Starting in the Middle: How Horses, Those Who Study Them, and 265 Minutes with One Colt Helped Me Find Myself at Midlife

by Tik Maynard

An extraordinary follow-up to the bestselling memoirIn the Middle Are the Horsemen.He thought he had it made. Dream farm. Amazing wife. Wonderful kids. Clear and present purpose.Horses.But then he began to wonder if he was doing it all right enough…if maybe he’d been doing it for long enough. He began to wonder ifitwas right at all.When midlife appeared before horseman Tik Maynard, he had plenty of past adventures to cite and no shortage of future possibilities. But his own questions about his life as a horse trainer and equestrian competitor began to overwhelm the joy of all he had accomplished and discovered. It suddenly became imperative that he reconsider his path and open himself to alternatives—and a course that might drastically differ from what he’d always thought he wanted.When an invitation to participate in Road to the Horse, the World Championship of Colt Starting, was offered, Maynard immediately saw an opportunity to learn, to expand his world beyond what in some ways felt too “complete,” to reboot the passion that had always driven him. And so he took a chance on himself and an unknown, unbroken colt, and said, “I’ll do it.”In these deep, considered, and painstakingly articulated pages, Maynard chronicles a year of reading, traveling, asking questions, and trying new things, as he, supported by family and friends, threw himself into the preparation he knew he needed to have 265 minutes in front of a live audience be something positive for both him and a horse he did not yet know. The reader travels along as Maynard meets some of the leading figures in the world of animal behavior and training, examining the ways humans can successfully communicate with other species from a multitude of entry points, both “traditional” and “out of the box.” With dialogue that sweeps you into each fascinating expert’s space and time, he shares his struggles with the philosophical and ethical side of his life’s pursuit, and thoughtfully illustrates the conversations that helped him construct a system of beliefs and understanding that supported his natural abilities and lifetime in the saddle, while at the same time challenging everything he thought he already knew. Readers are offered the opportunity to grow alongside Maynard, not only as horse lovers, but as people, as he tries and tests and fails and finds—and eventually, chooses which direction to take in the second half of his life.With a diligence and intelligence that is unique to the genre of “books about horses” and extends well beyond the barn to the broader questions faced by the human race, Maynard has again given us a unfailingly honest telling of one life and the pursuit of fulfilling it.Starting in the Middleis for anyone wondering “what’s next” and trying to be brave enough to go out and look for it.

Genres: Horses

464 pages, Paperback

Published July 7, 2026

Reviews

[Laura Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The page count in this app is wrong which is fine 100 more pages simply wasn't enough.

Tik writes the way he lives and speaks. Hungry to learn and his toughest competition, this book will be read n highlighted over n over for years to come.

I watched Tik win the 2025 Road to the Horse and seeing is believing. His humble journey of continuing to be better and stewardship is something we as horsemen/women must do for the love of the horse. We share the same mentors and I look forward to adding this book amongst those.

10 stars if I could!

[Andree Allaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I was an avid reader when I was in my teens and twenties, I had lost my interest for reading over the past fifteen years. In 2026, I had given myself a challenge to reconnect with my passion for books. This one was certainly entertaining enough to get me right back into reading!
If you are looking for an autobiography, or a textbook about starting horses, this is not the book for you. Rather, it is an interesting story about a man’s journey to finding his ikigai, while juggling the daily obligations of family and barn life.
It is narrated in a collection of multiple small slices-of-life (“tranches de vie”, in French), rather than being narrated in a continuous flow of chronologically organised events. To me, this made the book interesting, intriguing, and gave a nice rhythm to it. Some of these slices of life relate to Tik’s learning about colt starting, but many of them are related to his family life, to his interest in reading, his farm chores, and his numerous trail-runs. In fact, I felt like the purpose of this book was not to teach the reader, but to share how he lived his experience leading to Road to the Horse. I felt small details of his day-to-day life were so important, because it sets the landscape that allows the reader to get to know Tik on a more personal level. It makes him relatable, human. If the book had been a more practical and straight to the point, we would have lost the human part of it.
The way it is written really sheds a light on the struggle that comes with trying to balance the selfless act of raising children, while trying to hold together an equestrian business versus Tik’s desire to pursue his own dreams and be his own self.

