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| The Soul of a Horse: Life Lessons from the Herd | 
 enlarge | Author: Joe Camp
Publisher: Harmony
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $14.08
You Save: $10.87 (44%)
New (37) Used (9) from $14.08
Avg. Customer Rating:  58 reviews
Sales Rank: 4280
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9.8 x 6.8 x 1.2
ISBN: 0307406857
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.1
EAN: 9780307406859
ASIN: 0307406857
Publication Date: April 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20081010212127T
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Product Description
A surprise birthday gift plunged Joe Camp and his wife, Kathleen, into the world of horses as complete neophytes without a clue as to what horses needed or wanted. The Camps went searching for logic and sense in the rule books of traditional horse care and what they found was not what they had expected. Written for everyone who has ever loved a horse or even loved the idea of having a horse in their lives, this memoir leads us on a riveting voyage of discovery as Joe and Kathleen navigate uncharted, often politically incorrect territory on their way to achieving a true relationship with their horses.
As the creator of the beloved Benji series, Joe has spent most of his life luring us into the heart and soul of a famous dog, but now in this engaging, emotional, and often humorous story, he deftly lures us into the heart and soul of a horse. In doing so, he exposes astonishing truths and unlocks the mystery of a majestic creature who has survived on Earth, without assistance, for fifty-five million years. In a single emotionally charged moment, Camp communes with his first horse, Cash, in a way that changes him and his relationship with horses forever. In his own words, as he stood alone with his back to this horse: The collar of my jacket was tickling the hairs on the back of my neck. And my heart was pounding. Then a puff of warm, moist air brushed my ear. My heart skipped a beat. He was really close. Then I felt his nose on my shoulder . . . I couldn’t believe it. Tears came out of nowhere and streamed down my cheeks. I had spoken to him in his own language, and he had listened . . . and he had chosen to be with me. He had said, I trust you.
Ingeniously alternating between the stories of two people thrust into an unfamiliar, enigmatic realm and a fabled herd of wild horses brought to the New World centuries ago, Joe Camp’s valuable and inspiring book teaches us that the lessons he was learning apply not only to his horses but to life and to people as well–to all of us.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 53 more reviews...
 Disappointing-Shallow June 30, 2008
22 out of 35 found this review helpful
[...] I thought,"Great someone has written a book about the soul of a horse, finally!!!The book is biographical of Camp's experience with his horses.
I was deeply disappointed. Unfortunately this book is much more about the ego of Joe Camp than the soul of the horse. He preaches Natural Horsemanship ala Monty Roberts videos, horses are to be out on pasture n a herd, with no shoes, and that is the only way to care for horses. Not only that but, he has the hubris to tells everyone he meets that that is the case.
When people think they have all the answers. They never do. Joe Camp has the fervor and lack of experience, knowledge and discernment of a newly converted religious zealot. This is often not the best attitude whether with horses or people.
Nonetheless this book does offer some advice that many seasoned "I've always done it this way" horsemen could do well to consider. It discusses having a relationship and understanding the conditions a horse is under that may cause them to do what they do. It is important not to accept advice from "experts" just because they have a title or a reputation. He makes important points about tolerating a certain amount of fear and discomfort in our relationships with horses (as we should with people) to learn and grow.
I become concerned because people take this as religion and decide to practice it. They go out in their back yard with a lot of hubris and no sensitivity and humility. Horses have horse power and people can be badly hurt.
I have raised and trained horses for over 20 years and some have competed and won on the "A" jumping circuit and in dressage. I strongly believe my horses are my partners. I have used "natural hosemanship techniques" and have found some to be useful very much depending on the horse and the situation. All horses are different. I have used the join up which I had seen demonstrated many times by qualified experts and looked at DVD's, with most of my horses.It works about 80% of the time. There are other ways to do the same thing. I had one 3 yr old decide he would rather jump out of the 6'high round pen than join up. He won't join up in the round pen but will do anything for a horse cube and constantly follows me around to the point that he is a total pest.(I only use cubes for training and don't carry them with me.) All it takes is a finger to make him do all kinds of maneuvers, but join up..in the round pen..no way. Another mare I had joins one minute and not the next. She is just not the country club type. She has won in the >er 4' jumpers on the A circuit and is a well acknowledged "challenge with enormous talent".
