5 comments about Straightening the Crooked Horse.

1. This book took 85 pages to tell you over and over that horses are crooked and need to be straightened. Then when you FINALLY get to the part that's supposed to tell you how, they say that every horse is different so they can't really tell you how! It never delivers on actually telling you what to try. The only two tips I gleened were "tip his head to the inside" and "poke his shoulder until it moves out". The photos were not helpful either. Clinton Anderson says the same thing in his groundwork videos, but actually shows you what to do. I ride dressage and read extensively, and this book seems nothing more than a promotional effort for the authors' stables in Germany. Save money and buy something else!



2. This book is more than a little difficult to read and understand, at times. However, making the effort is worth it, because it explains the background reasons for so many problems owners have with their horses. Whatever your horseriding background, learning to spot and rectify a horse's natural crookedness will improve his athleticism, obedience and working life. Scattered throughout the book are lunging and ridden exercises which will help to achieve that goal.
   
   Especially valuable in the book is a description of crookedness based on a description of the horse's "dominant leg", which I found much easier to get a grip on than standard terms such as "right-bend horse", "hollow left", etc, which can occasionally mean a different thing depending on who is using them!



3. After thousands of dollors spent on vets my horse still wasn't sound and there was no idea why after reading this book and using it my horse is now sound. this is a great book.



4. Way too intense for me to read straight through. Reading the book only convinced me that IF I thought I had a crooked horse, I'd have to find local professional help that I could afford. A little intimidating if you don't have the funds to ship a horse around.



5. This book helped open my eyes to the effects of crookedness in horses. Their explanations of the causes and effects crookedness has on horses was very helpfull. Following their protocol has helped my horse recover from an injury that really made him one sided. I wish there were more specific instructions with the lunging exercises, but even with the information in the book I was able to get started and see results. I will never look at a horse the same again.

5 comments about SHAM: In the Shadow of a Superhorse.

1. I was thrilled to see that someone had finally written a biography of this great and sadly underrated horse. But aside from the photographs and the interesting summary of the fortunes of 1973's other contenders, this book is a huge disappointment.
   
   The prose reads like a high-school term paper, sprinkled with grammar and vocabulary errors, hyperbolic adjectives and an inexhaustible supply of exclamation points.
   
   A big problem is that Walsh can't decide whose story she's telling. While Secretariat of course will play a pivotal role in any telling of Sham's story, page after page is devoted to details already covered elsewhere about Big Red and his connections, leaving us to wonder what Sham was doing in the meantime.
   
   The book is built almost entirely on secondary sources. Sham's connections are never quoted as part of an original interview, and when the author can't locate a name, people just become a "trainer" or a "groom". Pancho Martin and Laffit Pincay are both still alive, and it's hard to imagine that they would be unwilling to talk about Sham if asked. The only primary source besides Penny Chenery (Tweedy)--also more of a part of Secretariat's story--seems to be Sham's co-owner, Viola Sommer. But instead of letting us hear her words directly, we're given imagined/dramatized conversations with her husband and/or Martin.
   
   And that is the book's biggest flaw: dramatic license that stretches the truth to unacceptable levels. The imagined conversations and "thought bubbles" quickly become a tired device, but far worse are the liberties taken with facts. Walsh writes dramatically of Sham's death under an oak tree in his Walmac paddock, and of his (again unnamed) groom remembering how the horse proudly "pranced toward the breeding shed." In fact, Sham's fatal heart attack occurred in his stall as stated in his obituaries, and he was frequently too keyed up to enter the breeding shed until after repeated attempts, as two of his personal grooms told me when I visited Walmac recently.
   
   Both Nack's and Hillenbrand's books succeed so perfectly because they draw faithfully from the inherent drama of a true story. It was a nice thought, but this can't really be called a biography.



2. Nice story about not only Sham, but his contemporaries as well. Numerous pictures enhanced the book. The only thing I believe was incorrect by Walsh was the race announcer for the 1973 Kentucky Derby was Chic Anderson and not Jack Whitaker as she said. Whitaker did other reporting and commentating, such as Sham loosing two teeth in the Derby.



