Summer Reading List for Horse Lovers

How I heart summer. Long days, more downtime, travel destinations and homegrown tomatoes! And summer is a perfect time to sit back and relax with a new book or two (or ten). Here are the top ten books on my summer reading list for horse lovers. Some of them I’ve read and loved. Some of them are on my “to read next” list. Peruse this selection to find your next best read!

1. Straightening the Crooked Horse.

This book was recommended as a must-read in the Facebook group Horses with Kissing Spines. It’s written by German authors and translated into English. There are a ton of pictures, which really helps. I have never heard of the straightness training system, but since I’m in total research mode for anything that helps horses’ longevity, I’m all in. I have never heard trainers discuss centrifugal force and shear force while speaking of a horse’s movement before, but I’m intrigued by the “sciencey” aspect of this method!

2. In the Reins by Carly Kade.

What do you get when you mix an aspiring cowgirl with a green Paint horse, mysterious horse trainer, and mischievous cowboy? The entertaining western romance In the Reins. Longtime readers of this blog might remember an interview I did with author Carly a while back. Carly furthered her female protagonist Devon’s story and wrote a sequel called Cowboy Away. Perfect for a lazy afternoon at the pool or hammock companion, Carly’s books will draw you in with exquisite sensory details and real-life dialog. (By the way, I’m not at all a romance reader, but this was a fun and sometimes funny book.) If you adore romance, you’ll want to add this one to your summer reading list for horse lovers.

3. American Pharoah by Joe Drape.

I got this audio book for free on Audible right after the Kentucky Derby. If you haven’t tried Audible, I highly recommend it. You can drive, groom, muck stalls, make dinner, walk the dog while “reading.” (Click here and get two free audio books with a free 30-day Audible trial!) It’s been fascinating hearing the stories of the 12th Triple Crown Winner, Bob Baffert, the Zayats, and Victor Espinoza intertwined. You don’t necessarily have to be a huge fan of horse racing to appreciate the drama and twists and turns involved in the story of American Pharoah from foal to bay racing unicorn with the chill personality.

4. Horses in Translation: Essential Lessons in Horse Speak: Learn to Listen and Talk in Their Language by Sharon Wilsie. 

I’ve not yet read this book, but it sounds really good. And the cover photograph was taken by one of the awesome SoCal equestrian photographers I know: Kristin Lee. I always say, “If only he could talk, it would be so much easier,” when referring to Knight and all the things–like why he’s cribbing, what’s giving him ulcers, etc. I feel like I already know a bunch of horse body language from being around them for decades, but there’s always something new to learn.

5. Stretch Exercises for Your Horse by Karin Bligknault.

Here’s another book that came highly recommended to me in light of our kissing spine journey. I haven’t read it yet–it’s on my nightstand–but I have implemented doing carrot stretches with Knight again. I used to do them fairly regularly with my previous horse and I kind of fell out of practice. Anyway, it stands to reason that our equine partners need to stretch just like we do. I try to stretch every night before bed as I sometimes have a sore back. I’m eager to read this one and actually use the techniques.

6. The Rider’s Pain-Free Back: Overcome Chronic Soreness, Injury, and Aging, and Stay in the Saddle for Years to Come by James Warson, M.D.

I bought this book about a year and a half ago when I hurt my back (thought I was dying–literally on the floor with rescuing 911 EMTs whisking me to the hospital). I never blogged about this era because I was drugged up on steroids and an emotional and physical mess. Needless to say, I wondered how I’d ever ride again, if I’d have to sell my OTTB and get a smoother-gaited horse, and how I could sit in a chair again. And on and on. I purchased this wonderful book out of desperation and it has a TON of great info that is very practical about how to do your best for your back.

Spoiler alert: I had a chance to interview Dr. Warson for an upcoming article I wrote for a magazine about riders working through back pain. If you or anyone you know has had back issues, you’ll want to have this book in your library for sure. 

7. White Stallion of Lippiza by Marguerite Henry.

Raise your hand if you read all of the Marguerite Henry books as a kid? I did too. I honestly don’t remember the storyline of this book at all, but I’m eager to re-read it because I’m going to try to head over to see the Lippizan Stallions in about a month! Yup. When I saw how close on the map Salzburg is to Vienna, I had this “I’m going to see the Lippizan stallions even if I have to go alone!” moment.

(Hubby and I are going to Germany to see my nephew play beach volleyball in an international collegiate tournament in Munich. So going to Salzburg is a side trip, and Vienna is a side trip to the side trip. By the way, if you have any connections to places to ride near Munich, leave me a comment or send me an email Susan@saddleseekshorse.com. I’m dying to ride over there. Thanks!)

8. Confessions of a Timid Rider by Heather Wallace.

You might actually know Heather from reading her horse and dog blog! She recently rebranded Bridle and Bone to The Timid Rider (www.timidrider.com). Heather lives on the East Coast, is a mom of three, and when she’s not writing about returning to riding as an adult, she’s probably working on one of her animal massage clients. And when she’s not massaging a furry friend, she’s probably riding her adorable roan pony Ferrous. I haven’t read this book yet, but I’m a fan of memoir and a fan of Heather, so I’m sure it will be snarky and fun. (And at the time of this writing the book is ranked #1 in Amazon’s “Equestrian Sports” category!)

9. The Man Who Listens to Horses by Monty Roberts.

I read this book many, many years ago and fell in love with it. I even got Mr. Roberts himself to autograph it after a Join Up demonstration he did at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center eons ago! The story line is pretty amazing, and it opened my eyes to understanding horse behavior, as Monty shared stories of what he learned observing the wild horses. He began to discern their various ways of “speaking” to each other and made it his mission to share that with the rest of the world so that there’d be a revolution in horse training. If you have yet to read this classic horse book, read it this summer. 🙂

10. Hold Your Horses: Nuggets of Truth for People Who Love Horses…No Matter What by Bonnie Timmons.

This is a charming little book that makes for a great gift for fellow horse lovers. I received it for Christmas one year. The illustrations are fun, cartoony horses and will undoubtedly make you smile. Even the title of Chapter One is hilarious: “First Love: All About Falling in Love with Very Large Fuzzy Things That Snort.” For those of you old enough to remember the sitcom Caroline in the City–Bonnie Timmons was the artist whose squiggly-lined work appeared every week on that sitcom. Her work has also been featured in The New York Times. The whole book is filled with colorful pictures that you will relate to 100%.

There you have it–your summer reading list for horse lovers. And if you have already read these, you might want to browse my blog post from days of yore (actually the summer of 2016).

Go ahead and comment: What books are on your summer reading list for horse lovers? Have you read any of the ones listed here? Besides horse books, what else do you enjoy reading?

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