About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherTrafalgar Square Books

ISBN-101570769451

ISBN-139781570769450

eBay Product ID (ePID)16038788752

Product Key Features

Book TitleWhat Horses Really Want : Unlocking the Secrets to Trust, Cooperation, and Reliability

Number of Pages288 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication Year2020

TopicEquestrian, Animals / Horses, Veterinary Medicine / Equine

IllustratorYes

GenreNature, Sports & Recreation, Medical

AuthorLynn Acton

FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height0.7 in

Item Weight31.3 Oz

Item Length10 in

Item Width8 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

LCCN2020-930156

Dewey Edition23

Reviews"Whether we are accomplished horse people or newcomers, we all want to do the best for our horses. But what do our horses want? In her excellent book What Horses Really Want , with explanations backed up by science and case studies, Lynn Acton demonstrates how if we listen, the horse will tell us--even often initiating the conversation! Easy to read and understand, with lots of helpful hints on how to put the ideas Acton presents into practice, this book is a go-to resource for people who want to build confident, positive relationships with their horses based on trust and mutual respect." -- Vanessa Bee, Founder of the International Horse Agility Club and author of 3-Minute Horsemanship, The Horse Agility Handbook, and Over, Under, Through: Obstacle Training for Horses "Lynn Acton has combined her personal experiences, work with various clinicians, reading of equine literature, and most importantly, referenced research in the areas of horse behavior, management, and welfare in her book What Horses Really Want , and it is her inclusion of current research that makes this book truly stand out. Over the past three decades equine/human interaction and training has been oversimplified into a predator/prey model, which has been challenged in the academic world and debunked in many ways. Here, Acton provides a more compassionate alternative for the average horse owner based on respect for another living being, cooperation, understanding, positive reinforcement, and recognition that a sense of safety is key to the horse's overall well-being. Acton helps bring science to the stable by integrating the latest academic findings into daily interactions that are humane and nonaggressive. At the heart of her leadership model is the ability for each of us to remain in command of our own emotions and provide the horse with a sense of security. Only then will he trust us so that we can, with time and patience, help horses love to learn." -- Wendy Murdoch, Founder of The Murdoch Method and Sure Foot Equine Stability Program, and author of 50 5-Minute Fixes to Improve Your Riding "Lynn Acton's book What Horses Really Want shares a refreshing perspective--she considers what the horse needs and values. "My own training has evolved greatly as I, too, recognized that the key to a good partnership with a horse was a relationship that is good for both, human and horse, and that good training should be synonymous with this process of building that relationship. "When we only look for obedience and 'proper' behavior from our horses, we lose the potential to meet who our horse really is. When we allow more freedom, when we stop and wait instead of pushing through, and when we consider that what we have been taught about needing to 'show the horse who's boss,' and to 'not let him get away with anything' may not be very accurate, we can discover an entirely new relationship waiting for us. "Our horses are profoundly forgiving, they are ready to change when we are, and the connection that is possible when change comes is a gift for both horse and human." -- Callie King, Science-Based Trainer and Instructor "An informative guide for all equestrians on how horses connect with humans and how best to develop their trust in the relationship. ...A delightful read and very educational, the wealth of information included in this work is easy to assimilate and will help every horse and every horse owner. Highly recommend!" --Catskill Horse, "Whether we are accomplished horse people or newcomers, we all want to do the best for our horses. But what do our horses want? In her excellent book What Horses Really Want , with explanations backed up by science and case studies, Lynn Acton demonstrates how if we listen, the horse will tell us--even often initiating the conversation! Easy to read and understand, with lots of helpful hints on how to put the ideas Acton presents into practice, this book is a go-to resource for people who want to build confident, positive relationships with their horses based on trust and mutual respect." -- Vanessa Bee, Founder of the International Horse Agility Club and author of 3-Minute Horsemanship, The Horse Agility Handbook, and Over, Under, Through: Obstacle Training for Horses "Lynn Acton has combined her personal experiences, work with various clinicians, reading of equine literature, and most importantly, referenced research in the areas of horse behavior, management, and welfare in her book What Horses Really Want , and it is her inclusion of current research that makes this book truly stand out. Over the past three decades equine/human interaction and training has been oversimplified into a predator/prey model, which has been challenged in the academic world and debunked in many ways. Here, Acton provides a more compassionate alternative for the average horse owner based on respect for another living being, cooperation, understanding, positive reinforcement, and recognition that a sense of safety is key to the horse's overall well-being. Acton helps bring science to the stable by integrating the latest academic findings into daily interactions that are humane and nonaggressive. At the heart of her leadership model is the ability for each of us to remain in command of our own emotions and provide the horse with a sense of security. Only then will he trust us so that we can, with time and patience, help horses love to learn." -- Wendy Murdoch, Founder of The Murdoch Method and Sure Foot Equine Stability Program, and author of 50 5-Minute Fixes to Improve Your Riding "Lynn Acton's book What