3. Sham is the forgotten champion in the titanic 1970s of Thoroughbred racing. Author Mary Walsh sheds light on a career that lasted 13 races (five wins and places, respectively, and one show finish, at ages two and three), but was pushed into the shadows by the legendary Secretariat.
   
   In a four-race sequence in 1973, Sham (second place) defeated Secretariat (third place) in the Wood Memorial, kicked home to a pair of closing second place finishes to Big Red in the Kentucky Derby (running the second fastest time ever) and Preakness Stakes. But in the Belmont Stakes, Sham's jockey, Laffit Pincay, Jr., was instructed to challenge Secretariat every step of the race......
   
   ......Walsh does an outstanding job in exploring Sham's life, with quality summaries of the races, including a wealth of photos, and dispelling the myths surrounding his health after the Belmont Stakes, with a good analysis into the cause of the mid-July injury that forced his retirement.
   
   Sham died at age 23 in April 1993. And even in death, the legacy of Secretariat kept him in second place. The necropsy of both racers found each with enlarged hearts, but Big Red's was larger by a couple pounds.
   
   A biography of Sham should have made it onto the track years ago. Walsh makes the wait well worth it.



4. Sham was a great horse in his own right. I loved Secretariat, and he's still my all time favorite race horse, but I admired Sham a great deal. Like many, I wish he'd been born in a different year so he could have received the attention he deserved. I was so glad to find a book about him, finally! I bought and read it immediately. I loved it, and would recommend it to anyone who watched he and Secretarat duel it out.



5. I have always said that writers of Thoroughbred biography have to be more than just reporters of brute facts and figures. The best are also poets because at times the poetic image is the only medium capable of describing what horses do. To give sense and image to the motion of a horse requires strokes of words that weave and paint the drama of action and outcome: from the simple materials of walking and trotting to the more complex dangers involved in the midst of racing, from the wrenching experience of defeat to the elation of victory. Mary Walsh has just that talent. From her descriptions of Sham in flight, when he made his moves I could feel the sting of the wind and dirt as it pelted the skin; I could sense the adrenaline rushing through the veins of his riders as they made split second decisions that proved either decisive in victory or critical in defeat. I could experience the sudden bursts of acceleration and the ground swallowing power of Sham's stride as he closed on opponents in the decisive stretches and moments of races. I participated in the joy of his connections in his victories and sympathized with them in his losses, particularly those against Secretariat. And when Sham broke down in the early part of his first workout 4 weeks following the Belmont Stakes, one could comprehend the loss his administrators and trainers endured as his streak of misfortunes appeared never to end. Miss Walsh's representation seemed to treat it as the final outcome of that fateful race. It was a day that almost cost him his life. Instead of returning to the call of the track, his owners syndicated him to a productive stud career at Spendthrift Farm where 70 percent of his starters won races which included close to 50 winners at the stakes level. The cumulative earnings of all his runners summed well into the millions.
   
   Sham was destined to pass away almost unnoticed some twenty years and three days after his remarkable performance in the Santa Anita Derby in 1973. It was the race that gave his trainer Frank Martin such hope in his future. That victory in the blush of youth is how he should be remembered. His descent into obscurity in the wake of his defeats to Secretariat has not been warranted. One is left with a sense of injustice at the simplicity of his Walmac gravestone, but moved that someone there has seen it fit to continuously honor his remains with vases of flowers. Mary Walsh's account of his final moments at the age of 23 is heartfelt. Here I add a personal but smaller version:
   
   "Perhaps in the fog of sleep, the Big Red Tormentor appeared and challenged him once again, but this time on a different track, in a different place, and in a different space. Sham being Sham, always courageous and full of heart, jumped as if something deep within him had awakened, and then pawed high into the early morning sky. In less than an instant, he accepted the challenge."
   
