I bought my first horse six months ago. I think I will write a book too. If owning your first horse for 18 months makes you an expert on horses, then my owning a horse for six months might make me an expert too. Yes I am a novice, but I know ridiculous when I read it. Don't shoe or blanket your horses?? I guess we shouldn't worm or vaccinate them either then. There is alot of bad advice in this book for a novice because it is written by a novice. I must go now so I can start writing my own book.

A friend of mine gave me this book. I was so excited as I have always raved to her about the magical bond between humans and horses. I have owned, trained, and loved horses for the last 30 years. Most of my experience predates the relatively newer "Natural Horsemanship" movement that has seized the horse community. There has always been a rash of bad trainers and bad horse people in the world who felt domination was more important than respect. I am NOT one of those people. I myself use and implement natural horsemanship techniques every single day. I have a very strong bond with all of my horses.

The book began on a good note; the key to a successful relationship is establishing a good strong bond. KUDOS! But then it went downhill with the author criticizing and dismissing nearly 90% of the equine owning world. Horses should be outside 24/7... they never need to wear shoes... they never need to be blanketed... etc... He spoke in terms of absolutes and certainty... that those things NEVER should be done to a horse. To do them is inhumane bordering on abusive.

I have owned many horses and performed in many different fields. I have shown, jumped, dressage, endurance trail, and pleasure. While your typical pleasure horse that is not being worked vigorously daily probably will never need shoes, or need to be stalled (I don't believe in stalling a horse 24 hours), or need a blanket; performance horses are a different story. Some of my performance horses do need shoes, and in winter they do in fact need to be blanketed to allow their body to regulate after a work out. Sometimes we even have to body clip them so that they can cool down without catching a chill or getting muscle cramps. Leg wraps are for their protection, not for my vanity.

After reading the book you may ask, "why would you subject your horse to such things... everything you are doing is against the horses natural evolution of 55 million years." Well 55 million years ago, horses did not have a relationship with man. If you take the authors argument to its logical conclusion, it is inhumane for man to ride or have a relationship with a horse. (I know some of you feel that way, but that is probably a topic for another day.) My point is that you can take the "what is natural" argument to far. It is not natural for a horse to have a human on its back, or a bit in its mouth, or a halter on its head. If we should never blanket, shoe, or stall our horses than what gives us the right to ride them in the first place? Surely carrying around 150 to 200 pounds of excess weight is much worse than the afore mentioned sins.

It is exciting to hear that someone has embraced their horse with such fervor in such a short period of time. But I think he goes wrong when he begins telling the entire horse world that everything they know and have been doing for the last millennium is wrong. Especially considering his entire horse experience has been derived from books, DVDs, and 18 months of horse ownership. It is insulting and it is not intended to further the human/horse bond. It is only meant to chastise horse owners who do not subscribe to his brand of horse ownership.

The book may be entertaining to someone who is a novice in the horse field, but for those of us who have been around horses our entire life it rings hollow. I feel pretty confident that if my horse was allowed to rejoin its herd, he would return to me as well.

This is a remarkable book that invites the reader to enter deeper into his or her own soul as well as the souls of horses. It's beautifully written with love and care and teaches much about horses that I, a lover of horses and all animals, had not fully considered before. I also highly recommend another horse book, ON THE TRAIL OF THE PONY EXPRESS, by Cherokee author Jerry Ellis. He retraces the 2,000 mile route of the Pony Express Trail by horse, foot, covered wagon and canoe.

I read this book at the recommendation of a friend who always has good taste in books. I found myself captured by the story and learning as much about life in general as I learned about life raising horses. "Life Lessons from the Herd" just as easily applies to those of us who live in the "herd" of busy city life as it does to those on the farm.

As a long time horse owner, I was shocked, then saddened that I've been mistreating my horses all of these years. If Camp has done half of the research he claims, then maybe PETA should be alerted to the plight of the horse. The research section of the book, (the only part I didn't find highly entertaining) is full of resources that I now must plod through because as Camp says straight out, he's "only been at this a short while."

