The route into NH - Books?

[kyanya]

Well, I know I want to do some NH type stuff with share pony, and I anticipate doing something with Parelli in the future. But before I join the Savvy club and pay any money, Iw ant to check both me adn Lucky are going to respond to the whoel NH way of things.

I think books may well be the best route into this, and I was wondering if anyone has any particular preferences.

I want to avoid getting any books that are given with the Savvy club membership, if there are any at all. I don't really know, so I've avoided looking at any Parelli books for the moment. Also, I've heard they are very detailed, and for the moment I want something simple, just to check if it's the right thing for us, without getting bogged down by loads of information.

I was recommended Perfect Manners - Kelly Marks, but want to see if there is anything anybody suggests instead, or even as well as.

The books I am aware of are Perfect Manners, Unlock Your Horse's Talent: In 20 Minutes a Day - A Three Step Training Program for Every Horse by Richard Maxwell and Creating a Bond with Your Horse (Intelligent Horsemanship S.) by Kelly Marks. Does anyone know anything about any of these books, and have any preference of one over the other? Or are there any other books that would be a good introdustion to NH methods?

At the moment, I think I'm favouring Richard Maxwell's, because it involves riding too, as well as groundwork. Do any of the others?

[RachelEvent]

If you are planning possibly to move on into Parelli, I would suggest the Kelly Marks book. The methods in her book are pretty much identical, and well explained. I have not looked at the Richard Maxwell book in depth, and have heard it's very good, but I'm not sure it would translate as well into learning Parelli as the Kelly Marks book would :)

Rachel xx

[Yann]

I'd always recommend Kelly Marks and Perfect Manners as recommended reading for anyone, but for a slightly different slant and a less confrontational approach (than maybe Parelli) Mike Peace makes a very interesting and thought provoking read. His first book, Think Like Your Horse is a bit sketchy on detail in places, the second (whose name I can't remember at this moment!) contains the detail missing from the first. Also , though I've not read him yet but ought to, Mike Rashid is supposed to be very good and apparently takes a similar type of approach.

[sassyb]

Mark Rashid has good books to get you thinking about why you would want to treat a horse naturally(non agressively), what the benifits really are for him/her. They are told more in a story fashion, examples of what he has learnt and experiences They are certainly not referance books but mark rashid really made me think through what i was trying to achieve and why with my horse. I would recomend his books to anyone who comes into contact with horses.

[shadowanne]

I'd never really been interested in NH, but did happen to buy the book you mentioned, Perfect Manners by Kelly Marks.

I really liked it. It was well written, with excellent useful photos. It was easy to understand and visualize, even while sitting in my living room, far away from my horse.

I've since been thinking I'd like to do some NH even tho my mare is 23 and quite trained. She still has some quirks. I too looked into Parelli's Savvy club and frankly, I don't think I need all that they offer for my mare. Perhaps if I had a yearling.

I think the best choice is to pick and choose what works for you and your horse. And I agree to start slow (get a book or video or 2) before forking out several hundred dollars in a program.

[flowergirl]

A book i really love is "Dancing with horses" by Klaus Hempfling, I read it and felt very inspired!

[Blossom]

Perfect Manners is fab, I really like it.:D