This book helps horse enthusiasts come to a deeper understanding of their horses and all their animal friends. There are exercises to be done with one's own mind, and with your horse; in hand; on the lunge line; at liberty; and under saddle. The practices outlined herein will assist any house person in becoming a better team member with their equine partners, whether bare beginner or professional competitor. Clearly written and easily understood, Mindful Horseback Riding makes an outstanding addition to every equine library. Mindful Horseback Riding received an Honorable Mention at the 2022 Equus Film & Arts Fest.

Horses—majestic and powerful beings that hold spiritual and emotional appeal—are a life passion for equestrians around the world. Whether you are an experienced or beginner equestrian, Sharing the Present helps horse lovers relate to their horses in a completely transformative yet simple way. The Brodheckers explore the popular practice of mindfulness and its tangible impact to deepen the horse-human bond. Through simple exercises often used in mindfulness therapies, you can acquire skills that help you to notice what your horse is experiencing, to more accurately read the messages that are being conveyed, and to respond in an intentional manner. The twelve mindfulness exercises included in the book will help equestrians and horse lovers strengthen relationships with their horses. For those experts who practice equine-assisted learning and therapy, these mindfulness exercises can also be incorporated into sessions with your clients.

This marvelous book, borne of a unique collaboration between Dr. Allen Schoen—a world-renowned veterinarian and author—and trainer and competitor of many years Susan Gordon, introduces the 25 Principles of Compassionate Equitation. These Principles, conceived by Dr. Schoen and Gordon, are a set of developmental guidelines, encouraging a level of personal awareness that may be enacted not only through the reader's engagement with horses, but can be extended to all humans and sentient beings he or she encounters. The 25 Principles share stories and outline current, peer-reviewed studies that identify and support methods of training, handling, and caring for horses that constitute a safe, healthy, non-stressful, and pain-free environment. Through their Compassionate Equestrian program, the authors encourage all involved in the horse industry to approach training and handling with compassion and a willingness to alleviate suffering. By developing deeper compassion for their own horses, and subsequently, all equines, equestrians transcend their differences in breed preferences, riding disciplines, and training methodologies. This leads to the ability to empathize and connect more closely with the “global collective” of horses and horse people. In doing so, a worldwide community of compassionate equine practitioners and horse owners will emerge, which will not only benefit the horses: People involved with horses are found in many influential segments of society and have the potential to affect wide circles of friends, acquaintances, and co-workers from every walk of life. These are simple changes any horse person can make that can have a vast impact on the horse industry and society as a whole.

This is a perpetual calendar of thought-provoking quotes that Cheryl has collected over the years in her quest for better horsemanship. Quotes are drawn from sources ranging from practising horsemen and horsewomen, to psychiatrists such as Viktor Frankl, sports figures like Tiger Woods, characters in novels, and even jokes and word puzzles. The author accompanies each quote with thoughts on how the quote relates to working with horses, including anecdotes from her own horse life as well as insights gleaned from horse clinics around the country. None are intended to be prescriptive, but instead to provide jumping off points for each reader to come up with her or his own thoughts on how the quote might apply to horsemanship and how it might better the reader's own understanding of and ability to be aware, to be mindful, to be in the moment. Horses are masters at mindfulness, experiencing their lives one moment at a time. They have a lot to teach humans if we are only willing to explore their world on their terms and expand our own awareness to better understand these gracious animals. Keep this book by your bedside or next to the place where you have your morning coffee for a daily dose of inspiration.

The Art of Mindful Riding is an invitation to a unique and rewarding connection with our horses. It begins with us, our awareness, our mindfulness. Full of examples and real life stories that help the reader look a little deeper into where the issues with their horses might be stemming from The Art of Mindful Riding answers many "whys" while also asking some deeper questions. It is a book for riders at all levels, in all disciplines that can be used as a guide, and a starting place for a different way of interacting with your horse.

A practical guide to using reward-based training techniques to create a true partnership with your horse. This leads to lifelong connection, effective problem-solving and joyful performance.