Foundation Horsemanship
Great partnerships are built on a strong foundation.
At Foundation Horsemanship, we are very particular about teaching and treating our horses in a natural fashion. Here you will find some books and products that we truly believe in. Please note that, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
A Horse's Life: The Neuroscience of Equine Welfare
by Stephen Peters (Author), Mark Rashid (Author), Crissi McDonald (Author) Format: Paperback
What if the key to a calmer, more responsive horse wasn't a new training method, but a better understanding of how the horse's brain actually works?
In A Horse's Life: The Neuroscience of Equine Welfare, neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Peters, internationally recognized horseman Mark Rashid, and clinician Crissi McDonald bring together brain science and decades of hands-on horse experience to explain what is actually driving your horse's behavior and what you can do about it. This is not another training manual. It is the first book to combine real horse case studies with plain-language clinical neuroscience written for everyday horse people, not academics.
Most horse behavior problems are not attitude problems. They are nervous system problems. When a horse is spooky, hard to catch, resistant under saddle, or just not the horse you hoped for, there is a neurological reason behind it. This book explains what that reason is and how to address it at the source.
Dr. Peters brings decades of clinical neuroscience and equine brain research. Mark Rashid brings over forty years of working with horses that other trainers gave up on. Crissi McDonald brings a lifetime of horsemanship, bodywork, and the rare ability to make complex ideas feel immediately usable. Together they cover what no single author could cover alone.
Horse Brain Science: The Neuroscience of Ethical Horsemanship
by Dr. Stephen Peters (Author) Format: Paperback
The Neuroscience of Ethical Horsemanship
Discover the science behind the horse’s mind—and transform the way you train, communicate, and connect.
In Horse Brain Science, board-certified neuropsychologist and equine neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Peters reveals how horses think, learn, remember, react, and build trust. Blending cutting-edge neuroscience with practical horsemanship, this groundbreaking book offers a deeper understanding of equine behavior through the lens of the brain itself.
Whether you are a rider, trainer, horse owner, equine professional, or lifelong horse lover, this book provides powerful insights that can fundamentally reshape your relationship with horses—leading to more ethical, compassionate, and effective horsemanship.
Evidence-Based Horsemanship
by Stephen Peters (Author), Martin Black (Author) Format: Paperback
Evidence-Based Horsemanship bridges neuroscience and real-world training. Co-authored by Dr. Stephen Peters—a leading equine neuroscientist—and renowned horseman Martin Black, this book empowers readers to:
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Understand how a horse’s brain develops and processes information, enabling training that aligns with how horses naturally learn
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Combine feel, timing, and balance—the “holy trinity” of horsemanship—for more effective training
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Learn why short, age‑appropriate training sessions resonate better with young horses and how a horse’s sensory world affects behavior
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Gain insights that enhance trust, improve communication, and deepen the horse–human bond across disciplines (e.g., Western, dressage, trail riding)
With practical photos, clear explanations, and a helpful glossary, this approachable paperback makes science accessible and actionable for any horse enthusiast.
Dressage Naturally... Results in Harmony
by Karen Rohlf (Author) Format: Spiral-bound.
A study in dressage and natural horsemanship. Completely illustrated and includes a DVD that complements the material in the book. If you are interested in doing dressage in a natural fashion, this book is for you!
A Journey to Softness: In Search of Feel and Connection with the Horse | In Search of Feel and Connection with the Horse
by Mark Rashid (Author) Format: Paperback
Internationally acclaimed horse trainer Mark Rashid shares and analyzes the remarkable events, quiet moments, and humbling stumbling blocks that-looking back-he can identify as significant in his personal journey to finding softness with both horses and people. Softness, via what many in the horse world today might refer to as feel, begins, Rashid says, with one simple truth: It's not about what we do that starts us on the path to softness, but rather, it's what we don't do. Softness is having the sensitivity we need in order to feel when and if the horse tries to give. It is about developing the kind of awareness and feel it takes to know when we are working against our horses, rather than with them. In these forthright stories, readers get a glimpse of a life that has produced a man known for his ability to solve difficult problems with communication rather than force, as well as methods and techniques gleaned from decades of work with horses, horse people, and martial artists.
Blocker tie Ring for Horses
A safe and effective way to tie a horse. We use it everywhere: in the horse trailer, at our tie rails...anywhere we tie a horse.