Before reading this book, I did not know Tik all too well, but now I know he is funny, honest, imperfect and very relatable. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times throughout the book, and I even shed a tear toward the end. Tik is not shy to share his most vulnerable moments during the process. He exposed his weaknesses, his fears, and his own flaws. And still, with hard work, a lot of preparation, a good team (and wife) to support him, by staying truthful to his values and principles, and staying humble, this imperfect man became a World Champion of colt starting. It sends such a strong message to the horse community: that to succeed with horses, you do not necessarily need to be perfect, but you need to be honest, truthful, loving, passionate, hardworking, perseverant and patient.

The book clearly demonstrates Tik’s love for his wife, his kids, the horses and for reading. Throughout the book, Tik quotes multiple of his readings and the wisdom that comes with it. It makes sense to me that such a bookworm ends up writing books of his own.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm amazed people rate this book highly. I love Tike Maynard’s horse training theories and methods, and I follow him extensively. I enjoyed his first book and was looking forward to this one, but I am disappointed with Starting in the Middle. I am a horsewoman, an editor, and a journalist, and I found the book dull and difficult to read. I was shocked that the content is peppered with grammar and punctuation errors and awkward phrasing and construction. Much of the writing is made up of short, choppy sentences that, if combined, could improve flow. The author used detailed descriptions of irrelevant ideas, but not enough explanation of more relevant ideas and terms (such as exactly what his friend did to “catch” a horse he was having difficulty with). He did not explain some terms and references, like one about a Taylor Swift song (?) and the use of terms like “syndicates” and “shares” in reference to purchasing horses. Similes and metaphors that didn’t make sense were plentiful and seemed forced. Most frustrating to me were long portions of difficult-to-follow dialogue that captured an entire conversation. Skilled writers succinctly and accurately paraphrase a conversation and include direct quotes only when the person speaking says something profound, interesting, clever, or pithy. Wading through it and trying to determine who said what was exhausting, and I found myself putting the book aside often to take a break. The content jumped around both spatially and in time, and it was difficult to get a sense of where the author was in the year-long journey or why specifically he chose to attend certain horse training clinics and travel to various foreign countries. Details about the antics of his two children were endearing, but forced and distracting. The description of the book implies the author experienced great midlife angst while deciding whether to continue on his career path -- but I just didn't feel it. I wish the book had been edited more carefully to improve its readability, but most people will probably rate the book highly simply because the author has won two Road To The Horse events and because he’s an all-around nice guy. I hope if Tik writes a third book he’ll get more help from an editor, because most horsemen and women – and horses -- do benefit tremendously from his thoughts and ideas.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tik Maynard's Starting in the Middle is a thoughtful and deeply personal exploration of midlife reflection, using the backdrop of the prestigious Road to the Horse colt starting competition as its central narrative thread. Following his acclaimed memoir, In the Middle Are the Horsemen, Maynard once again invites readers into his world, this time as he grapples with a sense of unease despite apparent success. His dream farm, loving family, and established career with horses suddenly feel insufficient, prompting a quest for renewed purpose and a re-evaluation of his lifelong passion.

The invitation to Road to the Horse serves as a catalyst for this journey of self-discovery. Maynard seizes the opportunity to push beyond his comfort zone, learn from others, and reignite his passion. The book meticulously chronicles his year-long preparation, not just in terms of horsemanship, but also through extensive reading, travel, and conversations with leading figures in animal behavior and training. Maynard skillfully weaves in these encounters, offering readers insightful perspectives on communication and connection with other species, spanning both conventional and innovative approaches.

What sets this book apart is Maynard's unflinching honesty and intellectual rigor. He doesn't shy away from his struggles, both practical and philosophical, as he grapples with the ethical dimensions of his work and seeks to refine his own system of beliefs. The narrative is enriched by vivid dialogue that transports the reader into the company of the experts he consults, making their insights accessible and engaging.