Each horse must be looked at as an individual which is not brought out well in this book. I keep my horses in a herd most of the time. There are major disadvantages to this as well. They become herd bound and don't want to leave the herd, and one has to be very alert when out amongst them. If a horse is facing being kicked or bitten by another horse, alternative to being bittten is to run you down, guess who loses.
There is no perfect way and no free lunch. Joe contends that all horses want to be outside on a mountain side. Mine have their choice. They have 6 acres of mountains and trees, but often they hang out at the barn. They want in the barn at night even if I decided they should stay out. The Spanish Riding School in Vienna keeps their stallions in standing stalls. Clearly these horses perform at very high levels, love performing and they have not had problems with stress ulcers.Painting with a broad brush doesn't do a good job with houses or horses.
Inserted in the book is a contrived story of a horse and an Indian boy who follows Lewis and Clark.
My horses have been my very best teachers;they have amazing souls and are profoundly intuitive.This book didn't help me better commune with them.
I believe Joe's heart is in the right place and his motivation in sharing his adventures is to help horses and people. Hopefully, after he has more experience with his horses, he too will become less zealous and be able to lead us more deeply into both ours and our horses' souls. This is a good book for beginners who may feel they are alone in their horse woes. The most important thing with horses and life is to keep one's mind and heart open.
The reader and Joe would do well to expand their horizons by reading works of classical trainers and riders such as Alois Podhajsky of the Spanish Riding School, Linda Tellington Jones, Reiner Klimke among others even if they will never be doing dresssage or English ridingThe New Basic Training of the Young Horse: From the Education of the Young Foal to the First Competition.The Ultimate Horse Behavior and Training Book: Enlightened and Revolutionary Solutions for the 21st CenturyMy Horses, My TeachersComplete Training of Horse and Rider
 Not just for horse owners! June 8, 2008
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
A friend recommended this book to me and I wasn't sure why since I have never owned a horse..nor did I plan to own one. But I bought the book anyway....always up for learning something new.
This book swept me away. From the first to last page I felt transported! I could imagine myself sitting on the porch of the Camp's home watching these magnificent creatures. I learned SO much about horses and their SOULS. With everything that's been going on in the world of horse racing, this could not have been written at a more appropriate time.
The book is clever, witty and inspiring. A very fast read. I was sad when I finished it because I wanted to read more! And so many of the lessons can be applied to LIFE...not just horses.
You will not regret reading this book. And I will never look at a horse the same way.
Destined to be a Classic May 1, 2008
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
I love this book. I couldn't stop reading it, so I stayed up way too late, but I finished the book--every word of it. It made me feel like a kid again, when I hid under the covers past my bedtime to read horse books--all the Walter Farley Black Stallion books, horse bios like Exterminator...this is a great book, written with compassion, and allowing the reader to live Joe's experiences. I am in awe of how Joe Camp has managed to compile the Natural Horse wisdom into such a nurturing and personal format. I'm sure that every reader will project him/herself into the situations that Joe describes with his horses. Anyone who has ever been with horses or who loves horses needs to read this book.
The Heart and Soul of Champions May 12, 2008
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
From what started out as shock from a surprise birthday gift became a quest for knowledge and understanding on the proper care of a horse.
Joe Camp chronicles the oftentimes emotional journey he took with his wife, Kathleen, in researching the traditional avenues of equine care and the direction they ultimately traveled when the puzzling answers begot more questions...and more puzzling answers.
A well-paced read, Camp demonstrates that Tender Loving Care starts with fully understanding that the heart of the matter is listening for the calming whispers from the soul.
Not Just For Horse Lover's May 12, 2008
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I love a book that makes me think, and Soul of a Horse did that and more. Told in a passionate, yet wonderfully easy, around the campfire voice, Joe Camp challenges his own perceptions and the perceptions of others as he seeks to learn what a horse needs, rather than what we think they need. His story not only deepened my understanding of horses and the impact of humans upon them, but offered metaphor upon metaphor for increasing awareness of ourselves in relationship to others. Part educational, part spiritual, this book has more than one important message...not the least being, that we are capable of doing better.
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