Farriers' / Hoofprints - Horse Women Books

Farriers' Greeting Cards - Hoofprints Website Navigator

Last updated on 11/1/09

Horse Women Books
FREE bookmark with the purchase of any book!

She Flies Without Wings

#BKFLW - $16.95
She Flies Without Wings
How Horses Touch a Woman's Soul by Mary Midkiff
Softcover, 274 pages

This is an absolutely beautiful book by a truly gifted story teller. Lyrical and compelling, Midkiff's prose speaks to the depth of a woman's soul and truly captures the mystery of women and horses in stories that ring with beauty and spirit. I believe that stories may really be the only way to capture the magic that transpires between women and horses. Everything else, beyond the experience itself, pales in comparison.

From the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer to the compelling fiction of Jane Austen to folktales from around the world, Midkiff draws from great literature and myth to encompass a broad spectrum of beliefs and perspectives.

Filled with the moving lessons of sensuality, commitment, power, nurturance, and spirituality (lessons women riders have known for centuries) and written with a loving hand by an expert equestrian, this book is an eloquent homage to a pairing that enlivened history, inspired literature, and continues to enchant us all.

Horses in the Yard

#BKHY - $19.95
Horses in the Yard
(and Other Equestrian Dilemmas) by Joanne M. Friedman
Softcover, 132 pages, illustrated with black and white photographs.

Horsewomen of all ages will enjoy this book. If you ever couldn't find words to express something (or thought better of it if you did) Joanne Friedman has done it for you - with great humor and eloquence. She doesn't mince words about anything - from horse care - to equitation - to aging and euthanasia.

For example:

On equitation:
"Women are built differently than men, and I am not talking obvious body parts. A man's center of gravity is in his upper torso. That's why Christopher Reeve toppled so disastrously from his horse and was lawn-darted into a rock wall. A man's weight is in his chest. A woman's on the other hand, is in her (sorry) hindquarters. This is a good thing for riding's sake as it allows a woman to ground significantly more thoroughly in the saddle than a man can.... A woman who can imagine being a half-empty (or half-full, depending on her level of optimism) sack of grain can sit in a saddle with a security and balance few men can achieve..."

On expectations:
"We treat our horses like we treat our children: we load them up with expectations, then we withhold the tools they need to fulfill them. The kids go off and do drugs and get pregnant, and we blame anyone who can't get out of the way fast enough. The horses buck us off and become hard to catch in the field, and we curse our bad luck at having wound up with such an incorrigible beast. They're all yelling at us, and we're not listening."

On farriers:
How should you prepare your horse? Well, you can start by going out and getting him from the field before the farrier gets there. Don't leave notes with instructions as to where Loopy Lou can be found. Go find her yourself. Have her reasonably clean and dry and standing in a stall or nearby pen in plenty of time. Many shoers will not hesitate to go look for your horse, but it's a kindness to everyone involved if he doesn't have to. Besides, there are not enough horse shoers as it is. We don't need to be wearing out the ones we've got."

Gina's note:
If Joanne's wit is not enough - one chapter (chapter 10) is worth the price of the whole book. "The Five Horses We Meet on Earth" categorizes each horse you've encountered (and will encounter) in such a profound way - your perspective on horse ownership will be changed forever. Wow. I don't think I've ever read anything that is so deep - and light-hearted at the same time.

Confidence Building Resources for Women
Feeling calm, focused, and confident can be like the wind. One moment you're "on" and the next you feel vulnerable and anxious. Barbra Schulte has developed a number of powerful confidence building resources designed to help riders gain mental, physical and emotional control for pleasure riding and/or competition. These resources will expand your sense of calm, joy, and confidence beyond your wildest expectations ... guaranteed!

Barbra's products have been designed for recreational and competitive riders who:

feel fearful for any reason;

lack the ability to be consistent and pull up their best in any situation, including times of tremendous pressure;

have suffered some type of accident with their horse;

have taken a long sabbatical from riding;

feel insecure about their ability to learn and excel because of age; or

have been fearless at some point in their lives, but have lost their good feelings.