Every horse owner should read this book. Granted, the author may be a little zealous in his approach but the book contains a lot of very valuable and thought provoking information for the horse owner. Like the author I became very interested in horses later in life and read everything I can get my hands on from veterinary manuals to you name it. I personally watched natural horseman Clinton Anderson (mentioned in the book) correct problem behavior in a wide variety of horses and in a very short time. As far as I know, Clinton has been the only two time winner of the Road to the Horse Competition. Within the three hour time limit a totally unbroken horse he was given was not only safe to ride and could perform several designated tasks but was also bullet proof when it came to spooking. Some time ago Clinton, like the author Joe Camp, concluded that natural hoof care was the way to go, no horseshoes. The main problem is convincing many long time equestrians that there may be a better way to train and interact with your horse. I know too well how hard it is to break through the "we've always done it that way" wall. Perhaps this book will help. Mr. Camp has included a very good resources section at the end of the book for those who wish to learn more and improve their relationship with horses.

This is truly a must read. Be prepared, once you begin you won't want to put it down!! Joe takes you on his journey into horsemanshp and its a journey you'll enjoy! He weaves a fictional story alongside his real life story. Even non-horse people will love the book. He learns why natural horsemanship is a better deal...both for you and your horse. His experiences are real and well described. He admits to being a new horseman but you'll find you will learn a few tricks from him. I absolutely love it that everything he does is with the horse's well being in mind. You won't find him glued to one particular trainer..but he does mention of few of them . Just a great read and one you'll want to keep on your bookshelf. I've read it twice and ordered several copies for gifts.

Being one of the many women who rode as a kid and is finally coming back to it as an adult, this was just what I needed to help weed out all the conflicting traditional information. Like naturopathic medicine for people, Joe Camp's words just seem like simple, common sense. Thanks for teaching us to think like horses, not like people.

A book for those with an open mind and hopefully also a book to help those in the horse industry that don't have an open mind to begin 'thinking' a little more outside the square.

Joe Camp is an amazing writer and rhis book is a lovely read for anyone who has a love for animals of any kind. In his typical magical way, Joe has brought the reader right into place such that you can almost feel the warm breath, the touch of the whiskers and the soft muzzle of Cash on your own shoulder.

For those getting any pet for the first time, you probably acquired the "expert books" and talked to your vet about the proper care for your new pet. But how many people have found that deeper communication, that mutual trust and the very special relathipships that animals and humans really can share. In sharing his experiences, Joe really brings this to life for the reader. This is a must-have book for those with a passion for horses, and those animal loves in general.

When Joe and Kathleen Camp began to live with horses they were completely clueless, but they carried a strong desire to learn. "The Soul of a Horse: Life Lessons From the Herd" is the story of their journey with and education about the hoofed species. Joe Camp (the creator of the fictional canine Benji) writes how his experiences with canines helped him learn about equines. He tells of how modern horses should be kept and cared for while trying to make "The Soul of a Horse" more than simply another horse book, an act which he executes successfully. "The Soul of a Horse: Life Lessons From the Herd" is highly recommended for community library pet and wildlife collections, and to horse loves everywhere.

Joe's Camp's passionate and intelligent book in a must-read for anyone who's interested in getting to know the inner workings of a horses's heart. It's also an important book about building relationships (both human and equine). I couldn't put it down until I was finished and my non-horse-loving friends enjoyed the book, too.

Joe (and Kathleen) Camp's book is an entertaining, heart warming, and thought-provoking read. I felt like I was accompanying them on a remarkable journey of enrichment and discovery. For me there was just one omission, and it involved the "horse named Jack" mentioned in a somewhat dubious light a few times in the book. You see, my sister and I were the owners of the now infamous Jack. He was an amazing horse and my devoted childhood companion. Yes, we bought him as an untrained five year old when I was only 11 and my sister was 14. But we had to buy him because he chose us! The Camps' book aptly describes how such seemingly irrational decisions can feel compelled.

