I Am Equus: Understanding the Horse's Potential through Everyday Encounters
Author
Duaa Anwar
Publisher
Outskirts Press
3 Review Copies Left
Have you ever felt there was more to your horse than most people presume? If so, you are probably right. What we take for granted from our horses has long been dismissed as simple instinct, but horses have the capacity for complex emotions, intelligence, and a consciousness not commonly accepted as a trait of the animal kingdom. Horses have demonstrated "human" traits such as humor and compassion for as long as we have shared the earth, and it is up to us to figure out what we have in common to improve our communication skills with them.
"Because of the many human attributes people assign to horses, describing them as stubborn, uncooperative, or hateful, they find themselves standing at the edge of a wide communication gap. The only way to break the cycle of tension is to narrow that communication gap. How to do so can be partly explained in equine psychology books. The other part is to understand horses on an emotional level."
In I Am Equus, you'll get to know horses that have demonstrated amazing trust, survived against all odds, formed lifelong friendships, made people laugh, and taught others inspirational life lessons. Some have even saved lives. At last, Equus is presented in his true intellectual and emotional potential.
About the Author: Duaa Anwar, an Egyptian raised in the United Arab Emirates, was born with a love of horses. She spent most of her life reading and studying about horses until finally becoming a horse owner in 1995. She rides and competes in dressage, and advocates classical riding and natural horsemanship through her website www.ArtofRiding.com. Her articles have been published across the web and in many equestrian publications. She is currently preparing for an instructor qualification issued by the British Horse Society.
Reviews
The back of the book says "Have you ever felt there was more to your horse than most people presume? If so, you were probably right." This statement alone captured my attention. I don't own a horse and my only experiences were my parents owning two work horses as well as going on trail rides. However, I am an animal lover and do understand that there is more to them than one can imagine.
Reading this book made me realize that the animal kingdom is certainly one of its own, however, it is also very much in tune with the human world if we just observe and listen. Duaa Anwar has been studying horses for decades and owns a horse of her own. Because of this she is able to communicate on a deeper level with them.
This book isn't a book of facts but it's a book of Anwar's own experiences and that of others. I enjoyed the writing style because I felt I was right there with her and nothing was boring. After I finished the book I spent several days reflecting and gaining a better understanding of this animal species. Horses are often used in therapy and now I know why. I encourage those that don't know anything about horses to read this book - you will certainly have an appreciation like never before.
Reviewed on 11/20/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Irene Watson
