• One Hundred and Four Horses: A Memoir of Farm and Family, Africa and Exile by Mandy Retzlaff is a memoir about her family's experience fleeing Zimbabwe during the violent farm seizures under Robert Mugabe, detailing their escape with 104 rescued horses.

• In the Middle Are the Horsemen is a memoir by equestrian Tik Maynard, chronicling his three-year journey as a working student under elite trainers after a career-ending injury and breakup. The book details his honest, often difficult, experiences learning from legends like Anne Kursinski and the O'Connors, evolving from a novice to a fulfilled horseman through mentorship, failure, and self-discovery, and is praised for its insight into the realities of high-level equestrian life and personal growth. 

• Horses Never Lie: The Heart of Passive Leadership by Mark Rashid is a book that challenges traditional "alpha leader" horse training, advocating for a "passive leadership" approach where the human becomes a leader that horses choose to follow, much like a respected herd member. Through anecdotes, Rashid teaches how to build a partnership based on compassion, understanding, and creating opportunities for the horse to make the right choices, leading to more responsive and willing partners. The book emphasizes looking at the world from the horse's perspective to build trust and a deeper connection, moving beyond dominance to achieve true partnership. 

• The Tao of Equus by Linda Kohanov explores the profound spiritual and emotional connection between humans and horses, detailing how horses act as mirrors for our inner selves, facilitating healing and self-discovery. The book blends personal anecdotes, mythology, and research to reveal the "wisdom of the prey," a non-verbal communication system that helps people become more emotionally intelligent and authentic.Kohanov argues that horses, as highly sensitive beings, can teach humans to recognize and process their true feelings, challenging traditional views of animal intelligence and highlighting the unique bond often felt by women with horses. 

• Horses Speak of God – By Laurie Brock. An evocative collection of essays that explores the spiritual lessons horses teach us. Brock, an Episcopal priest and rider, reflects on how the "holy work" of the barn—patience, presence, and humility—mirrors our deeper search for meaning and connection.

• For the Good of the Horse – By Mary Wanless. A masterclass in rider biomechanics and "feel." Wanless challenges traditional teaching methods, offering a scientific yet intuitive approach to how the rider’s body can either hinder or harmonize with the horse's natural movement.

• The Perfect Horse – By Elizabeth Letts. A gripping historical narrative detailing the heroic mission to rescue the Lipizzaner stallions and other prize horses from the Nazis during WWII. It is a testament to the universal value of these animals, transcending war and politics.

• The Eighty-Dollar Champion – By Elizabeth Letts. The ultimate "underdog" story of Snowman, a plow horse rescued from a slaughter truck for $80 who went on to become a world-champion show jumper. It’s a beautiful study in the power of a deep, trusting bond between a horse and a human.

• The Horses Know Book 1 of the series.In a post-apocalyptic world, the people of a surviving village discover an underground city of survivors. The story follows Amarilla and her piebald mare, whose deep connection and unique "Awareness" are essential to uniting the two communities and shaping a new era for horses and humans alike. (The rest of the series is great.)

🤍 Why EERC Emphasizes This

No single book holds all the answers. Horses, riders, and situations are too varied for one voice or philosophy to fit every partnership. By reading widely—across disciplines, trainers, and perspectives—we deepen our understanding and sharpen our discernment. Each book offers a lens, not a rulebook, helping us build a thoughtful, adaptable approach that honors the individual horse in front of us. Plus we like a good horse story.