   This work on Sham is long overdue simply because without this powerful challenger, we would not know the Secretariat we know today. Both Sham and Secretariat broke the Kentucky Derby and Preakness records in their duels that season, an unprecedented feat in the history of the Triple Crown. It is the belief of many that but for 1973, Sham could have won most if not all other attempts at the laurel. Certainly, he had the potential to grace the Hall of Fame and may have achieved that end had his career not been cut short.
   
   We give thanks to Mary Walsh for her hard work and for bringing back memories of this wonderful and courageous champion, an honor long deserved.
   
   Thank you Mary.

2 comments about Teaching Children to Ride: A Handbook for Instructors.

1. Very complete book, not only gives pointers about safety and teaching but is full of ideas of games to make learning easy for kids!



2. I was hoping there would be more games and ideas than there were but overall it is an ok book.

1 comments about To the Swift: Classic Triple Crown Horses and Their Race for Glory.

1. Joe Drape is an accomplished turf writer, he has won the prestigious Eclipse Award for outstanding achievement in horse racing writing.
   
   But in this volume of 130 years of the best writing on the sport from The New York Times, Drape enters the starting gate as editor and guides this outstanding history to the winner's circle. To bolster the original stories, there are new essays and a number of classic photographs.
   
   And it is all about chasing dreams, no matter what the odds, as explained by the legendary Red Smith in one column: "More often than not," he writes, "a few owners show up so eager to see their colors in the Derby that they will tear their pants getting up entry and starting fees. The fact that the bettors rated A Dragon Killer no better than a 294 to 1 chance didn't discourage that noble creature's owner in 1958, and the same field included Chance It Tony at 243 to 1."

5 comments about More Old Friends: Visits with My Favorite Thoroughbreds.

1. Great book with lots of nice pictures. Printing quality is excellent and with detail info regarding each . Great book and really enjoy reading it.



2. While perhaps not as good as the first one (the horses are less "famous" overall) this is still an excellent book with the same great pictures and behind the scenes information. What was really heart warming about this book was how many farms and individuals, big and small, actually CARE about their oldsters and keep them happy and comfortable no matter what it takes, high vet bills, special shoes, special feeds, housing, whatever. If only ALL TB owners and breeders would do the right thing that way these farms do then precious few would end up in kill pens or low end auctions.



3. Beautiful, moving, a reasonable alternative to those of us who can't afford the first "Old Friends" ,going for c. $260 and up.



4. I loved this book as much as the first one, the descriptions of all these grand horse are just a good as the wonderful pictures. It so nice to know these horses are remembered and cared for so lovingly. Can't wait for volume 3!



5. This book is a most beautiful tribute to racing legends. Both the photography and stories of each champion will warm your heart......some will bring tears to your eyes. A very special book for anyone who has ever read about these magnificant animals. I highly recommend it, as well as Old Friends, Barbara Livingston's first book. Both are treasures.

5 comments about Wild Ride: The Rise and Fall of Calumet Farm Inc., America's Premier Racing Dynasty.

1. I vividly remember the reports in the sports section concerning the death of Alydar and then the financial collapse of Calumet Farm. Little did I know then that it was as criminal as anything found on the front page of a major daily.
   
   Ann Hagedorn Auerbach does an outstanding job of piecing together the jagged financial picture of the crumbled puzzle pieces left by J.T. Lundy. The book also poses poignant questions - many remaining unanswered today - concerning the death of a great champion who seemingly was worth more in death because of the huge insurance windfall gained by Lundy.
   
   And please don't be fooled by the pomp on major race days covered on national TV/cable; the Thoroughbred industry is driven by racers graduating to the stud farm and commanding oftentimes six figures per mating.
   
   Though the book is about 10 years old, you will wonder if there are more Lundy's cooking up schemes to defraud others while striding nonchalantly under the backdrop of beautiful turf, colorful silks and million-dollar runners.