#BKTG - $27.95
The Gift Book
A treasure chest of practical tips to develop world-class mental skills for riding.
Softcover, 182 pages

For six years, Barbra Schulte wrote monthly confidence-training articles for The American Quarter Horse Journal... seventy-two articles total. Now, she brings to you those words of calm, confidence, focus, and encouragement to help you overcome fear when faced with extreme challenges.

The Gift is divided into nine sections. Each section contains individual messages packed with practical, powerful ideas that are easy to implement in your riding, whether you are a competitive or recreational rider. The articles are easy to read, and because each article stands alone, you can read them in any order-start at the front and read it all the way through, peruse the table of contents for something that looks interesting or addresses a current need, simply open it up anywhere and enjoy! This is intended to be a how-to-think-and-how-to-feel book to help you improve your riding. Some ideas may even spill over into your life.

#CDTG - $57.95
The Gift Audio CD Set

Now you can have all 72 individual, power-packed messages available anytime you are traveling down the road... or anywhere else that you have access to a CD player. The complete audio book of The Gift is 6 hours, contained in a six CD set. If you don't enjoy reading... or simply don't have time to read... you can still access the powerful ideas that will help your mental and emotional game.

Actually hearing the words of calm, confidence, and focus when faced with challenges will empower you.

The Cowgirl's Cookbook
This is just the best little cookbook. Along with the expected delicious recipes, it's full of wonderful cowgirl facts, photos, trivia, anecdotes and more. Every page has a recipe, along with all this extra stuff to make it fun and interesting.

There, on the page with the Raw Apple Cake recipe is this quote by Anthony Trollope (1862)

"If Eve had been a ranch woman, she would never have tempted Adam with an apple. She would have ordered him to make his meal himself."

#BKCCB - $12.95
The Cowgirl's Cookbook
Recipes for Your Home on the Range by Jill Charlotte Stanford. Softcover, 98 pages, profusely illustrated throughout with black and white photos, art and drawings

Last of the Saddle Tramps

#BKLST - $21.95
Last of the Saddle Tramps by Messanie Wilkins
Softcover, 215 pages

Historically the world of equestrian travel has contained an exciting mixture of unique men and women. Some are adventurers seeking danger from the back of their horses. Others are travelers discovering the beauties of the countryside they slowly ride through. A few are searching for inner truths while cantering across desolate parts of the planet. Then there is Messanie Wilkins. She was acting on orders from the Lord!

In 1954, at the age of 63, Wilkins had plenty to worry about. A destitute spinster in ill health, Wilkins had been told she had less than two years left to live, provided she spent them quietly. With no family ties, no money, and no future in her native Maine, Wilkins decided to take a daring step. Using the money she had made from selling homemade pickles, Wilkins bought a tired summer camp horse and made preparations to ride from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific Ocean. Yet before leaving she flipped a coin, asking God to direct her to go or not. When the coin came up heads several times in a row, one of America's most unlikely equestrian heroines set off.

What followed was one of the twentieth century's most remarkable equestrian journeys. Accompanied by her faithful horse, Tarzan, Wilkins suffered through a host of obstacles including blistering deserts and freezing snow storms, yet never lost faith that she would complete her 7,000 mile odyssey.

"Last of the Saddle Tramps" is thus the warm and humorous story of a humble American heroine bound for adventure and the Pacific Ocean - written in her own words; a matter-of-fact account of a practical woman on a mission.

Attention older horsewomen: if you ever feel unconfident and discouraged concerning your interactions with your horses... this is the book for you. No one told Mesannie that she needed to condition herself and her horse before attempting such a trek. Never mind that she hadn't even ridden in 30 years. She went to a local stable and bought a bargain horse from a rental string. No one told her to choose a breed that would be tough and have endurance for such a long trip - but her naive description of her new mount sounds like an old-time Morgan. No one told her that she needed special tack for such an arduous journey - and she used what she had; an artillary saddle that had seen better days - and was older than she was! She prepared herself, her mount, and her equipment as best she could - and set out to leave Maine in November. (Before the bad weather hit.) Read how this decidedly unglamorous, rather portly woman (dressed in men's clothes) traverses the United States, and ultimately ends up in California. You will be inspired.