Horses Really Want shares a refreshing perspective--she considers what the horse needs and values. "My own training has evolved greatly as I, too, recognized that the key to a good partnership with a horse was a relationship that is good for both, human and horse, and that good training should be synonymous with this process of building that relationship. "When we only look for obedience and 'proper' behavior from our horses, we lose the potential to meet who our horse really is. When we allow more freedom, when we stop and wait instead of pushing through, and when we consider that what we have been taught about needing to 'show the horse who's boss,' and to 'not let him get away with anything' may not be very accurate, we can discover an entirely new relationship waiting for us. "Our horses are profoundly forgiving, they are ready to change when we are, and the connection that is possible when change comes is a gift for both horse and human." -- Callie King, Science-Based Trainer and Instructor, "Whether we are accomplished horse people or newcomers, we all want to do the best for our horses. But what do our horses want? In her excellent book What Horses Really Want , with explanations backed up by science and case studies, Lynn Acton demonstrates how if we listen, the horse will tell us--even often initiating the conversation! Easy to read and understand, with lots of helpful hints on how to put the ideas Acton presents into practice, this book is a go-to resource for people who want to build confident, positive relationships with their horses based on trust and mutual respect." -- Vanessa Bee, Founder of the International Horse Agility Club and author of 3-Minute Horsemanship, The Horse Agility Handbook, and Over, Under, Through: Obstacle Training for Horses "Lynn Acton has combined her personal experiences, work with various clinicians, reading of equine literature, and most importantly, referenced research in the areas of horse behavior, management, and welfare in her book What Horses Really Want , and it is her inclusion of current research that makes this book truly stand out. Over the past three decades equine/human interaction and training has been oversimplified into a predator/prey model, which has been challenged in the academic world and debunked in many ways. Here, Acton provides a more compassionate alternative for the average horse owner based on respect for another living being, cooperation, understanding, positive reinforcement, and recognition that a sense of safety is key to the horse's overall well-being. Acton helps bring science to the stable by integrating the latest academic findings into daily interactions that are humane and nonaggressive. At the heart of her leadership model is the ability for each of us to remain in command of our own emotions and provide the horse with a sense of security. Only then will he trust us so that we can, with time and patience, help horses love to learn." -- Wendy Murdoch, Founder of The Murdoch Method and Sure Foot Equine Stability Program, and author of 50 5-Minute Fixes to Improve Your Riding, "Whether we are accomplished horse people or newcomers, we all want to do the best for our horses. But what do our horses want? In her excellent book What Horses Really Want, with explanations backed up by science and case studies, Lynn Acton demonstrates how if we listen, the horse will tell us--even often initiating the conversation! Easy to read and understand, with lots of helpful hints on how to put the ideas Acton presents into practice, this book is a go-to resource for people who want to build confident, positive relationships with their horses based on trust and mutual respect." --Vanessa Bee, Founder of the International Horse Agility Club and author of 3-Minute Horsemanship, The Horse Agility Handbook, and Over, Under, Through: Obstacle Training for Horses "Lynn Acton has combined her personal experiences, work with various clinicians, reading of equine literature, and most importantly, referenced research in the areas of horse behavior, management, and welfare in her book What Horses Really Want, and it is her inclusion of current research that makes this book truly stand out. Over the past three decades equine/human interaction and training has been oversimplified into a predator/prey model, which has been challenged in the academic world and debunked in many ways. Here, Acton provides a more compassionate alternative for the average horse owner based on respect for another living being, cooperation, understanding, positive reinforcement, and recognition that a sense of safety is key to the horse's overall well-being. Acton helps bring science to the stable by integrating the latest academic findings into daily interactions that are humane and nonaggressive. At the heart of her leadership model is the ability for each of us to remain in command of our own emotions and provide the horse with a sense of security. Only then will he trust us so that we can, with time and patience, help horses love to learn." --Wendy Murdoch, Founder of The Murdoch Method and Sure Foot Equine Stability Program, and author of 50 5-Minute Fixes to Improve Your Riding "Lynn Acton's book What Horses Really Want shares a refreshing perspective--she considers what the horse needs and values. When we only look for obedience and 'proper' behavior from our horses, we lose the potential to meet who our horse really is. When we allow more freedom, when we stop and wait instead of pushing through, and when we consider that what we have been taught about needing to 'show the horse who's boss,' and to 'not let him get away with anything' may not be very accurate, we can discover an entirely new relationship waiting for us. Our horses are profoundly forgiving, they are ready to change when we are, and the connection that is possible when change comes is a gift for both horse and human." --Callie King, Science-Based Trainer and Instructor "An informative guide for all equestrians on how horses connect with humans and how best to develop their trust in the relationship. ...A delightful read and very educational, the wealth of information included in this work is easy to assimilate and will help every horse and every horse owner. Highly recommend!" --Catskill Horse