2. At last a detailed explanation as to what caused the implosion of the seemingly solid Calumet Farms throughbred racing dynasty. How could things go so wrong, so fast? An interesting mix of human pettiness, ignorance and weakness, greed, and then the Farm was lost to greater and greater accelerating debt. Detailed portraits of many of the Calumet favorites, especially Alydar, who's accidental death stopped the cash machine that was keeping the farm afloat in a sea of debt. Interesting crosscurrents of bad feduciary management by the trust's bank managers, criminal activity, gangland ties, possible drug peddling for cash, contracts that were fast and loose and pledged the same assets over and over again. If you like racing and remember the Calumet lock on winning and its great horses, this is a fascinating book. If you are looking for just a "horse" book you should look elsewhere, but this is a great story from the get-go.



3. By far and away, this is the best book I have ever read. It is enthralling, astounding in its detail, it is meticulously researched, beautifully and stylishly written. Auerbach's book is the classiest piece of reading I have completed. I couldn't put it down, and it will lead you along the road from awe to woe. I could read anything about the Bluegrass and the thoroughbred industry, but this book will cross genres from horse fans to general public.
   
   But be advised, it is an involving read and you need to concentrate. But I found my emotions building with every chapter and a sure void when I discovered that the book ends before the completion of the Calumet story which, by my own research, continues long after the close of pages in 1995...



4. I could hardly put this book down!! In fact, after I finished it in two days, I read parts of it again!! The author gives factual details about a terrible tragedy, and the loss of a wonderful horse. With the recent interest in horseracing, after the tragic loss of Eight Belles, people should be aware that horseracing is not all mint juleps and fancy hats.
   Wild Ride is a gripping tale of what happened to Alydar, the horse that propelled the last Triple Crown Winner, Affirmed, to his status in history.
   Even if you are not a horseracing fan (which I was not, until I read this book!), you will learn so much about the behind-the-scenes events of an American tragedy. Somewhere else I read these quotes: "Dogs and cats have become our pets, but horses, we have deemed, should be our slaves"...........and "Every person who has ever owned a pet will stand before God to testify as to his master's stewardship". Keeping those thoughts in mind, the book will justify the author's purpose for getting this TRUE story out in the open. EXCELLENT READ!!!!



5. A fantastic book that provides thrills and suspense from cover to cover. The book details the story of the revered Calument Farms that dominated the American horse racing scene for most of the 20th century before a sudden collapse into bankruptcy. It's a story of a rise of the American Dream and then a fall into shame due to deceit and greed.
   
   This book would be enjoyed by horse racing enthusiasts as well as just about anyone that enjoys a good suspense thriller.

4 comments about Training Thoroughbred Horses.

1. If you are just starting out in this business, you should read this book. Preston Burch gives you a simple, direct and enlightening understanding of thoroughbred horses. This book may have been published almost 50 years ago but in every advancement man has made we constantly find ourselves going back to old knowledge and wisdom.



2. If every owner had a trainer like Preston Burch, there would be a lot more owners.

   This is a cornerstone book for a racing library. There is a large amount of fundamental training information in this simply written little book.

   The sections on conditioning schedules are invaluable. The degree of conditioning Burch afforded his horses is probably unmatched today.

   Read this book, and then end it to your trainer (if he can read).




3. Impossible that present day horses would beat any horse trained by Preston Burch. Just read the exercise prescriptions in this book and be blown away. I certainly was. Here is carefully controlled training by a trainer understanding that his horses are participating in an athletic event. This is a book about conditioning equine athletes and also contains every other aspect of training and caring for thoroughbred race horses in a well written book by an individual who apparently understood the great care required. I held off reading this fearing it was dated, but what a pleasant surprise to find the extreme if succinct comprehensiveness here, every aspect is covered by a fellow who tried to do everything correctly. This is Ivers before Ivers, and one does wonder whatever happened to trainers like Max Hirsch and Preston Burch.



4. The author writes from legendary experience as a thoroughbred trainer. Of course with any knowledge presented it can not possibly include every little detail regarding the subject but certain it can only enhance the experience one can acquire as a trainer.
   
   Be that as it may, my motive behind purchasing this material was not that of becoming a trainer, but rather to become an outstanding horseplayer. To me, the more a horseplayer can learn about the horses including important details about how thoroughbreds are trained, the better.
   
