Best Horse Racing
Smith urged Howard to buy Seabiscuit for a bargain-basement price, then hired as his jockey Red Pollard, a failed boxer who was blind in one eye, half-crippled, and prone to quoting passages from Ralph Waldo Emerson. Because her subject left behind few interesting interviews, the author fills out her portrait with people who helped guide Seabiscuit to glory: his owner, Charles Howard; his trainer, Tom Smith; and a hard-luck jockey named Red Pollard.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"There were numerous times throughout the book when the author was describing a race...I found may heart pounding as if I was actually watching a real horse race. Please read this book...it's a feel good story, and will bring a tear to your eye."
"This is history not fiction, but it is comprised of dozens of fascinating stories about the lives of those who brought us Seabisquit, perhaps the greatest racehorse of all time and surely the most improbable of all the great winners."
"After viewing my DVD film copy many times and enjoying it immensely, I decided to go to the actual source material."
"For example, Hillenbrand's stories of Smith's attempts to thwart the media and racing timers from reporting Seabiscuit's workouts (because Smith feared the weights assigned by the track would be so great as to hamper the horse's considerable ability) are hilarious. Hillenbrand slowly but very entertainingly works the Seabiscuit story to the legendary 1938 match race with yet another descendent of Man O' War, 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral. There are constant difficulties in getting the two great horses together on the same track on the same day, including jockey Pollard's injuries (vividly described by Hillenbrand), Seabiscuit's injuries, and other delays. When the horses finally do get together (with the underdog Seabiscuit clobbering the Admiral), Hillenbrand writes with such vividness that you feel you are right there at the track witnessing the race."
"Well written narrative of the horse Seabiscuit."
"In this age riddled with discount of time and immediate entertainment, its so rare to find a writer and book that can hold us."
"An amazing piece of reported research where Hillenbrand's love for horses blossoms on the page."
"It is well-written and exciting, contains pictures, notes, an index, Seabiscuit's official career racing chart, an interview with the author and discussion group questions."
The sixth edition of the definitive history of horse racing! He served as the associate editor of the old Thoroughbred Record , as the associate editor of The Thoroughbred Times , and as a staff writer for Blood-Horse magazine.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Got this as a Christmas gift for my girlfriend and she loves it."
"great history for a racing lover."
"Anything with horses is great."
A classic by a world-renowned teacher and master equestrian--the definitive work on the art of teaching and riding the hunter seat, now updated to include refinements in Morris's insightful program of riding instruction.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book works ideally in combination with Teaching hunter equitation" that he wrote.. as it is a little more nuts and bolts, to combine with theory and concept and data that is in this book."
"Beautiful photographs make instruction clear, and there can't be anything you need to learn that isn't in this book."
"I had a copy of this book decades ago which was lost along the way and I wanted to replace it because I so missed seeing it on my 'horse shelf'."
"it gives you detaild but not dragged out and long information and instructions accompanied by photos with descriptions explaining every part of riding and posture from the big obviouse things to the minute things that make everything about your riding better."
"The standard of modern horsemanship."
"I have followed his column in the Chronicle of the Horse for decades and think he is so clear and careful with his words."
"WHAT A CLASSIC i love you George Morris wow just wow."
Best Polo
Polo Life: Horses, Sport, 10 and Zen delves into the world of high goal polo through the uniquely situated lenses of former 10-goaler Adam Snow and his wife and veterinarian, Shelley Onderdonk. Polo Life offers a window into the life of an extraordinary couple and details their remarkable dedication to the pursuit of excellence in the sport of polo. Adam and Shelley's Polo Life is a nice breeze of fresh air on the polo scene.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Two of my favorite genres are: 1) Behind the scenes, of anything … Buckingham Palace, the White House, a successful restaurant or TV show. 2) Stories of people who are able to maintain the discipline and focus, over long periods of time, to achieve what most of us can’t ... i.e. climbing Mt. If you are interested in becoming better a polo player: - the lessons are on just about every page … get out your highlighter. If you are interested in the horses, this book: - gives us a glimpse into the life of a top polo pony. - celebrates some of the best by telling us their stories. - gives insight into how Adam assembled such a remarkable string. - highlights the role the grooms, vets and farriers play behind the scenes … but especially the grooms. For those interested in peak performance, this book gives us a peek into: - visualization. - superstitions. - mindfulness. - health and wellness practices. - what does focus intently held for that long look like. - the role of performance coaching and some ideas we can apply. But in the end, I think what I might have enjoyed most were Shelley’s chapters. Beyond just the simple memoir of a truly remarkable athlete, Polo Life is a reminder that any great accomplishment generally involves a whole cast of unsung heroes who make it all possible."
"It is candid, full of interesting behind-the-scenes, personal anecdotes from the obscure, but always alluring, world of high goal polo, which thrives in our free market economy. From the rough and tumble of childhood bicycle polo on a bumpy farm field in Massachusetts, to the student loans that paid for his Ivy League education, and on to the world class champagne polo matches of Palm Beach, FL; Adam Snow's journey is always one of risk, excitement, and high achievement."
"Learning more about their work ethic, the incredible sweat-equity that they both put into building their life together is inspiring. I wish I had the chance to have gotten to know Shelley more; but she is an INCREDIBLE woman and I can see how her strength and self-confidence and love of her work, allowed the two of them to make it through the tough times. It's an excellent read about Relationships, Integrity, Hard-work ethic, following your passion and being humble enough to learn from your mistakes and become a better person."
Best Equestrian Sports
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Harry de Leyer first saw the horse he would name Snowman on a truck bound for the slaughterhouse. A writer is always on the lookout for a good story, but the first time I saw a striking old photograph, I didn’t realize that I had stumbled across a tale so extraordinary that it had the power to change lives. The first time we spoke, Harry told me a story that gave me butterflies in my stomach and made my palms sweat--that’s how badly I wanted to write about what he’d said to me and share it with the world. That moment, when the pair of them stood under the spotlights of Madison Square Garden and listened to the thunder of the crowd, was simply unforgettable--the kind of triumph that ripples forward through time.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I GOT A LITTLE BOGGED DOWN IN SOME OF THE "DETAILS" AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK, BUT THEY TRULY SAVE YOU THE STAGING FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW TRULY UNBELIEVABLE AND WONDERFUL SNOWMAN'S STORY IS."
"One feels as if you're right there with Snowman.... as he's found on the butcher's truck, then as a school horse, then sold down the road... and his yearning to be back with the man who was his "master" and the big family."
"If you like true stories this one is for you."
"Along came a man needing a horse He could afford.....spending all his cash on an animal in a truck, whose eyes still showed a spark for life, while the others had already given up."
"A nearly heartbreaking start that turns into a marvelous real world example of a champion arising from the ashes."
"The flying Dutchman was a phrase I remember, but did not associate it with Harry and Snowman. It is one I will long remember the young man from Holland and this eighty dollar horse."
"Harry's wife kept meticulous financial records, cleaned their homes perfectly, took care of the six children, making sure that each was always dressed in clean, ironed clothes, and in her spare time, she and the children went out to the family stable, cleaned stalls, groomed, fed and watered the horses. The close-knit family was always scrapped for cash, but they did everything together and one gets the sense of how loving they were and how harmonious their family life was. What happened to all those adoring children and the sweetest, most devoted wonderful wife?"
"Harry de Leyter was a poor Dutch immigrant farmer and even $80.- was a lot of money when he saved that horse from the slaughterhouse.. Then at one point he realizes that this horse is a born jumper and starts training him and slowly he starts winning championships."