More than just a book about horses, Starting in the Middle resonates with universal themes of self-doubt, the search for meaning, and the courage to embrace change. Maynard's journey is relatable to anyone at a crossroads, prompting introspection about their own paths and the possibility of new directions. His diligent approach to learning and his willingness to question his own assumptions make this a compelling and enriching read for horse lovers and those navigating their own "what's next."

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristine Kirkby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I appreciated most about ‘Starting in the Middle’ was Tik’s willingness to stay curious. Rather than promoting a single "right" way of training, he draws from a wide range of horsemen, horsewomen, and learning experiences (including his chapter on training chickens, which resonates to me as a bird trainer!) to show that great horsemanship comes from observation, timing, humility, and a willingness to keep learning.
As a wildlife biologist and falconer, I found myself drawing parallels to working with birds. Whether I'm training raptors or capturing wild birds for conservation, success depends on reading subtle behaviour, adjusting my own actions, and letting the animal tell you what they need. That mindset translates seamlessly to horses.
I was fortunate to audit one of Tik's clinics last year, and both the clinic and this book reinforced something I've been learning through my own young, sensitive, puzzle of a mare. She has challenged me to think creatively and adapt my approach to the horse in front of me, rather than searching for one perfect training system. In many ways, Tik's philosophy gave me confidence to trust that instinct.
This book isn't really about finding answers (though he obviously has found many answers that brought him immense success… spoiler alert!), it's about becoming the kind of horseperson who never stops asking questions. I think that's a philosophy worth carrying into every interaction we have with animals.

[Em Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It hasn't happened to me for a long time: starting and finishing a big book in two days, despite having to sleep at night and work. I met Tik when he came to run a couple of clinics in the UK. The second time he came I was touched that he remembered me and gave me a hug despite me having a very smelly horse coat on . Why is this book so captivating? It is such 'jump cut' mix of Tik's time with his adored wife and children and his parents and friends, to glimmers of the Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, to his delightful obsession with books which I share, to a gentle opening up of his vulnerability as he travels the world and learns from horsemen and women whilst all the time trying to work out where he stands. I have met a few of them, these experts and am very impressed by TIk's tolerance, kindness and compassion towards them.. He finds the best in everyone. He did it with Tom Cat too, the 3 old gelding he won Road to the Horse with in 2024. It was where he had been heading, where the intensity of being present and reading the horse was all there was and it led quite rightly to their success.. It reminded me of giving birth to my daughter, nothing else mattered . I thoroughly recommend this book and will come and audit when you return to the UK in September. This time I will be wearing a clean coat

[Kayla Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute delight to read, and kept my interest from the first page to the last. Tik’s journey to and time at Road to the Horse make for a fascinating book. Full of interesting stories, helpful horsemanship information, and honest reflection, it was more than just a memoir or the typical horse training book. Throughout the story, Tik meets, talks to and learns from a wide variety of trainers and the book is full of a myriad of tips, tricks, theories and methods, many applicable to horse training as a whole - not specific just to colt starting. The reflections he offers on the journey and the experiences he has are humble, insightful and thought-provoking. This book offers so much to ponder, and to take out to the barn in addition to simply being an enjoyable read. It’s one I’ll come back to again, for sure.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Pacific & Court and Trafalgar Square Books for my #gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

I was such a horse-loving girl when I was young. I loved horses, learning about them, watching them, and reading about them. This book was full of horses, but it was also about starting over at mid-life in the world of horses. I could tell right away that Maynard loves horses intuitively, and that his life is wrapped around them. What insight he has into them and their world! Having said that, I didn't particularly enjoy this book and I didn't finish it. I think it came down to being confused about what was happening and why--it skips around a lot and it was hard for me to understand what, exactly, Maynard's background was and why it was different to starting horses in the world championship. I can how this book was written for his family--especially his kids--but as a reader coming at it from the outside I wasn't given a real reason to care soon enough and I ended up not connecting with it. I can see how someone more familiar with the subject might feel very differently, so I'm chalking it up to being a "just not the one for me" book.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. TIK really put himself out there telling the reader about his worries and the struggle to keep a business, family, farm, horses fed and fit, writing, all at the same time as preparing to compete in the colt starting competition at the Road To The Horse. He is not a professional horse trainer, nor is his background Western or Quarter Horse. We learn how he prepared and I loved meeting people I knew in this industry and and meeting new people and learning how they work with horses. There were many places that made me think about something, "I knew", in a different way.