   This book offers exactly the information desired about training. I truly recommend others reviewing this material and also let me know what you think about the information, perhaps we can dialogue about the sport of training thoroughbreds. All the best! --- Stanley Pall

3 comments about True Horsemanship Through Feel, Second Edition.

1. This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in developing a relationship with your horse based in respect. Bill Dorrance has a folksy way of expressing himself, which makes for an enjoyable read, but the information provided is invaluable for those interested in natural horsemanship.



2. If you can pour over only one book regarding your journey with your horse, make it this one. Each time you return to it you will see things that were not there before. It's all there. It is rich and deep, from training and teaching to observing and comparing. Your horse will thank you.



3. This man knows his stuff about horses but is not articulate in explanation for others.
   The basics of horsemanship are here but the explaining is vague. I found the book tedious reading. You can learn much more from Parelli or Anderson.

No comments about Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries.

5 comments about Picking Winners: A Horseplayer's Guide.

1. Andrew Beyer has been a godsend to horseplayers. He has made it easy to understand and gave us an edge when making selections. Understanding horse race betting and the past performances of horses has opened doors to novice and expert handicappers alike!



2. It was hard for me to give three stars for this book, because the author revolutionized handicapping. But I didn't think any of the information in the book was useful to me. However, I did enjoy the book as there were a lot of funny stories that I could relate too.



3. Nothing against Beyer or any other handicapping writer, but devoting significant time to the study of handicapping is a fool's errand. The mathematics of beating the game are so prohibitively against the bettor that anyone with the ability to even approach break-even would be better served dedicating his/her time to more lucrative pursuits. Regardless of the race, the only thing that is certain is that the track will take about 20% for straight bets and 25% or more for so-called "exotic" wagers. In order to just break-even, you need the ability to identify errors made by the betting public of at least 20%. For any reasonable series of races in which the market is "efficient" (i.e. the betting populace has done a reasonable job of setting pay-outs) you have zero possibilty of making a profit. Studies have consistently shown that the betting public does a remarkable job in setting an efficient price. Obviously, in order to overcome the 20% "tax", you need superior information to that which is available to the general public. Given that "Beyer" speed figures are now common currency, the advantage clearly doesn't lie here. The racing form and video of previous races are common currency as well. You could take a walk down to the paddock and try to infer something there, good luck! Unless you have the ability to somehow communicate with the horse, this isn't going to really be that fruitful. Some horses look like garbage before a race and spring to life when the gate opens. Others look like Secretariat in the paddock and like a candidate for the glue factory once they hook up at full speed w/ other nags. Another point to consider is that your betting competition includes owners, trainers, stable boys, etc. who are around the horse all the time and certainly have superior information about the horses physical and mental state. Additionally, you can only speculate as to what the owner and trainer are intending from a given race. I'm not talking "fix" here, but it's not always the case that the horse's connections have entered this race with the main objective of actually winning it. Beyer is one of the leading thoroughbred writers in America and revolutionized handicapping with his speed figures, but the difficulty in beating this game should be clearly understood before you find yourself on the proverbial boulevard of broken dreams.



4. I've never been a huge fan, but I LOVED the anecdotes. I've always had the opinion that Mr. Andrew Beyer is a very stereotypical Harvard Grad. Pompous, arrogant, and most of all very Howard Cossell-esque in his vernacular. I also believe that a lot of what he writes is pure "fluff". I'm much more direct and to the point in my writing style. In my first two public offerings (The Ultimate Guide To Handicapping The Horses:From and Horseman and a Gambler and in "The Tuttle Way" on sale here @ Amazon.com), I let my feelings be known for my utter disdain for how "subjective" I believe the "Beyer Speed Figures" to be, toward the horse racing community and to the general betting public. But, I did give this 33 yr-old relic (this book has a copywrite date of 1975) 3-stars on the basis of the anecdotes, alone!
   
   Signed,
   Joseph J Tuttle
   Signed



5. Beyer is nothing short of a genius in my opinion, but the book is a little outdated but for $10.95 how picky can you really be?