hosting information on aliments and other subjects etc. There are some very good illustrations in this book and this book is not only a useful reference but readable to.

THE ART OF HORSEMANSHIP - XENOPHON
A very interesting read and a reminder that all these "new" methods of horsemanship really aren't so very new! Xenophon has influenced much about horsemanship and is often quoted to this day. There is much sense in this small book and it is well worth reading not only for historical interest but to see how little some things have changed.

DRESSAGE IN LIGHTNESS - SYLVIA LOCH
I enjoy all Sylvia's books but thought this was especially useful to the rider who is trying to improve. The aids for each movement are explained clearly and the use of pictures and diagrams are extremely helpful. The aids explained from the horse's point of view really do make you stop and think about the conflicting signals we often give.

REFLECTIONS OF AN EQUESTRIAN ART - NUNO OLIVEIRA
Another little book but full of inspiration and pockets of wisdom, this book wont teach you to perform the moves but will inspire you to that which is classical riding.

BACH FLOWER REMEDIES FOR ANIMALS - JUDY HOWARD
A good introduction to the remedies and using them for your animals., this book covers small animals as well as horses.

THE CLASSICAL RIDER - SYLVIA LOCH
This was the first of Sylvia's books that I read and found it inspirational. It includes a fascinating account of how she came to classical riding and lots of help and guidance for the reader. I really enjoyed this book and it was due to this I went on to read so much more on the subject.

COMPLETE HOLISTIC CARE AND HEALING FOR HORSES - MARY L. BRENNAN
A really excellent book! For each ailment listed the author discusses a range of therapies including allopathic and complementary (Bach Flower Remedies, Acupressure points, Aromatherapy, homeopathy). It also has sections on each therapy discussed and suggested uses. This book is worth every penny.

THE CHOSEN ROAD - KC LA PIERRE
This is a brilliant book for those interested in barefoot. The book has a lot of information about the function of the structures in the hoof and discusses the theory behind the applied science of equine podiatry. From evaluating the hoof, dealing with infection, to the trim, to taking the horse through the transition comfortably - there is a huge amount of information in this book. My copy is practically falling apart!

This book is available for purchase from the institutes UK administrator Justine Jenkins please email her on: justine@cwmllwchwr.eclipse.co.uk

AROMATHERAPY FOR HORSES (THRESHOLD PICTURE GUIDE) - CAROLINE INGRAHAM
Cheap and cheerful but a great reference guide to some useful oils for horses, Ideal if you are interested but don't want to spend a lot on a book this is a useful starter.

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR COMMON AILMENTS (THRESHOLD PICTURE GUIDE) - CHRISTOPHER DAY
Another handy little book, gives some information about various complementary remedies for common ailments. It's the sort of book you can keep at the yard and dip into for a natural solution. Again cheap and cheerful.

THE NATURE OF HORSES: THEIR EVOLUTION, INTELLIGENCE AND BEHAVIOUR - STEPHEN BUDIANSKY
A great book for the equine behaviour enthusiast! Look at the horse right from evolution to present day analysing the horse's behaviour based on scientific research. Dispels common misconceptions humans have about the horse. Whatever your level this book is educational. Its not a light read but something to get stuck into.

MARK RASHID
All Mark Rashid's books are worth reading and if you haven't already got them but are interested in behaviour and training then I highly recommend them! They are written to be a really enjoyable read and rather than being a textbook to his method you flow with. the books like a novel. His approach (passive leadership) is becoming more and more popular and is worth looking into.

THE ORGANIC HORSE - PETER GRAY
An interesting and informative book that looks at how we can keep our horses in more natural conditions. It looks a at field management, feeding, contaminants in the environment, water quality, breeding and more...

DON'T SHOOT THE DOG - KAREN PRYOR
Although this is a book about clicker training dogs it explains very well the principles of using clicker training and is well worth reading regardless of what animal you intend to use clicker with.

EMOTIONAL HEALING - STEFAN BALL
There are not a huge amount of books out there that are about using Bach Flower Remedies for horses but this is a very good one. Not only does it discuss the Bach Flower Remedies but also looks situation from a behaviour point of view. When treating horses the two are inseparable and one must understand the cause /motivation for the behaviour to be able to use the remedies with optimum results.

FOUR PAWS FIVE DIRECTIONS: COMPLETE GUIDE TO TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE FOR DOGS AND CATS - CHERYL SCHWARTZ
This is a really nice book for those wanting to explore alternatives to western medicine for their pets. It is a very readable book and discusses various aspects of Chinese medicine including acupressure, herbs and diet. There is enough detail without getting to technical. There are recommend treatments for common conditions (such as arthritis) including herbs and topical treatments. Those who also want to use it for their horses will still gain much from this book. It's a good read for someone who wants to actively help their own animals at home doing something themselves.

LETS RIDE - LINDA TELLINGTON-JONES
Written for kids, it has some fun exercises and an angel pony that narrates along the way. It basically records the time of a group of children at a TTeam camp and what exercises they did. I enjoyed this book and I am sure if you buy it for your children you will end up reading it to!