I admit that Jack was a little unruly under saddle in the early years, but he was only engaging in "natural" young horse behaviors. He always greeted me nostril to nostril, loved to "hang out" and share whatever was in my lunch bag, followed me faithfully without a lead rope, let me ride him with no tack at all, and yes, he was barefoot. Over time Jack matured into a reliable mount carrying me over many miles and through many happy years. The Soul of a Horse provides valuable support and encouragement for others who desire the incredible bond that I had the privilege of sharing with my beloved horse Jack.

Although this book is about horses (for which I own 2). It is so much more than that. It is a book about life, and so much of the lessons learned in this book will be applied to my everyday life with my peers. A wonderful read. Thank you Joe Camp for sharing such a touching story with us.

This book was a big disappointment. It is poorly written, grossly sentimental and repetitious. The 31 Chapters could easily be edited down to ten, with the corny fictional thread about a wild horse and a boy plunked between each of Mr. Camp's first person account narratives omitted. Even as a pamphlet I question how useful this book would be. There is not enough detail about the Join-up process, presumably because somebody else already wrote this book, and the theories on Natural Horsemanship are better researched and documented in other sources. Mr. Camp does very little to add his own voice to the subject, other than to repeatedly marvel at the odd fact that he is one of the few people in the horse world who is smart enough to know the best way to take care of horses (after owning them for all of two years). If Mr. Camp could move us to tears half as much as he tells us he is moved to tears The Soul of a Horse would be far more interesting. I am still interested in reading a book about the soul of a horse. Hopefully there is a talented writer out there with her own voice who won't keep us waiting too long. Readers who are looking for a well written memoir on the horsey life are much better off reading Michael Korda's Horse People, it doesn't delve into the soul of a horse specifically, but it's lucid and thoughtful and without Mr. Korda telling me when to laugh or cry, I did both.

As my husband and I are only now, in our baby boomer retirement, getting to know our two recently adopted horses, Joe and Charlie, the enthusiasm and wonder with which Joe writes reflects our own experience. Every day is a new lesson learned, joint and muscle pain earned, tears shed and laughter every day. We have found, and continue to find, that our new friends can be as difficult, loving, trying, understanding, forgiving and intelligent as any human one can be, if not more. We thought that we could only bond with our dogs, but these two have shown us that this bond comes from a different place, a place which Joe has put into the words we didn't think we could express.

I was not going to write a review of our own book, kinda silly to do that and certainly not helpful to others. However, Dr. Jan's review is deeply troubling. It's not clear to me if she actually read the book. To say The Soul of a Horse is shallow, ego driven, religious zealotry cannot be farther from the mark. Joe describes his first humbling experience in the round pen with Cash as if the reader is actually there, watching the spider crawl across his new boot barn boot (this from a reader email), and the tears streaming down Joe's face when Cash makes the decision to "Join-Up" with him have been shared by many a reader.

When I called her to offer her a refund of the purchase price of the book, she said that was not necessary. I was clear, I thought, in my discussion with her that we were very sorry that she was so disappointed with the book and merely wanted to offer to reimburse her for what was obviously a waste of money to her.

The resources section contains volumes that show we do not espouse that only one way, one clinician, is to be followed, but rather the book is replete with examples of our culling through the vast amount of information, and mis-information to provide the reader with a framework to boldly embark on their OWN journey. Your own journey may be with horses, with teenagers, with employees, students, or any other type of relationship that you want to go to the next level. A level that deepens when you look at the relationship from the other side of the lead rope.

So, for people pondering whether to embark on the journey of The Soul of a Horse, I hope you will read the other 33 glowing reviews :).

