Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship: Establishing Respect and Control for English and Western Riders Author: Visit Amazon's Clinton Anderson Page | Language: English | ISBN:
1570762848 | Format: EPUB
Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship: Establishing Respect and Control for English and Western Riders Description
Review
“This is an enjoyable book to read, with a lot of useful information to offer.” --
American Quarter Horse JournalFrom the Publisher
Native Australian Clinton Anderson offers his training methodology for “real life” horses and their owners. Beginning by stressing the importance of a fundamental understanding of horse psychology and “why they do what they do,” the author introduces readers to safe and specific ways to approach training or behavioral problems, then guides them through basic groundwork and under–saddle exercises. Throughout, the book features two “real horses” with “real riders” and “real problems,” their experiences with Downunder Horsemanship, and how it improved confidence, established respect, and provided “real solutions” for all involved. Clinton Anderson trains, tours, and conducts clinics across the United States. He stars in a weekly satellite television program called “Downunder Horsemanship TV,” where he works with untrained and “problem” horses. He is based in Sterling, Illinois.
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- Hardcover: 206 pages
- Publisher: Trafalgar Square Publishing; 1st edition (October 1, 2004)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1570762848
- ISBN-13: 978-1570762840
- Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.2 x 0.8 inches
- Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
The first book I bought on horse training was "There Are No Problem Horses, Only Problem Riders" by Mary Twelveponies. Then I bought "Lyons On Horses" by John Lyons. Then I subscribed to Lyons' "Perfect Horse" magazine. Then I attended a community ed horse training class. Then I bought "You Can Train Your Horse to Do Anything!: "On Target" Training -- Clicker Training and Beyond" by Shawna Karrasch. I've skimmed Pat Parelli's stuff. I've seen Monty Roberts on DVD and in person. I've seen John Lyons' video series. Just so you know where I'm coming from.
The only purchase I regret is the Mary Twelveponies book. I can't think of a single solution in her book that isn't better solved by the others, and some of her advice is questionable. Lyons is great, but spend your money on his magazine instead of his book. Clicker training is very useful (I solved a bridling problem in one day after reading the book) but Karrasch wastes many pages prattling on about the science of operant conditioning. I read B.F. Skinner is college; I didn't need the history lesson. She does the same thing in the related video -- exceedingly disappointing. Monty Roberts can do anything as long as he has enough panels and mechanical contraptions and a big strong gentle well-trained saddle horse to work alongside the horse he is training. If his ego and use of terms like "Join-Up" and "Language of Equus" doesn't put you off, you can learn a lot from Roberts. Parelli always seems to be having more fun with his horses than anybody else, but I can't figure out what he's doing half the time. (see update on Parelli, bottom)
Which brings us to Clinton Anderson. What I especially appreciate about his approach is its effectiveness.
The reason for Clinton Anderson's popularity is that he not only understands, respects and is an ADVOCATE for horses but that he is exceptionally intelligent, thoughtful and insightful, an accomplished and effective rider, an absolutely remarkable trainer/clinician and (most importantly) a perfectly brilliant COMMUNICATOR. He certainly did not INVENT Natural Horsemanship, but because of his natural gift for explaining and illustrating how to get the results he gets (and his generosity in holding NOTHING back!), his students (human AND equine) "get it" in record time and are eager & excited to learn more. I have read soooo many horse books in my lifetime and gone to soooo many clinics and watched soooo many videos...now, along comes Clinton to systematize and present this information in a way that ANY idiot (even me) can readily understand and put into practice - WITHOUT chasing the poor horse around endlessly in a round pen or on a lunge line - to achieve SOLID results without creating fear or pain. I saw a great cartoon in Western Horseman recently which showed a couple of ancient Greek know-it-alls badmouthing "that newfangled horse whisperer, Xenophon." Clinton is a Xenophon for our time - and long overdue. Read this book and watch him live, on video or on RFD-TV and you, too, will "get it." This guy is our best hope for opening a lot of closed minds on both sides of the "English" and "Western" fences and making the world a more enjoyable and SAFER place for horses AND their riders. PS: If you are sick of riding around in an arena and want to take your horse trail riding (or ANYWHERE new & strange), Clinton's your boy. I also recommend his trailer-loading video - short, clear & boy does it WORK. Just like the rest of his stuff.
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