Last week I told you how the amazing people at Trafalgar Square Books decided to play a fun game of Twelve Books of Christmas and give away twelve of their wonderful books.
I was lucky enough to win and have these books added to my collection!
I am back to give you my first impression of the last six books that I got. Make sure to check out last week's blog post to see the first six I talked about.
Grid Pro Quo: 52 Powerful Jumping Exercises from the World's Top Riders by Margaret Rizzo McKelvy
This looks like a fun and exciting book. I've thought about getting it before, but since my horses and I aren't doing much riding, let alone jumping, I didn't think it would be a great investment at this time.
This looks like a great training tool to have that I can definitely use in the future. When I have used poles in my riding on my own, I always tend to do the same basics, so this will be a great way to help me try new things to keep me and my horses from getting bored.
I LOVE the interior design of this book! It has a very sporty/athletic/fast feel to the design.
I do have to say, I don't love that the exercises are organized in alphabetical order by the expert. To me, at first glance, it doesn't seem like a helpful way to organize the exercises. However, there is an index at the beginning of the book that breaks down the exercises by type which I love.
Find this book here.
Begin and Begin Again: The Bright Optimism of Reinventing Life with Horses by Denny Emerson
This feels like it is a book of inspiration and hope. As I read the intro I was smiling already while feeling happy and calm.
I think it will teach me more about myself than horses, but I need to know about myself to be the best horseman I can be.
I love that Emerson has noted so clearly that it is OK to change your views, paths, and tactics. This is something I struggle with, so I am excited to have a book to remind me that it is OK.
Find this book here.
Ultimate Exercise Routines for Riders: Fitness That Fits a Horse-Crazy Lifestyle by Laura Crump Anderson
This is a book I've been considering for a while. This book is very much a self-care book, which equestrians tend to forget about. I was actually surprised by how much of a self-care book this seems to be. The focus is not just on exercising but on why equestrians should exercise.
I do what I can to help my horses stay feeling good, but I need to remember and schedule more time to take care of myself. I want my horses to be happy, healthy, and fit, and I want the same for myself. Self-care is horse care.
I think this may be a much more important book than it looks like. It could be the most important book out of these twelve.
Find this book here.
The Athletic Equestrian: Over 40 Exercises for Good Hands, Power Legs, and Superior Seat Awareness by Sally Batton with Christina Keim
This is another book I've had my eye on. It looks like fun, is more self-care, and really has exercises directly related to riding since they all seem to be rider exercises for on the horse.
I think it will be a lot of fun to read and has valuable information, but it doesn't look like what I expected it to be. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but somehow it wasn't what the inside of this book looks like. I am still excited to read it though.
Find this book here.
Shoeing the Modern Horse: The Horse Owners Guide to Farriery and Hoof Care by Steven Kraus with Katie Navarra
Shoeing is something I know almost nothing about. Hooves in general are a topic I don't know much about at all. Boo Boo and Trinity have almost always been barefoot and have had almost no feet issues. I am excited to be able to learn more about the hoof and shoeing.
This does look like an intense read for me. I don't think this is going to be an easy topic for me to comprehend, and it feels like a textbook. However, I am sure this book will be worth the time. I want to know the knowledge that's inside of it.
Find this book here.
The Kid's Guide to Horsemanship and Grooming: Everything You Need to Know to Care for Horses While Staying Safe and Having Fun by Cat Hill & Emma Ford
This book looks like so much fun. I LOVE the interior colors and design. This is a book I would have LOVED and read constantly growing up. In fact, it reminds me of a book that I did read all the time growing up.
I think any horse-loving kid will love this book. It looks like it has a lot of great information, including stuff I still don't know! It looks like a perfect guide for any young or new horse lovers.
Find this book here.
(I actually bought World-Class Grooming For Horses: The English Rider's Complete Guide to Daily Care and Competition by Cat Hill and Emma Ford at Equine Affaire last year. I also have World-Class Braiding: Manes & Tails: A Tack Trunk Reference Guide by Cat Hill and Emma Ford with photographs by Jessica Dailey. Would you like to see a comparison between these books at all?)
Thank you so much Trafalgar Square Books for hosting this giveaway! I feel so lucky and grateful to have these beautiful new additions to my book collection.
I'm still working on For the Love of the Horse by Mark Rashid from last week first since Instagram voted for me to read it first.
Which book is calling you to read it?
Want more book recommendations? Read all my book reviews here.