I was not going to write a review of our own book, kinda silly to do that and certainly not helpful to others. However, Dr. Jan's review is deeply troubling. It's not clear to me if she actually read the book. To say The Soul of a Horse is shallow, ego driven, religious zealotry cannot be farther from the mark. Joe describes his first humbling experience in the round pen with Cash as if the reader is actually there, watching the spider crawl across his new boot barn boot (this from a reader email), and the tears streaming down Joe's face when Cash makes the decision to "Join-Up" with him have been shared by many a reader.

The resources section contains volumes that show we do not espouse that only one way, one clinician, is to be followed, but rather the book is replete with examples of our culling through the vast amount of information, and mis-information to provide the reader with a framework to boldly embark on their OWN journey. Your own journey may be with horses, with teenagers, with employees, students, or any other type of relationship that you want to go to the next level. A level that deepens when you look at the relationship from the other side of the lead rope.

So, for people pondering whether to embark on the journey of The Soul of a Horse, I hope you will read the other 33 glowing reviews :).

Years on the ground or under saddle do not a horseman make. It is the depth of understanding through passion that translates to feel and feel to knowledge. Joe Camp's passion for both horse and human pours from his heart and through his pen.

Regardless of your experience with horses ~ love `em, own `em, would love to own `em ~ Soul of a Horse speaks to the heart of those who always wanted a relationship with a horse but did not know it was possible. It speaks to the heart of others who believed there must be a better way, a natural way to care for horses but lacked the knowledge or courage to buck the set of assumptions that go unchallenged. (Accepted practices that harm horses and endanger humans.) Still others are taken by how the lessons from the herd easily translate to better human relationships.

Joe Camp's ability to weave a captivatingly beautiful fictional story, together with his self-effacing personal experience is refreshing and delightful.

It is disappointing to me to see Dr. Jan B. Newman, who is supposedly an educated person, so totally miss what Mr. Camp's book, "The Soul of a Horse," has to offer. Every reader will get out of a book only what he or she wants to. That Dr. Newman chose to get so little out of an otherwise excellent and meaningful book is not the fault of the author, or the book. The sad thing here is that such a negative review, actually more of an attack, could cause others who might benefit greatly from this excellent volume to miss concepts, ideas, and resources, that could be at least helpful, and possibly life altering for them and their horses.

Dr. Newman using the example that some of his horses want into the barn instead of preferring the open pasture, is totally meaningless. Those horses may have been barn sour for many years, and so conditioned to the barn that they are uncomfortable any other place. We have all seen horses like that. I can say that all of my horses greatly prefer the open pasture, but that sure doesn't imply all horses do. As Dr. Newman stated, horses are individuals, and there are all kinds of dispositions. Certainly few techniques will work the same way for every horse out there, nor will they work in the same time frame for all horses, but I don't think this book says that either. What it does do is provide a window into a very special relationship that Mr. Camp was able to establish with his horse, Cash, and how that relationship developed. Any statements Mr. Camp makes regarding barefoot horses and natural horse care are all verifiable in the literature. He has simply brought it all together in a beautifully written volume that was a great pleasure for me to read, and will be for most horse owners. That he also provides a listing of excellent resources is just icing on the cake.

Ron Reil

[...] 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

[...] 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, (Monty wrote a review which qualifies a damned by faint praise.), horses are to be out on pasture, 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

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 manuvers, 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 and the alternative 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. 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.This book didn't help me better commune with them. I learned no lessons from this book. That is except that Joe Camp's wife was right about his my way or the highway style.

Even though I have been careing for my own horses in the same manner as Joe has discovered, I thoroughly loved the book. I smiled, laughed and shed a tear or two. He is a great storyteller and the kind of guy I would enjoy sitting on the porch with. Very down to earth. You will love it.

If you're a horse-lover then you will love Joe Camp's fictional depiction of herd behavior as well as his own experience with horses as a beginning owner.

It is a pleasant book that is an enjoyable read. The information he imparts to the reader is what most people who truly love their equine friends already know.

