For the Good of the Horse

This is an enlightening and beautifully written book which Mary Wanless did an amazing amount of research to produce. I found the chapter on saddle fitting especially interesting. In response to the "quackery" reviewer, the author by no means suggests that the reader should adopt every new treatment, therapy, or device for the horse. She presents a large number of options without making many recommendations at all--it is informative, but not a sales pitch. I don't find advice not to use cheap saddlery or untrained dental technicians suggestions that I leap on the newest bandwagon--it's common sense. Some of the chapters can leave well-meaning horsepeople feeling that we are not doing as well as we could by our horses...but we probably felt a little bit that way before, or we wouldn't have read this book.

I must say that this book is very insightful. It was some very intense reading and at times i had to reread parts but i learned so much. Mary offers a whole new way of looking at your equine partner as well as the world. She discusses modern medicine and homeopathic remedies as well as gives you an indepth look at how the horse functions and how humans affect them.i personally was unable to put this book down.I do warn however,it is not a book that would be enjoyed by the narrow minded horse owner who likes to stick hard and fast to tradition.Because it offers so much up to date information on todays horse world and all the change and progress it has made.

As a result of reading and rereading Mary Wanless's chapter on proper saddle fit, I looked into the Ortho-Flex saddle system for my horse. While Ms. Wanless doesn't endorse the brand, which uses a suspension system rather than a regular saddle tree, her explanations of equine biomechanics and description of the system spurred me to investigate it further on my own. I was pleased with what I learned and ended up purchasing one. I can't tell you how good I feel, knowing that I am probably not damaging my horse's back. My horse's movement also has improved as a result. In short, if you are a caring and thoughtful rider who is willing to sit down for a serious read, this book is for you. In fact, the only reason I didn't give it five stars is because the book can be tough going at times.

Although this book can make you feel that horses are better off unridden, I have used some of her information to make my horses' lives alittle better. Her data on saddlery, shoeing and horse dental work are items which are being reviewed today. But like everything in the horse world, new ideas for horse care (homeopathic, etc.) should be approached carefully and with experienced caretakers (as she mentions). Having said that, this author is very good at explaining the biomachanics of riding, and I feel that many of her ideas on making horses more comfortable are not far off the mark. I would recommed this book.

Most of this book is a discussion of the vital systems of the horse from the viewpoint of a number of alternative and complimentary schools of therapy. The focus is specifically on the application of these views to addressing various problems with how the horse is going or behaving. It is without doubt a most comprehensive and superbly well informed work, and clearly demonstrates the author's breadth and depth of background. I found the book somwhat depressing though, as it leaves the impression that whatever the genuine and caring owner does we are inevitably damaging and even hurting our horses by using them in any way at all. Although many avenues for consideration of the horse's well being are explored, from the conventional considerations of balanced shoeing and correct saddle, to the more esoteric ideas of 'spiritual' balance, little practical help is offered to the ordinary owner with limited resources. I ended up feeling profoundly helpless, though immensely well informed. Partly for these reasons, and partly due to the sheer density and volume of information presented the book is a demanding read. This is not a book to be polished off in an evening, and is best reread several times. Nevertheless, overall, I highly recommend it.