Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)"Horses Never Lie" was my first foray into Mark Rashid territory, and I admit it was with some trepidation. I was mildly skeptical of the glowing reviews, wondering if "clinic-junkies" wrote them all. I couldn't have been more off-base, and am sorry it took me so long to read this book!
Many readers may already be familiar with the Tom Dorrance / Ray Hunt schools of thought. Mark, however, takes what are essentially the same general, but amorphous, concepts and makes them understandable for the masses and adds to them. He effectively presents the ideal of "quiet, consistent" behavior around the horse to deepen the horse-human bond. "Quiet consistency" is an elusive concept, deceptively simple to understand in the abstract, but rather difficult to employ in practical terms. He contrasts the passive leader (one who is quietly consistent, dependable) with the dominant "alpha horse" theory, showing how one attracts (truly earns) respect, while the other commands (demands) it. Mark effectively presents his ideas by relating his own frustrations as an inexperienced horseman. These examples - painfully recognizable to the reader! - illustrate how he transformed his own way of thinking, guided by the mentor of sorts he describes as "the old man." Mark also describes his experiences of more recent years, when he employs his "new" ideas in several types of situations but always with the same results.
Mark brilliantly proves his main point in the very way he has written this book. The leader who is more likely to be followed is the one that sets the example, quietly and consistently, and lets the followers voluntarily choose. In "Horses Never Lie," the reader similarly becomes drawn to Mark's ideas, which he presents in a low-key, take it or leave it fashion, and the readers will no doubt choose to follow.
This book really is about the philosophy of the horse-human relationship. It is not a step-by-step training guide. But there are extremely practical tips that the reader can immediately employ. They are not, however, simple riding exercises or devices. Again, the value of Mark's work is in shifting one's attention to the things that are already happening. For example, one of these points involves recognition of the horses' "try." Mark explains how barely perceptible to most riders the horse reacts in response to a cue, and surprisingly how often the horse really does try. Most riders simply ignore these subtle responses, waiting for the finished, perfect result. By truly recognizing the "try," and following through with positive acknowledgement of it, the reader will see an almost immediate strengthening of horse-human communication, and resulting performance. Then the human's task is to do that consistently, always. . . Mark's book awakens the reader to the things that matter in the human-horse relationship. He shows what happens to the well-meaning rider who becomes so focused on technique or clinics or the "quick fix" but not the horse itself.
Mark's work is a thought-provoking, beautifully written book, engaging in style. It is not too soon for this to be a classic.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Horses Never Lie: The Heart of Passive Leadership (Second Edition)
A revolutionary approach to the techniques of working with horses, by a renowned instructor.
In Horses Never Lie, renowned horse trainer Mark Rashid challenges the conventional wisdom of 'alpha leadership" and teaches the reader to become a 'passive leader"-a counterpart to the kind of horse other members of a herd choose to associate with and to follow. Applying Rashid's principles and techniques helps cultivate horse personalities that are responsive and dependable regardless of the rider. Reliving Rashid's experiences with him, you will come to feel the same sort of compassion and appreciation for your horses that you do for the people in your life. This new edition features added introductory notes for each chapter that contribute to a more complete understanding of Rashid's methods and philosophy. 16 black-and-white illustrations
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