Books are, without a doubt, one of my favorite things on the planet. E-books or real books, I’m not a snob either way, as long as it’s a book. I’ve talked about my intense love affair with Thriftbooks on this blog before, and it’s the biggest reason why I have so many equestrian books. Hard to resist loading up the cart when they’re like $3. I’ve seen enough bloggers posting book reviews to know that I’m definitely not the only one with a equestrian book collection, so let’s play I’ll-show-you-mine-if-you-show-me-yours!
For mine I’m gonna stick to all the non-fiction, because ain’t nobody got time for that otherwise. This isn’t everything (where the f did my Holsteiner Stamms, Sporthorse Conformation, 101 Gymnastics Exercises, Blessed are the Broodmares, GM, Geoff Teall on Riding Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation, and Frank Chapot’s conformation books go? Obviously I have another stash somewhere in the house…) but it’s a good chunk of the collection.
First are the miscellaneous group. Bloodlines, foals, young horse training, gymnastic exercises, and a grooming book. I love all of these books, but I would call World Class Grooming an essential for everyone who shows (so many pictures and instructions!), and Basic Training of the Young Horse an essential for anyone who rides babies. I mean, it’s a friggin’ KLIMKE book, essentially a bible for starting sporthorses under saddle… need I say more?
Then there’s the “I will have my own place someday” collection. It’s sad how long I’ve had most of those books, but never give up on the dream, right?
The dressage book collection is small, but it’s mostly de Kunffy. Pretty sure I’m missing one or two from this picture, even. I feel like he’s kinda the Gandhi of dressage, and I love his books almost as much as I love listening to him speak. There’s a lot of theory, and overall good horsemanship is the central theme. But of all the books in this picture, The Ethics and Passions of Dressage is the one I’d say is an absolute must have for any rider – dressage or not.
And last but not least, the largest chunk of my collection: eventing books. Several of these are old, published in the 80’s or 90’s, which makes the pictures really interesting. Eventing sure don’t look like it used to. They’re all interesting in their own way though, and I’ve gotten at least a little tidbit of knowledge from every one of them. Granted, I haven’t read much of Life in the Galloping Lane yet, because I have a little bit of a hard time with KOC. That aside, it still seems interesting… some day I’ll actually read the whole thing. My favorite of all these is probably the P Dutty book, there are lots of exercises and how-to’s with good pictures.
Let’s see your collections! Or you can just tell me your favorites… that works too…
**It’s possible that the writing of this post spurred another Thriftbooks hunt, which resulted in adding The de Nemethy Method and Breaking and Training Young Horses to the collection. Sorrynotsorry.
breedrideevent.com 
My collection is a bit weird, mostly coffee table books and some ancient how to books on show jumping…cause that’s totally an interest of mine…haha. My parents were antique dealers so I have any random old book with a horse on it, plus the gifty type coffee table horse books from relatives at special occasions, etc. I have far more fiction than non-fiction though…and the fiction ones I mostly chose myself even!
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I’m not a big book person, but I treasure my childhood horse books. The basic encyclopedia of the horse, and the illustrated breed books are my favorite. Such special memories reading them as a child. 🙂
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umm that is a LOT OF books. LOL and Grem is sure growing up fast!! I have the horsekeeping one but that is about it. My nonspatial mind has a hard time reading technical riding books. I am so clueless sometimes!
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I also have quite the collection… 2 you should add to yours are Dressage for the Not-So-Perfect Horse by Janet Foy and How Good Riders Get Good by Denny Emerson. Both great reads!
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I’ve leafed through most of Denny’s… I have a bit of a hard time with him, too, sometimes. Not for me. I’ll look at the other one though!
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I uhhhh….. Have a freakishly large collection of horse books. And those are just the ones in my house, there are totes full in my shed too, haha. Might be fun to gather them all up into one place! 😂
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Grem sure is growing up fast!
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.. I need to read other people’s comments.. Lol. Said the same exact thing. Oh well.
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Man, you have a lot!! World class grooming is my favorite horse book I own… such good advice, excellent pictures! Other than that, I love my big orange equine emergency book, though it also scares the shit out of me to think that I need to know most of the information in it when I become a vet…
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I have a rather large collection showing my love for the thoroughbred racehorse. My favorite being Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Probably because of the Richard Stone Reeves portraits.
And apparently a handful of serial killer books, now that I’m looking at my books. Huh.
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Ohhh I have so many, all over the place lol one of the best is Anne Kursinkis jump school- It’s huge and beyond helpful. Love that book.
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oh god this is an excellent blog hop
as a secret santa gift i gave denny emerson’s “how good riders get good” to one of the kids at the barn
and she literally came out in the spring a totally different rider and was winning things. i was like wtf was in that book bro????
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Oooh – good blog hop idea! Here’s my list – http://grayflannelhorses.blogspot.ca/2017/09/blog-hop-equestrian-book-collection.html
And thanks for Thriftbooks – I have 4 more books coming!
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The “I will own my own place on day” dream will come true !! It took me 12 years but I got mine just recently. Never give up on the dream!!!
I love books, I love the second hand books and the way they smell.
The “How to ride a winning dressage test” book is a must for me. Googling to get a copy now.
Mel x
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I have a HUGE, expansive collection of horse books. For all riders who want to understand conformation, I recommend The Conformation Handbook by Heather Smith Thomas. I really like Dr. Gerd Heuschmann’s book Tug of War: Classic Versus “Modern” Dressage, which I think is a must read. I also own tons of nonfiction Thoroughbred racehorse biographies, the absolute best of which is Ruffian: Burning From The Start by Jane Schwartz. This book is so dear to me that I own 2 copies!
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Hey! I loved this. Here’s my list: http://www.bakersfielddressage.com/home/blog-hop-equestrian-book-collection
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Super behind on this but thanks for showing me a new site to get books. I’m sure my husband with thank you. (heavy on the sarcasm) XD
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Thrift books has sucked me in ahhhhhhh
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I bought 3 more yesterday 🙄
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