Starting in the Middle

The untold story of the favorite children’s book author, featuring original artwork by Wesley Dennis from some of Henry’s best-known books, as well as over 100 personal photographs, letters, and artifacts.

In certain circles, her name inspires immediate recognition and pronouncements of a committed admiration that has likely spanned decades. As an author, Marguerite Henry was indeed remarkably prolific, with 59 books published, millions of copies sold, and nearly 80 years of her life spent writing them—or responding personally to the stacks of fan mail she received—at her typewriter. Her books, most meticulously researched historical fiction about influential horses and the hosts of fascinating characters who surrounded them—to name just a few, her Newbery Award winner King of the Wind, the book that changed an island Misty of Chincoteague, and the glowingly reviewed Justin Morgan Had a Horse—have had an outsized influence on those who grew up reading them, ultimately leading to writing careers, lives dedicated to riding and caring for horses and other animals, and even fan memoirs describing Henry’s impact.

But despite a professional existence that became profoundly public, particularly after Misty of Chincoteague, published in 1947, became a bestseller and eventually a popular feature film in 1961, Henry’s own life was mostly shielded from view.

With particular purpose to uncover what is little known about the author, as well as superb instincts for illustrating fascinating details that help readers construct the settings in which Henry’s creative mind, intensive historical and scholarly research, and storytelling ability matured and evolved, accomplished journalist and author Lettie Teague has provided a unique biography that is as much a pleasure to read as her subject’s own books. Highlighting over a dozen titles that represent, to Teague, not only the best of Marguerite Henry’s work but help tell the story of Marguerite Henry herself, and following the trail of some of her remarkable collaborators—most importantly, the charismatic and talented artist Wesley Dennis—Teague gives Henry fans what they always strived for through their thousands of letters: personal connection.

Perhaps what Henry would deem less important, but becomes more and more valid as time passes, is Teague’s desire for the author’s legacy to live on. Many of Marguerite Henry’s books are still very much in print, but as time passes, fewer will remember once writing her fan letters, or perhaps think of the author at all. In these pages, Teague ensures that Marguerite Henry the writer will always be considered as every bit as remarkable as the books that she wrote. Featuring original artwork by Wesley Dennis from some of Henry’s best-known books, as well as over 100 personal photographs, letters, and artifacts few have seen, this is a warm and wonderful biography for bibliophiles, horse lovers, aspiring writers, and Marguerite Henry fans, young and old.

Over time, horses (like people) acquire postural habits, compensate for soreness and injury, and develop poor movement patterns. This limits performance ability, causes unsoundness and health issues, and ultimately undermines the horse's overall well–being.

Jec Aristotle Ballou has made a name for herself advocating for the horse and providing sensible instruction in his schooling, conditioning, and care. Her bestselling books and popular clinics are designed to enable any horse person to correctly apply proven principles that bring measurable progress while avoiding boredom and confusion.

In her latest collection of mounted and unmounted corrective exercises, Ballou demonstrates how we can actively work to improve the horse's posture and movement, whether he is:

• An active performance or pleasure mount.
• An aging or older horse that benefits from gentle exercise.
• A horse being rehabilitated following injury, illness, or lack of conditioning.

Ballou's positive cross–training techniques are free of shortcuts, and her guidelines for analyzing the horse's posture and way of going help readers gain a new awareness of the equine body. Applicable for all disciplines and full of quality color photographs to explain the exercises, this is an integral collection that optimizes how the horse uses his body and helps ensure he stays sounder and healthier for more years of his life.

Keys to riding your horse in an optimal, athletic frame for any equestrian sport or activity—without a bit.

In her inspiringly illustrated new book, horsewoman Ali Kermeen, author of The Working Equitation Training Manual, shows readers how it is possible to get a horse soft and round without using a bit, side-reins, or longeing apparatuses. 

For many, riding “bitless”—without a bit in the horse’s mouth—can feel like a leap of faith because of a perceived lack of control. But, Kermeen argues, most of the time, the control a rider has over a horse (who is a thousand pounds of muscle and reaction) has more to do with training and partnership, and less to do with equipment. Kermeen is not lobbying for all horses to be ridden bitless—as she notes in her book, there are bitless bridles that are just as severe as those with bits, and plenty of horses have the mouth shape, understanding, and rider to happily carry a bit. Ultimately, however, she feels the decision as to whether a horse should be wearing a bit or going bitless should be up to the horse. In addition, Kermeen writes, Learning to ride and train horses bitless has made me a better rider with the bit.” 

