DISPATCH TwO: Book of the DAY
“At a certain point in my life I became fed up with the Equine industry, I didn't like the way people treated horses, I didn't like the way people talked about horses and I didn't like the way people looked at horses.” - Bret Davis from The Started Colt: Horsemanship as an Art
Bret and I first started talking not too long before he published his book The Started Colt. Our conversations bolstered me during a bit of a rough patch, and it felt good to talk to someone who had similar feelings about the horse industry and horses in general. On a rare occasion, we have differing opinions, but that’s what makes the world go ‘round, right? Even if we haven’t seen eye-to-eye on a subject, we hear each other out and respect how we arrived at those opinions. After all, in this business, everyone’s an expert, and no one is an expert. That’s something he and I agree on.
I’m not sure where Bret found the time to hammer out this book, but he did, and it’s an excellent read. I enjoyed reading it, not just because I know the author, but for a litany (I have a Thesaurus now.) of other reasons.
From the start, the book gives you a feeling that you’re having a conversation with the author.
Starting with a dedication to his wife and family, Bret tackles the subject of horsemanship in an easily digestible and entertaining way while never, ever dumbing down for his readers. Whether you are a novice or a pro, the chapters titled The Five Parts of a Horse’s Body and Five Parts of the Rider’s Body are something everyone aspiring to be a better rider should read. Those two chapters illustrate, hell, the whole book illustrates, Brett’s intelligent, informed approach to his goals.
Bret pulls the reader in with quotes from Charles Bukowski, Emily Bronte, Albert Einstein, and Xenophon himself. You might wonder how some of these folks tie into the subject of making a horse, but Bret opens your eyes to an understanding that one can look outside of the typical and apply it to working with a horse. (And he’s inspired me to up my reading game.)
Hearing opinions from great horsemen and reading about their methods is always fun. It’s interesting to see where you’re alike and where you’re different and learn a new approach by melding their methods with your own.
Anyone from beginner riders to expert trainers would enjoy this book and benefit in some way from reading it. If you’re not an advanced rider or a trainer, some title chapters might feel intimidating, but if you take the time to read the chapter, you’ll have a better understanding of the topic.
And that’s really my favorite “part” of the book: it’s purpose. The whole basis of the book, its roots, is about understanding, learning, and sharing what he has seen and done.
Bret Davis is intelligent, well-read, and willing to share information that improves a horse’s life and the relationships between horse and rider. I’m happy to know him and happy to share his book with you.
The Started Colt: Horsemanship as an Art , Davis,Bret - Amazon.com