Dewey Decimal636.10835

SynopsisA book chock-full of answers to horse-behavior questions that will change your horse's life for the better. Horses want partners they trust. Meeting their need for security makes them more tuned-in, calmer, and more reliable. In her engaging book, highly illustrated with professional color photographs, certified riding instructor Lynn Acton, MS, shows you how, with practical step-by-step instructions. You'll see that progress can be surprisingly fast with methods that are gentle, time-tested, backed by science, and that make intuitive sense to your horse. Discover how to earn trust and make training more efficient by engaging horses' innate intelligence, maintaining clear two-way communication, and considering their point of view. This leadership approach has been used successfully for centuries by people of all backgrounds and skill levels on horses at all levels of training. Acton refers to this relationship as Protector Leadership because you are the horse's protector. In these pages, she combines extensive horse experience and an academic background in social dynamics with in-depth research. She interprets and cites the scientific findings that explain why Protector Leadership works, and offers valuable insights into equine psychology while exposing myths that are sources of problems. Plus, Acton includes "Things to Try" at the end of each chapter--fun and easy-to-implement exercises that help you engage your horse as a thinking partner Throughout, the narrative includes stories of Acton's progress with her own horses, including mistakes and hindsight, and especially the transformation of the book's cover girl Brandy from a dangerous throwaway to a happy, reliable partner. Clear, detailed photographs show the subtle body language of horses and people, and illustrate critical interactions that make a real difference in our relationships, communication, and training. These are a few of the concrete skills you will learn: - Earn trust starting the moment you meet a horse. - Recognize "misbehavior" that actually means your horse is thinking like a partner. - Turn pressure into clear communication instead of stress. - Use Positive Reinforcement for better learning, behavior, and reliability. - Turn anxiety and spooks into confidence building situations. - Discourage unwanted behavior without punishment. - Allow your horse appropriate choices and freedom. As your bond strengthens, you can enjoy watching your horse's true personality blossom. A thoughtful, progressive book for riders of all disciplines and students of the horse of all experience levels., Relationships with horses, whether for companionship or competition, are complex and ever-changing. This is one of the reasons why "horsemanship" can become a lifelong pursuit: There is always a balance to be struck with our equine partners, and it demands continual growth and understanding on our side. In this book, horsewoman Lynn Acton explains that when the focus in the relationship is on what we want from the horse, his compliance becomes the measure of success, and what he thinks and feels is often overlooked. Is he calm, confident, and trusting? Or anxiously wishing he could escape? His behavior, performance, and reliability--in whatever discipline we prefer or equestrian sport we pursue--depend on the answers to those questions. Horses want security and social bonds. They want leaders they trust to protect them--not only from danger, but from stress. When we provide this security, they accept our rules. This not only puts us in charge, it makes our leadership more effective because we do not force it on them; they seek it. The result is less anxiety, fewer behavior problems, more efficient learning, and better reliability. Acton refers to this relationship as Protector Leadership because being the "protector" is the foundation. Building methodology based on time-tested training theories that we are often exposed to in bits and pieces, Acton shows why Protector Leadership works and how to make it work for us, fitting the separate pieces together, and illustrating the connections with practical examples of real horses in everyday life., A book chock-full of answers to horse-behavior questions that will change your horse's life for the better. Horses want partners they trust. Meeting their need for security makes them more tuned-in, calmer, and more reliable. In her engaging book, highly illustrated with professional color photographs, certified riding instructor Lynn Acton, MS, shows you how, with practical step-by-step instructions. You'll see that progress can be surprisingly fast with methods that are gentle, time-tested, backed by science, and that make intuitive sense to your horse. Discover how to earn trust and make training more efficient by engaging horses' innate intelligence, maintaining clear two-way communication, and considering their point of view. This leadership approach has been used successfully for centuries by people of all backgrounds and skill levels on horses at all levels of training. Acton refers to this relationship as Protector Leadership because you are the horse's protector. In these pages, she combines extensive horse experience and an academic background in social dynamics with in-depth research. She interprets and cites the scientific findings that explain why Protector Leadership works, and offers valuable insights into equine psychology while exposing myths that are sources of problems. Plus, Acton includes 'Things to Try' at the end of each chapter - fun and easy-to-implement exercises that help you engage your horse as a thinking partner Throughout, the narrative includes stories of Acton's progress with her own horses, including mistakes and hindsight, and especially the transformation of the book's cover girl Brandy from a dangerous throwaway to a happy, reliable partner. Clear, detailed photographs show the subtle body language of horses and people, and illustrate critical interactions that make a real difference in our relationships, communication, and training. These are a few of the concrete skills you will learn: Û Earn trust starting the moment you meet a horse. Û Recognize 'misbehavior' that actually means your horse is thinking like a partner. Û Turn pressure into clear communication instead of stress. Û Use Positive Reinforcement for better learning, behavior, and reliability. Û Turn anxiety and spooks into confidence building situations. Û Discourage unwanted behavior without punishment. Û Allow your horse appropriate choices and freedom. As your bond strengthens, you can enjoy watching your horse's true personality blossom. A thoughtful, progressive book for riders of all disciplines and students of the horse of all experience levels.

LC Classification NumberSF287.A28 2020