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With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard
Carleton Brooks and Traci Brooks bring decades of experience teaching, showing, and judging to their first book, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard. A guide to horsemanship, training, and the horse industry, this must-read manual is filled with techniques, tips, insights, and anecdotes to bring out the best in you and your horse. Whether you are a horse owner, a student in a lesson program, or a veteran of the show circuit, With Purpose has something for everyone. If you love horses and want to be the best rider and horseman you can be, this is the book for you. Includes special chapter on Taylor Harris Insurance Services. Taylor, Harris Insurance Services (THIS) was founded in 1987 to provide specialized insurance for all types of equine risk. We place our policies with the highest rated and most secure carriers, meticulously selected for reliability and prompt claims settlement. We are proud of our worldwide reputation for responsive and courteous service, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss your equine insurance needs and provide you with a quote. * Access to multiple underwriters * Leader in the U.S. and European markets * Customized policies provide you with a choice * Trusted advisors in the equestrian industry * Direct access to insurance professionals * Policies that cover every breed and discipline across all 50 United States
189 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 11, 2023
I was so excited to finally read this book, but to be honest I was really disappointed. Obviously the authors are very successful at what they do and I have a lot of respect for how they care for their horses and think through every little aspect of their care in order to keep them happy and performing their best. I loved the part where they talk about how horses don't actually like being smacked to tell them good job and would much prefer being rubbed or scratched in appreciation (why do more people not realize this???). However I was disappointed in much of the book because it is filled with personal musings and random anecdotes, rather than concrete techniques or tips (this isn't to say there aren't any tips, but much fewer than I expected). I still have much respect for the authors and their program, but I just wanted more practical advice and exercises that I could incorporate into my riding.
February 8, 2023
Superb! The best book on horsemanship that I have read—especially useful for the Hunter/Jumper crowd. They share useful tips on everything from barn design and water buckets best for shipping to their philosophy on riding and competing. Carleton and Traci are both interesting, down to earth and complete professionals.
My criticisms are aimed at two of the last chapters. The sales pitch from Taylor Harris on horse insurance offered under the guise of “education” was so weird and random and inappropriate. The chapter full of paid Balmoral employees gushing about their bosses was cringe inducing and broke the Golden Rule of good writing: “Show don’t tell”
Regardless, I am so happy they are writing a Volume II and I look forward to reading it!
Regardless,
My criticisms are aimed at two of the last chapters. The sales pitch from Taylor Harris on horse insurance offered under the guise of “education” was so weird and random and inappropriate. The chapter full of paid Balmoral employees gushing about their bosses was cringe inducing and broke the Golden Rule of good writing: “Show don’t tell”
Regardless, I am so happy they are writing a Volume II and I look forward to reading it!
Regardless,
April 30, 2023
I listened to the audio version of this book after buying a horse and wanting to brush up on riding and care techniques. I’ve been riding horses for about 20 years, but this book is a great read for anyone involved in hunter/jumpers at all levels. It’s also a great “jumping off” point to begin reading other equestrian-based books and articles. Each chapter ended with key takeaways, and the audio version revisits them at the end of the reading, too.
January 30, 2026
Nice book, if thin on details
Who are these people? What is Balmoral? Where is it? What does it do?
Why is Traci's face always covered?
When CB talks about hip conformation, he's not specific enough to know what he means.
What does it mean to"rehearse" an aid?
Other wise well written, about people that seem nice and competent teaching, training, and caring for horses. Good ideas.
Who are these people? What is Balmoral? Where is it? What does it do?
Why is Traci's face always covered?
When CB talks about hip conformation, he's not specific enough to know what he means.
What does it mean to"rehearse" an aid?
Other wise well written, about people that seem nice and competent teaching, training, and caring for horses. Good ideas.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews