All too often, pain in ridden horses is labelled as 'bad' behaviour. The apparently ‘sound’ horse is 'naughty', 'lazy', 'difficult', 'explosive', 'spooky', 'nappy', and more. These labels are wrong. Pain impacts all aspects of a horse's performance, including its partnership with the rider, and its potential to progress. It does not always create lameness. Relieving pain can lead to greater potential, a deeper partnership, and improved performance. In ‘Harmonious Horsemanship: Use of the Ridden Horse Ethogram to Optimise Potential, Partnership and Performance', Sue Dyson and Sue Palmer share their professional knowledge and experience. You will learn how to use a checklist of 24 behaviours to check for musculoskeletal pain in ridden horses. The book includes a gripping mix of research studies, contributions from industry experts, and real-life case studies. Only by first recognising pain can we then address it through accurate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. This book, full of practical tools and backed by solid robust science, teaches you how to use ridden behaviour to recognise the subtle signs of pain, even in horses that appear to be sound. It is for anyone who cares about the horse, whether you are an interested amateur owner or an experienced equestrian professional. Together, we can make the world a better place for horses.

Maybe the best way to introduce this book to our audience is to quote Max Gahwyler when he read the book when it was in manuscript form: "You must publish this. It is superb!" We agree this is, truly, one of, if not the clearest, most readable books on training dressage ever written. It's just delightful! As Egon von Neindorf, a recognized master himself, says in the Foreword, "If you are not fortunate enough to be taught by Walter Zettl personally, he gives you in this book a very valuable guide to the art of classical riding. In clearly worked out and easy to understand chapters, he takes you through each step of the training stages, discusses problems that occur, and assists with competent, sensible corrections, from Beginner to becoming a Master. With Walter Zettl's guidance, it is made possible."

The Harmony Project is a unique concept to give horse lovers a deeper insighet into the equine mind. The project follows the training and development of a filly foal called "Harmony", from 6 months and separation from the mare, up to 3 and a half years and carrying her first rider. Harmony's behaviour and training are explainedin terms of her view of the world, and show how we can present ourselves to our horses in a way that is more meaningful to them, and therefore more effective. Harmony is being trained primarily under the principles of natural horsemanship taught by the top American trainer, Richard Thompson, who is the mentor of Harmony's owner and trainer, Kate Farmer. Date comes from a classical British riding background, and aims to show in the Harmony Project that the principles of natural horsemanship are equally relevant to all equestrian desciplines, and not, as many suppose, mostly of help to western riders. Part 1 of The Harmony Project follows harmony from 6 monts to 18 months, and presents the first stages of her training in a clear, easy to follow way. Each chapter focusses on one or two specific aspects of equine psychology, and the ex ercises that relate to them. It offers an excellent introduction ot natural horsemanship for newcomers to these methods, and a very useful companion for those who have already started working on NH principles.

Use peaceful concepts from the Japanese martial art aikido to bring out the best in...