Form and Function From Head to Hoof.

SHEEPSKIN SHIPPING HALTER

Leather halter covered in genuine sheepskin. Snap at the throat latch. Adjustable crown. #2039-465199 (HC4H) $121.99

TEMPEST FLEECEMESH COOLER

Lightweight, dual action Black cooler. Top section wicks moisture away and regulates body temperature. Mesh lower section allows air to circulate and heat to dissipate. Ideal after intense exercise.

#299-9453BK (HC4J) $64.99

JENNY’S PICKS

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Jimmy Wofford while proofreading this season’s articles for our newspaper. We have featured all of his books in the past, and there are still a few in print. Perhaps now someone will see fit to reprint others that are no longer available as a tribute to this fine three-day eventing rider and trainer whom we have been fortunate to call a Virginian for part of his life. Here are those we have in stock:

Training the Three-Day Horse and Rider. Published in 1995 and now apparently out of print, this early work contains everything you might want to know from an eventing master. We have one new book left to offer unless I can find another source. While it’s not as flossy as current books, printed in black and white, there’s a bundle of valuable information for riders interested in this sport. Many photos are used in a “do this – don’t do that” format much as Jane Dillon’s epic School for Young Riders did for hunter-style equitation (which I read and reread many times as a child and still recommend if you can find a copy). Wofford covers all three phases—dressage, show jumping, and cross-country, as well as tack and horse selection. Needless to say, there are undoubtedly some more recent changes to the sport that are not addressed, but basically this looks like a great introduction to a demanding sport. Hardcover, 257pp. $27.95

Cross Country with Jim Wofford. Assembled from a series of columns written for Practical Horseman magazine and published in 2011, this book has crisp full-color photographs on brighter paper and comes with a DVD that runs approximately 37 minutes. This could be considered a supplement to the more complete volume above. Wofford’s concern for the horse’s welfare may prickle a few riders, witness his remarks on “good hands”: “Whether one calls it Rollkur or hyperflexion or uses some other verbal evasion to describe it, sawing the horse’s mouth…is

FOXES & HOUNDS

Horse Country Booksellers

Specialists in New, Old & Rare Books on Horses, Foxhunting, Eventing, Polo, Racing, Steeplechasing & Sporting Art

60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA 20186 800-882-HUNT • 540-347-3141 abuse. A loose rein followed by a tight rein can no more produce classical riding than a broken string on a Stradivarius can produce classical music. And a horse who has been pulled into submission is a slave, not a partner.” When I see some of the photos of overbent dressage horses in today’s magazines, I agree wholeheartedly. Paperback, 322pp. $22.95

Still Horse Crazy After All These Years. If you enjoyed his first autobiography, Take a Good Look Around, which deals more with Jim’s other outdoor activities such as fishing and was a hoot to read, you’ll enjoy this later one (2021) which deals more deeply with his equestrian career. He’s a good writer! I confess I haven’t read this yet, but it’s at home waiting for me. Paperback, $27.95

If you want to hunt for the others in used-book stores, look for these titles:

Modern Gymnastics

Gymnastics: Systematic Training for Jumping Horses

101 Eventing Tips

Now for several other new books we just received.

Seamans, Madison, MS, DVM. Never Trust a Sneaky Pony. Every veterinarian must have scores of stories about their clients, and Seamans is ably capable of recounting some of his more memorable experiences. Fortunately most of his stories do not end in the demise of the animal, and many will have you chuckling. And while you read, you can also learn a bit about the problem involved and/or the means with which to remedy it, as Seamans goes “client-friendly technical” from time to time. I had to read this in its entirety instead of paging through as I sometimes have to do when reviewing books. Very enjoyable, though I’d like to shake the daylights out of some of the owners for their insensitivity to their animals. Paperback, 322pp. $22.95

Querbach, Ann. Pole Work for Dressage Riders. Yes, pole work is useful for dressage training, and yes, these exercises could be applicable to any discipline. What is dressage but training, anyway? You don’t have to go grand prix to ride “dressage.” This book is full of sharp color photos and layout diagrams to help any horse pay more attention to his feet and balance. It starts with chapters on the reasons for pole work, corrective exercises, a series of chapters on walk, trot and canter both ridden and on the longe, on straight and on bending lines, and on tempo changes. Paperback, 176pp. $26.95

Baier, Christian. Arena Tracks. I would recommend this for serious riders and trainers of both dressage and jumping who are willing to spend the time reading and understanding these exercises. There are no photos, just diagrams of various exercises, some of which have unique patterns that could also help rider concentration as well as equine maneuverability. Hardcover, 181pp. $26.95

Both of the above would be good supplements to Grid Pro Quo, which I reviewed earlier and which has been a good seller in the store. What I like about each of these is the variety of patterns offered in each book; all too often it’s too easy just to set up a few poles along the outside track and/or down the middle of the arena. Some of these require a good deal of concentration by the rider!