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Relaxed & Forward: Relationship Advice from Your Horse

Anna Blake (Goodreads Author)

4.51 · Rating details · 111 ratings · 13 reviews

“Do you still watch those old horse movies that you’ve seen a dozen times, just for the scenes of the horse galloping in slow motion? Do you hold your breath just a bit? Do you get something in your eye?
It’s because horses embody so much more than muscle and bone. They evoke a full range of emotions like hope and courage and valor. They can gallop straight to you with nec “Do you still watch those old horse movies that you’ve seen a dozen times, just for the scenes of the horse galloping in slow motion? Do you hold your breath just a bit? Do you get something in your eye?
It’s because horses embody so much more than muscle and bone. They evoke a full range of emotions like hope and courage and valor. They can gallop straight to you with neck arched and tail flagged, and then instantly melt to a stop—just to share your breath.”
We’ve been besotted with horses since they had three toes. From the popular Relaxed and Forward blog comes training advice combining the everyday fundamentals of dressage with mutual listening skills. Blake writes with a profound respect for horses and an articulate voice for humans, blending equal parts inspiration and un-common sense. It’s serious training communicated with humor and lightness, because horses like us when we laugh.
Most riders want to build a better relationship with their horse. These short essays are geared as much toward attitude as technique, and include topics ranging from reading calming signals from your horse to using breath as your best communication tool. Blake’s writing uses clear descriptions, storytelling, and humor to inspire meaningful, positive communication. Less correction and more direction. Horses are honest; they answer us in kind. If we want a better response, a more fluid conversation and relationship with a horse, we have to be the ones to change first. The other word for that is leadership.
By the author of Stable Relation, A Memoir of One Woman’s Spirited Journey Home, by Way of the Barn.
“Excitement and delight surge through me every time I see Anna Blake's name as an author. Her writing is filled with deep understanding and heart connection, seasoned with a lively dash of humor. Reading her work is like giving myself a gift...one I can open again and again.” --Kim Walnes, winning USET Three Day Eventer, Riding Instructor/Trainer, and Life Coach. ...more

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Kindle Edition, 270 pages

Published January 17th 2016 by Prairie Moon Press

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· 111 ratings · 13 reviews

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Sep 26, 2016 Bethany rated it it was amazing

This book if full of relevant, sensitive, and insightful essays about the human-horse relationship. It is full of ah-ha moments that can alter your perspective in ways that transform your riding. This is a book you can return to again and again to find inspiration and guidance when new challenges arise with your horse. Come to terms with your flaws as a human and find new ways to treat your horse with respect and go further because of it. You'll grasp the importance of laughter, breathing, and p ...more

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Feb 25, 2016 Diana Lancaster rated it it was amazing

It’s so rare to find a book so delightful and insightful. I learned, loved and laughed throughout. I can hear the voice of wisdom Anna Blake shares as I ride and I know my horses appreciate it. Even though I am a trail rider and she is a dressage trainer, the concepts are valuable to any riding style. Read it. You won’t be sorry and your horses will thank you.

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Sep 20, 2016 Gabriela De rbg rated it it was amazing

Perfect!

This book is the perfect combination of "that's exactly what happened to me" and "oh! I never thought of that!"...
A must read for any type of rider... ...more

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Jan 29, 2018 Goele Lousbergh rated it really liked it

Shelves: about-all-kinds-of-furries

I like good writing, literary and horsey quotes and thinking about horse training. This book did not disappoint. Even more so: it made me dream of one day becoming a gray, wise, writing mare on a ranch with rescues myself. You are my kind of (horse)woman, Anna.

(I hereby volunteer to edit her next book and guarantee less typos and no essay twice in the same book ...)

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Jan 25, 2016 Rebecca rated it really liked it

This book has given me so much to think about for my riding, and for my relationship with horses. All good things. The review would have been five stars, but it is a little repetitive (as these started as blog posts, I think) and maybe a little, teeny bit preachy--but not about helmets--everything she said about helmets is good!