[Krystal Kraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are into books that tell a real story, of a real person, who stood in their midlife reflection, saw their desired accomplishments, put things into action, and made decisions that turned dreams into something real and rewarding….a read that shows vulnerability, strength, fears, personal challenges and so much more… then this is a book for you!

It was also very informative and teaches a lot about horses! Definitely learned some things as I read! Also encouraging in the sense that it is never too late to go after your dreams and goals!

[Emily Swisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional read for equestrians and non-horse people alike. Tik is a wonderful writer who draws on plenty of first-hand accounts of starting colts and training horses who is incredibly humble and easy to cheer for in his process. For non-horse readers, it is easy to follow and highly informative- the follow-up read to Monty Roberts’ The Man Who Listens to Horses. And to many of us in the equestrian world, this is a major wake up call and invitation to begin evolving how we partner with horses. I am ready to read another one of his books!

[Alex Atangana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I´ve really enjoyed this book. I´ve been following a lot of Tik´s content through NF+ and various podcasts, and I´ve enjoyed reading about his journey to road to the horse. Very honest story, we really get a good look inside Tik´s head... Including self-doubting and insecurities. It´s reassuring to read that even the best also face these difficulties 😁.
A lot of the things I read in the book, also invited me to reflect even more about how I start horses myself, and gave me a lot of opportunity to improve.

[Arlene Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Interesting, inspiring and introspective. Tiks writing is so real. He opens himself to share vulnerability which is so rare in the competitive horse world. Was absolutely drawn in from page one.

[Dana]

If you are a horse lover or if you have attended Road to the Horse - you must read this book! So much information and real life in this book. Was lucky enough to see Tik Maynard compete 2 years at Road to the Horse 😊

[Emily Stakem · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked his first book better, but enjoyed the ending section where he’s actually at Road To The Horse the best in this book. Pacing was just a little slow but I really respect and admire his training ideals.

[Shanno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book is even better than the first.

[Pam Ellison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading of Tik’s journey and preparation for the road to the horse event. This was a great read and I couldn’t put it down!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://thegreenhorseman.com/2025/05/...

Starting in the Middle was an incredible book, perhaps one of the best I’ve read in a while. It is far more than just a book detailing the prep it took to compete at Road to the Horse. Instead it is a collection of thoughts and conversations that shape how we view our role in horses’ lives. It’s deep, intellectual, thought-provoking…and it’s peppered with witty banter or precious moments between friends and family. I have sent passages to several friends, talked about it within my groups, and recommended it to others whenever I can. It truly feels like taking 20 mini-clinics in one book, offering insights from many professionals throughout the world. If I could, I’d buy 20 copies and give them to all of my friends.

Anyone can read this book, even those without a horse. You do not NEED to read In The Middle Are the Horsemen first. The two books are both wonderful and I recommend them both but they are not entirely related.

I don’t get to consider Tik a “friend” but at his clinics we have all sat as a group eating dinner, having a margarita, perhaps…he’s friendly. He’s down to Earth. He’s empathetic. He’s kind. I prepare for clinics by remembering my best dad jokes and show up with a notebook ready. I read his book hearing his voice in my head the entire time, picturing the gestures or facial expressions.

A few moments in Starting in the Middle Tik questioned if you can be a good horseman if you weren’t a good person. Personally, I don’t think so…at least not in my definition of horseman. The better I become with horses the better human I find myself to be. The more curious I am to improve my horsemanship I am also curious about exploring what makes ME tick. Self control, self exploration, self awareness, self-improvement. Those are all important factors that can make us better horsemen and better humans.

Yes. I love this book and HIGHLY recommend it. Both Tik and Sinead are two of my favorite horsemen around. My next question: when do we get a book from Sinead, who is also a deep thinker and an excellent writer?