To be successful at transitioning a horse from bitted riding to bitless riding, you can't just “trade out the equipment and hope for the best.” Over years of working with horses and competing them without a bit, Kermeen has developed a series of exercises that she uses for all horses, regardless of their likely sport or activity. Her method sets horses up to understand how to be soft and round. A soft horse and rider produce a picture of harmony and understanding. They work as a partnership. A horse that can carry his own body in a round frame, without being forced, is able to be athletic and is in an ideal position to be influenced by the rider. In these pages, learn:

• Important groundwork skills to set your horse up for success.
• Valuable comparisons of different kinds of bitless bridles.
• Expert recommendations for choosing and fitting a bitless bridle.
• Ridden exercises for connecting the groundwork basics under saddle, without a bit.

Kermeen explains that learning to be an effective rider without a bit has made her a better rider when she uses a bit. And her easy-to-use, approachable guide is for anyone who wishes to improve their own performance, as well as being aware of and proactive about their horse’s health, comfort, and well-being.

A humorous look at the world through the eyes of a horse, peppered with satirical observations about the equestrian world.

Sharif, an easily spooked Arabian, is trying to find his life’s calling, but between the truly

terrifying dangers of everyday life and the strange hoofless beings that wave their tiny tentacles at his nose, it is proving a challenge! Barely do his newborn hooves touch the ground for the first time and already he’s in mortal danger—and the hoofless beings really aren’t helping anything. The world is full of monsters and mysteries as far as the eye can see! 

As he ventures out beyond the paddock he shared with his mom, Sharif gets dragged into all manner of dark worlds and questionable jobs, and is constantly surrounded by unusual characters he’s not sure he can trust, including The Chicken, The Fat Boss, and Dumb-as-Rocks. But even when the threats behind every bush grow more menacing, he doesn’t lose sight of his ultimate goal: to be the most famous and beautiful show horse under the sun. 

Then, just before his greatest triumph, the hoofless betray Sharif to cold-blooded criminals, and everything—even really, this time, his life—seems to be at stake. Can one little Arabian horse stretch his courage and reach his dream?

This hilarious, unusual, superbly imagined illustrated novel for “grownups who like horses” is destined to be a hit with anyone who enjoys a little bit of ridiculous and a slightly cynical take on the subcultures that bind us.

The terrifying mystery of a lost girl and her mother’s ghost haunt Alma and her friends at horseback riding camp.

When Alma discovers a date etched into the side of her bunkbed one night at riding camp, Lexi, daughter of the camp owners, shares the chilling story of the family who had been on the farm before hers—the mysterious disappearance and death of the young girl who had lived there, and the tragic spiral of the girl’s mother, as she went crazy trying to find the daughter she loved. The date in Alma’s bunkbed? It was the dead girl’s birthday.

It is Alma’s birthday too.

Alma and her best friend Adriana are transfixed by Lexi’s story, almost as much as Adriana seems to be transfixed by Lexi’s fancy riding clothes and perfect skin—oh, and kissing boys. Alma doesn’t understand why Adriana suddenly wants to talk about kissing boys more than she wants to talk about horses. Alma would much rather talk, and think, about horses. Especially the sensitive, complicated, beautiful Blue, who Alma has been given to ride at camp.

When Alma also finds her birthday carved into a tree, a real fear begins to take over. Is the dead girl’s ghost haunting her? Is the dead mother stalking her? Or is Lexi just playing a cruel joke, doing whatever she can to come between Alma and her best friend Adriana?

The Girl in the Cave is a gripping middle-grade novel about coming of age, friendship, horses, and betrayal—and it all starts with the date 2010-9-10.

A uniquely successful approach to overcoming anxiety, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and self-sabotage.

Almost every rider has felt fear at some point while working with a horse. Fear is a normal reaction to a frightening situation, and as long as the emotion subsides, it isn’t necessarily a problem. However, when apprehension starts to monopolize our thoughts while in the saddle, and when our interactions with our horses are dominated by panic or dread, we need to make a change.

But what if the fear doesn’t want to go away, but you really don’t want to give up your relationship with horses?

Certified hypnotist Nicole Weber aims to give you unique tools to successfully manage the kind of fear that negatively impacts the pleasure you get from horses and riding. Her goal is to enable you to enjoy your partnership with your horse. It is not that you will never feel fear again if you use her techniques, because in situations that are actually dangerous, you should still feel fear. It is just that you will have the ability to control the emotion at the times when you are truly safe, but your brain is telling you a different story.

Weber begins by covering the theory around fear and how it takes hold of us—how fears arise, what causes them, and why horses mirror our emotions. Then she provides everything readers need to know to empower themselves to turn away from fear and toward enjoying your horse life: step by step photographs, links to videos, and guided audio lessons teach you the art of self-hypnosis and Weber’s own method, which she calls Equihypnosis. These safe, effective lessons can change not only the way you manage riding, but the way you manage your life outside the barn, too.

No matter how long your fear has existed or how old you are, Equihypnosis can liberate you from confining beliefs for good. This surprisingly practical, confidence-inspiring book is for every horse person who wants to make sure she never misses a minute of barn time or a day in the saddle.