What Every Horse Should Know

Book excerpt: In Cherry Hills' groundbreaking bestseller, How to Think Like a Horse, she took an in-depth look at how horses think, learn, and respond to stimuli, and interpret human behavior. In this fascinating follow-up, What Every Horse Should Know, Hill continues her exploration of how horses learn with a focus on the knowledge every horse needs to live safely and confidently in the company of people. Mastering certain skills is critical to bringing out the full potential of the horse-human partnership. As Hill states in her introduction, "Wild horses know everything they need to survive. They are complete. It's when we domesticate a horse and bring him into our world that he needs to learn new things in order to adapt." What Every Horse Should Know examines the lessons that are vital for every domesticated horse, whether a trail horse, dressage or jumper, rodeo or ranch horse. The book features sections on how to handle a horse without fear, how to teach respect and patience, and how to help the horse master the actual "work" he needs to do. Written in clear, accessible language, accompanied by photographs, illustrations, and infographics, What Every Horse Should Know addresses all stages of a horse's life, from foalhood to old age. Readers can choose to start at the beginning and follow a sequence or enter at the appropriate point in a horse's life. There are tests for assessing the level of a horse's knowledge with suggestions on developing individualized tests. The final section of the book provides comprehensive training program checklists know according to his age. For anyone intrigued by the workings of the equine mind and seeking insights into how to enrich and strengthen the horse-human relationship, What Every Horse Should Know is a fascinating and useful reference.