Know Better to Do Better
Mistakes I Made with Horses (So You Don't Have To)
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Trafalgar Square
Published:10th Jan '19
Currently unavailable, our supplier has not provided us a restock date
With horses we don’t get a ‘do-over’ button, as much as we’d sometimes like one. We have to live with the choices we make, even when—looking back—we know there might have been a better way to communicate, a different way to teach a new lesson, or another means to reach the desired end.
In this smart, honest book, chock-full of valuable information, gold medalist and renowned rider and coach Denny Emerson uses stories of the standout horses from his own riding career, which spans almost 70 years, to detail some of the things he wishes he’d known then that he knows now. With a candid willingness to share the mistakes he’s made over the years, and clearly articulated ideas on how others can avoid them, he commits himself and those reading to finding more conscientious ways to ride, train, and work with horses.
From basics like aids and equipment, to more specialised subjects—such as rider fitness, emotional control, and how to determine what success with your horse really means—riders of all skill levels will gain valuable, hard-won knowledge from his bite-size lessons in life and in horsemanship.
Perhaps most importantly, Emerson insists that it is never too late to change, both for the good of the horse and the good of oneself.
I started to have a flick through and came to this early paragraph: 'I've always found hearing something again in a slightly different way enables me to suddenly "get it" and so I've tried to come at things from different angles.' Whether teaching or learning I know this is the truth, and I started to get excited! As I stopped flicking and started reading, I realised I'd come across an author and horseman with real nuggets of wisdom to offer and much more. Denny Emerson can not only teach us new things but also validate beliefs that in Intelligent Horsemanship we 'know', yet find reassuring to hear from a horseman with such impressive credentials. -- Kelly Marks * IH Magazine (Intelligent Horsemanship) *
Learn from the mistakes of one of the greats in this handy book.
Emerson's personable style makes this a digestible book for beginners, but he also imparts information that will be useful for upper-level, or aspiring upper-level, riders.
No-nonsense Denny Emerson hits it out of the park again with his latest book Know Better To Do Better: Mistakes I Made with Horses So You Don't Have To. He candidly recounts his experience in the saddle and discusses what can be learned from his mistakes. Every equestrian can gain valuable insight from Denny's teachings on horsemanship...and life.
This book is at the absolute top of my list to recommend to all riding instructors-new ones or those with loads of experience. This book is a treasure. -- Charlotte Kneeland
I was delighted to read Denny Emerson's new book Know Better To Do Better and cannot say enough great things about it! Denny is one of the most intelligent horsemen I have ever been associated with, as anyone who reads this book will agree. His straightforward, no-nonsense advice and insight to so many modern, commonsense topics of horsemanship makes this book an invaluable and enjoyable read for horsemen of all ages and levels. -- Bernie Traurig
I once begged Bill Steinkraus to write a book on specific horses, what worked and what didn't – and what he'd do now. Know Better to Do Better by Denny Emerson is that book, written in a straightforward conversational style that appeals to the neophyte as much as to the expert. Emerson invites both to be open, think about what they're doing, and try some ways to do it better. The best is that he encourages the ignorant to be impetuous and even arrogant, for his own life proves that 'way leads on to way.' Bravo!!! It's a good book, sorely needed in this day and age -- Judy Richter
Finally...riders now have an invaluable resource in Know Better to Do Better by Denny Emerson. This book will save you time, money, frustration, and even heartbreak by giving you insights that many riders take decades to learn through often painful experiences. Denny will show you how to substantially cut that learning curve so you can have a more joyful and rewarding experience with your horse right now. Sprinkled with a generous supply of that incomparable Denny Emerson humour, you'll learn and laugh along with Denny as he shares his journey with you. There's no doubt that Know Better to Do Better is a must-have in your equestrian library. -- Jane Savoie
Know Better to Do Better is an extended fireside chat with an amiable tribal elder who is more than happy to share his wisdom about horses and horsemanship. Denny Emerson teaches through real-life examples laced with dry humour, unvarnished truth, and surprising humility. As we learn what Denny has learned in his remarkable life with horses, we are introduced to the horses who have been his teachers. These tributes are delivered with insight and respect. The horses show us the man. Denny's roots are never far from his narrative. He knows where he is from and how that has shaped his horsemanship. We begin and end with a horse-crazy kid who had the sass and confidence to try new things and learn while doing. He knocks himself off the pedestal first, and that makes it easy to follow him through the messy and nonlinear process of becoming a better horseman. This book is for the hard worker, the overcomer. Denny never fails to give credit to all his teachers yet he shows by example that thoughtfully applied perspiration and determined patience bring the most satisfying results-for humans and equines alike. -- Chelle Grald
ISBN: 9781570768958
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
240 pages