Horses Don't Lie: What Horses Teach Us about Our Natural Capacity for Awareness, Confidence, Courage and Trust

From Publishers Weekly
opularized by two bestselling books and a high-profile film, the role of "the horse whisperer" has begun to take on mythic proportions. Professional horse trainer Irwin, with the aid of journalist Weber, strips the idealism from this image, giving concrete advice on how to read a horse's body language, speak in an authoritative tone and understand the equine psyche. The book isn't strictly a how-to, however; Irwin spends considerable time laying out his personal history as a trainer. Over a dozen years, he moves from getting bucked off and breaking his leg and ribs to finally striking a successful mix of humility and assertiveness, an effective combination for training. He also discusses equine-assisted psychotherapy, which has been used (as in The Horse Whisperer) to help troubled humans. Despite the lively memoir and thoughtful meditation on psychotherapy, however, the true value of the book lies in Irwin's nuts-and-bolts description of how to understand a horse and, through careful attention, gain control as a rider. For example, he writes that when a horse's tail is hanging light and loose, calmness prevails, but when it's swishing, the horse is agitated. If swishing becomes circular wringing, the horse has gotten angry. When the book advances into how a rider's speech and body movements affect a horse, even beginning riders will feel that they've moved up a notch in terms of equine education. (Aug.)Forecast: Although the subtitle makes this sound like a self-help book on understanding ourselves through horses, it's best suited to dedicated, passionate riders who want to become better at their sport. They'll find it a valuable, perhaps even classic book on horse whispering and, as Irwin writes, "horse listening."Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
In Horses Don’t Lie, Chris Irwin, one of the most successful horse whisperers in North America, shows us that horses have much to teach us about ourselves when we strive to understand their behavior. Based on more than twenty years of working with, training, and observing horses, Irwin explains why trust and honesty are essential elements in building relationships with horses, and why the sensitivity and awareness that characterize a horse’s perception of the world are qualities we can use to enrich our own lives. “A horse knows what you know,” Irwin reminds us, and in Horses Don’t Lie his message is clear: Horses have a great deal to teach us about how to communicate with empathy and patience—not only with them, but also with each other.


About the Author
Chris Irwin travels extensively throughout North America coaching both horses and riders in the non-resistance bonding process he has developed over the last two decades. He writes regularly for equestrian magazines. He and his family live near Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Bob Weber is a journalist and author based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.


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In Horses Don￯﾿ﾽt Lie, Chris Irwin, one of the most successful horse whisperers in North America, shows us that horses have much to teach us about ourselves when we strive to understand their behavior. Based on more than twenty years of working with, training, and observing horses, Irwin explains why trust and honesty are essential elements in building relationships with horses, and why the sensitivity and awareness that characterize a horse￯﾿ﾽs perception of the world are qualities we can use to enrich our own lives. ￯﾿ﾽA horse knows what you know,￯﾿ﾽ Irwin reminds us, and in Horses Don￯﾿ﾽt Lie his message is clear: Horses have a great deal to teach us about how to communicate with empathy and patience￯﾿ﾽnot only with them, but also with each other.


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