Skyhorse Horses Never Lie: The Heart of Passive Leadership

Mark Rashid versteht es wie kein anderer, Wissen auf eine Art zu vermitteln, die humorvoll, verständlich und absolut authentisch ist. Nie hebt er den Zeigefinger und trotzdem schafft er es, einen zum Nachdenken zu bringen. Es macht Spaß, in seine Geschichten und Fallbeispiele einzusteigen und auch beim dritten Mal lesen kann man immer noch neue Aspekte für sich entdecken. Jeder, der seinem Pferd etwas Gutes tun und die Beziehung verbessern oder es besser verstehen möchte, sollte dieses Buch unbedingt lesen. Volle Kaufempfehlung von mir!

As with all of Mark Rashid's books that I have read to date this is a combination of lyrical story telling and thought provoking experiences - presented in a gentle and non-confrontational manner to allow the reader to decide whether they wish to go along with the information being detailed before them, or not. Rather like the entire ethos of Mr Rashid's training/leadership/partnership philosophy with horses.Very readable, difficult to put down and always a joy. I can easily return to his writings and get more out of them each time. There are layers of subtlety and plenty of rich experience to learn from.This is not a "how to" manual of methods. Indeed Rashid shies away from having "tools" or "techniques" to achieve an end, and details beautifully and with full justification why he feels this is the best route for him to take with horses. He leaves it up to the reader to decide whether that is something they can take on board and work with.His message comes across loud and clear. He's not there to claim a new method or earth-shattering secret technique to fix all problems... but believes through his own broad and deep experiences with horses that quiet calm consistency and total awareness of one's own self around horses will help the horse develop a deep and lasting trust in their human counterparts which opens the door for collaboration of equals on a grown-up footing (horses are after all adults for the majority of rider/training experience and are rather adept at knowing how to be a horse already) rather than a more authoritarian parent-child do-as-I-say type "partnership".I think part of the beauty of Rashid's writing (other than his delightfully rich story-teller style) is that he has a positive message and will not decry other forms of training as being wrong - but rather states his case for how he enjoys being around horses and leaves the door open for others to step through and join him. Or not. That is after all the point of his passive leadership style which is the backbone of the book. Freedom for the individual to choose what is best for them.

I'm affraid this might sound a little repetitive with the preivous reviews, but what can I say ?Mark Rashid as an empathy for the horse that seems unmatched by anyone else. He falls in the same category with Buck Brannaman, Ray Hunt (and Tom Dorrance I assume, though I haven't got to the work of this other great horseman yet).Rashid is also a fatalist, in a good, quiet kind of way. He never seems to have an agenda with horses, all will fall into place when the time is right. Sure might sound a little frustrating for goal driven riders, but as a horse owner without any deadline (I don't compete in anything !) I was at ease with that concept. Taking the time is very important, and more often then not trying to save time actually ends up losing lots of it by having to redo things later, which is always harder than doing them right in the first place !Rashid is great at reading horses, I'd say that's probably the best strength of this book, help you learn, through the description of any particular problem, how he interpreted, and therefore acted upon it. It can also be discouraging sometimes because it actually goes to show there is not ONE method for all, every horse is different, and Rashid will never train a scared horse like a spoiled one, though in the end both will cooperate and comply of their own will.The narrative is very good, it's humorous, touching, humble. Very enjoyable. I also read Considering the horse, and I do like Horses Never Lie a tad better (though both books are similar in form) as it comes later in Rashid's horsemanship journey, hence holds even more refined philosophy about it all.The number one lesson of fairness, reliability and consistency is precious. I've experienced its value with my own horse. Something that'd be a bit tricky, and a potential issue, just disappeared after a few days of positive reinforcement and acting calm and consistent. Another example : while riding in the round pen my mare was a little upset by a poop scoop set against one of the posts, and she'd leave the rail by about a yard while passing the scoop. Instead of making an issue of it, I just totally ignored her avoidance, and by the third lap she too was ignoring the scoop and riding by as if she had never noticed it !I never thought as humans like refuges to horses, yet they can become just that. If you horse trusts you it will become less spooky, more complient and much nicer overall. But trust is only gained through fairness and consistency, even within discipline.Rashid also insists on the right of the horse to be an individual with preferences, not a slave or a machine, and that is very refreshing as well.Like others have said this is NOT a hands-on manual or step-by-step guide (I needed that, got Cinton Anderson's method and am very pleased with it) but a general horsemanship philosophy type of book; However, it is absolutely thought provoking and will definitely help you on a very practical basis with your horse(s) as it is packed with simple yet brilliant concepts.I many not buy all is litterature in the future, but Mark Rashid is certainly a great horseman and an excellent and helpful author.

è un libro magnifico! , marche rashid è proprio un grande , i modo in cui racconta il suo metodo è semplicemente fantastico

Loved this book. Finally a reading into a horses perspective and not human only, and how we can understand that language to do a better job in connecting with them in a way they feel confident, secure and happy, and understand us in return . This is positive and intelligent reading