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Apr 18, 2022 Charty rated it really liked it

A horse friend bought me this book when I was struggling with my relationship with my horse of seven years. She had found Anna Blake and become interested in her training philosophy for her own horses and thought I might find something of value for myself. I’ve appreciated the insights I’ve been exposed to through this book, and hoping I can apply some things in my relationship with my new horse. It’s not a prescription or a set of rules so much as a philosophy or way of approaching your work wi A horse friend bought me this book when I was struggling with my relationship with my horse of seven years. She had found Anna Blake and become interested in her training philosophy for her own horses and thought I might find something of value for myself. I’ve appreciated the insights I’ve been exposed to through this book, and hoping I can apply some things in my relationship with my new horse. It’s not a prescription or a set of rules so much as a philosophy or way of approaching your work with horses so if you are expecting a step by step guide, this is not for you.

Anna writes with a lot of compassion for horses - it’s really the focus of everything. You don’t become a good leader for your horse by being impatient, negative and picking fights and finding faults.

I think my biggest take aways have been the importance of just breathing. It’s amazing how it can release tension, calm situations, give you and your horse a beat to consider thoughtful next steps instead of blindly rushing into an act you may regret.

Anna writes humbly, too. She’s not afraid to share her own faults and mistakes which makes it a little easier to follow her advice. She has compassion for the frailties of her fellow humans and most of all she reminds of why we are with horses in the first place - that love we developed that’s never gone away, even if years of experiences may have pushed it to the back of our minds.

This book is really a collection of Anna’s blog posts, so each one is a small, digestible morsel of advice, wisdom and reflection which makes it easy to pick up and put down as your time allows. It’s not a linear narrative which for me, made it harder to get through but I can see where the bit size chunks are really perfect for today’s distracted brains and split attention.

Anna’s current passion is dressage and as a reformed dressage rider myself I both appreciated and rolled my eyes a bit at some of the parts but don’t let that put you off because it’s really advice that applies to anyone that’s lucky to have a horse in their life. ...more

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Feb 12, 2019 Simone Schreiber rated it really liked it

Shelves: animals, nonfiction

This book is not so much a guide to "how to ride horses", but rather a collection of short essays and blog posts from the author, touching on different kinds of topics revolving around horses. The main focus is always how horses communicate with humans and how we often misunderstand them. A very insightful and touching read with a lot of food for thought and opportunities to reflect one's behavior towards those amazing animals, both in the saddle and out of the saddle. ...more

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Jul 05, 2021 Tricia rated it it was amazing

Great insights!

The author has great insights written with humor and compassion for horses.
I love her compassion for both rider and horse.

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Mar 10, 2022 Kate Gordon rated it it was amazing

Brilliant writing. So thought provoking. Loved being inspired to think about my horse and my relationship with him with fresh ideas.

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Jan 06, 2018 Grace LaPlante rated it it was amazing

Great book for riders looking to improve relationships with their horse(s). Each chapter is short, but packed with insights and tips in a very readable way. Loved this book!

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Aug 20, 2021 Jo-jean Keller rated it it was amazing

I love this book! It's full of wonderful snippets of workable, easy to remember and apply tips. Many of them, I've heard before but love the approach and application in Relaxed and Forward. ...more

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Dec 18, 2016 OnceUpon rated it it was ok

Wonderful compilation of the author's insightful and inspirational blog posts. I use the book as a frequent devotional to the art of riding and horsemanship, finding helpful advice and motivation in the stories and analogies. It's helping me become a better rider and to understand my horse more. ...more

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Apr 05, 2016 Jessica Deva rated it it was amazing

Fantastic.

One of the best books on horses and riding I've read in years. Highly recommended. I'll be giving this book to my trainer! ...more

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About Anna Blake

Anna Blake

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Anna Blake was born in Cavalier County, North Dakota, in 1954, the youngest daughter of a farm family. She is a horse advocate, writer, speaker, and equine professional, teaching communication skills and dressage to horses and riders of all disciplines. She’s the award-winning author of two books: Stable Relation, a Memoir of One Woman’s Spirited Journey Home, by Way of the Barn, and Relaxed & For ...more