Horse Women Book

#BKHW - $14.95
Horse Women Book
A wonderful little book full of color photos and quotes celebrating the link between women and horses with respect to grace, courage and creativity. A tribute to the adventure and spirit that the two share. 96 pages 6"x6" hardcover (stocking stuffer size)

Dump Him, Marry the Horse

Horse Wisdom Book

Sometimes a Woman Needs a Horse

Equestrian Hymn Book

#BKEHB - $23.95
Equestrian Hymn for my Beloved
by Rudolf G. Binding - Translated by Regina Ganstine
Hardcover, 84 pages with black & white photographs

The brief pages of Equestrian Hymn for my Beloved were likely never meant to be published, but were indeed an equestrian guideline for the author's loved one. Nonetheless, in 1928 Binding received a silver medal at the Olympic Games for this book, when still performance in art was honoured.

The pages are filled with wisdom, sensitivity and passion for all that is beautiful and worthy in horsemanship. Imagine reading letters written by a master horseman - to his true love - filled with love, affection, and wisdom about all aspects of horsemanship. This is better than any romance novel - at least to a horsewoman! Attention men: this book will score you HUGE points in the romance and sensitivity department. A great gift for your sweetie.

"Be on guard: your horse reads you and your most secret thoughts. If you are not intent in reigning over him, he will not obey you; if it is not your will to be stronger, the extraordinary power of the best will defy you. Your call, your click of the tongue, your spurs, your whip shall not belie you; you wanted this or that, but you only wanted it halfway.

Your horse will punish you for lying.
If you do not trust him, he will not trust you;
if you waver, he will go his own way.
If you panic, he will panic;
but he will be filled with courage and good spirit
if you are courageous and in good spirit.
If you are unsteady, he will be unsteady.
If your will is not set on perpetual forward motion,
he will slow down and eventually stand still.
If you are without vigor, he will be without impulsion;
if you wish to fly, he will fly,
his feet will hardly seem to touch the ground."

-page 24 Equestrian Hymn for My Beloved

Rider's Prayer Tassel Bookmark
FREE with the purchase of any book!

A Rider's Prayer
Dearest Creator in Heaven,
Give me strength to guide my horse.
Make my hands soft and my head clear.
Let my horse understand me and I him.

My heart you have blessed with a special love of these animals.
Let me never lose sight of it.
My soul you have gifted with a deep need for them.
Let that need never lessen.

Always let my breath catch as the sun gleams on an elegant head.
Always may my throat tighten at the sound of a gentle nicker.
Let the scent of fresh hay and a new bag of grain be sweet to me.
Let the touch of a warm nose on my hand always bring a smile.

I adore the joy of a warm day on the farm.
The grace and splendor of a running horse,
The thunder of its hooves makes my eyes burn and my heart soar.
Let it always be so.

Dearest Creator grant me patience,
For horses are harnessed wind, and wind can be flighty.
Let me not frighten or harm them.
Instead show me ways to understand them.

Above all, dear Creator, fill my life with them.
When I pass from this world,
Send my soul to no heaven without them.
For this love you have given me graces my existence
And I shall cherish it and praise You for it for all time.

Author Unknown

If you prefer not using the shopping cart, or if ordering outside of the USA, click here to order.

Farriers' Greeting Cards - Hoofprints * 13849 N 200 E * Alexandria, IN 46001
Toll Free 800-741-5054 * Local 765-724-7004 * Toll Free Fax 888-724-4632

Email gina@hoofprints.com * Request Free Catalog * Subscribe Free Email Newsletter