This book gave me confidence to listen to my heart about animals and how God made them vs how man wants them to be. Thankfully, Joe Camp and his wife kept searching until they found the facts that meshed with their heart. This book is not only about horses, but also encourages us to take the time and energy to seek the truth in other areas of our lives and not just accept things because "it has always been done that way". Thankfully, the amazing Benji and his fame gives credibility to listen to Joe Camp. Thanks Benji!
PS: This would be a great book to read with your children--great stories, great truths and teach children about animals & how we are all uniquely made!

I read this book last week and I'm still thinking and talking about it. I grew up riding and caring for horses the "traditional" way (barns, stalls, shoes etc.) and believed that the horses were well cared for and happy. I've been away from horses for a while, but they are still my first love. When I am able to have them in my life again, I will have a completely new, enlightened outlook. I owe Joe Camp and all of the wonderful folks he met and references a huge thank you, and so do my future horses (pets, children, friends, etc.)
A wonderful book! Highly recommended.

Fantastic book. I never wanted to keep my horses locked up in a stall or put shoes on their feet anyway, but this clinches it. The book reads well and I had a hard time putting it down. Anyone who has any interest at all in horses needs to read it.

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.

The horse is a noble animal. It's graceful and elegant. It's eyes are full of beauty. We humans have much to learn from these divine creatures who have served us since the beginning of time.

I find that I learn some of my most valuable lessons from animals. And the author has taken what he and his wife learned from their experience with horses and put the lessons to use in their own lives. The book will make you laugh and cry. It will also make you reflect.

There is, and always has been, a special connection between the human and the horse. Anyone who thinks the horse has no soul only has to be near one briefly and to feel the connection and the trust. We can learn a lot from these graceful, wonderful animals.

A great book and I highly recommend it.

-Susanna K. Hutcheson

I think anyone who has worked with horses and looked deep into their eyes and witnessed stress, fear, uncertainty, can benefit and learn why after reading this book. Joe really touched on their herd instincts and their ability to "join up" as Monty Roberts teaches with us as humans, once we are no longer considered preditors. I loved the book immensely and couldn't put it down. I've given copies as gifts to horse owner friends! Buy the book!

Hopefully more and more people with search it in their hearts to find ways live and amuse themselves with their horses but with with their horse's point of view in mind so that it is also a good deal for the horse. If you don't know how this book will start you on your way.

For 35 years I learned how to ride horses according to the philosophies of diverse riding instructors. It is only within the past 3 years, having an opportunity to own a horse, that I came to understand that knowing how to ride a horse does not make you a horseperson. If you truly love your horse, this book is mandatory reading.

To do the best by your horse, the insights offered by Joe Camp, Frank Bell and Dr. Robert Cook, will open your eyes to your horse. Prepare to be amazed. As Dr. Robert Cook offers, 'You have a better horse than you think'. A little understanding will do wonderous things for your relationship.

Whether you own horses or not, I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a pulse! Joe Camp shares his journey into the world of horses with humor, compassion and down to earth honesty in a way that reaches out and touches your heart. The book is extremely informative, insightful and is packed with resources for someone who is just learning about horses, or for one who has been around horses for years. He makes you feel as if you are 'a part of the herd'.

Joe Camp is a very good writer. Though there is probably no new information in this book, it is well researched and presented in a refreshingly readable form. He has searched through most of the current material on horse keeping and has passed on what makes sense to him. My only concern is that because of lack of experience he attributes some practices to modern "humane" methods when actually they have been around for years if not centuries. Still horses will profit from this "Must Read" book. It has a very useful bibliography at the end. (I have bought three of the books he referred to in his text.) Way to go, Joe!

This book is EXCELLNT!! I could hardly put it down once I started reading it. So insightful. Joe Camp REALLY sees a horses life through a horses eyes and KNOWS what they need and want. I am going to strive to be more like him and this book will help me along the way. Thanks so much Joe, for writing this book and for caring so much for the most beautiful animal on earth!! Doreen B. MI

I have been reading extensively on horse-human connection because I will be starting to do psychotherapy with the assistance of horses soon. I was very moved by this narrative and have recommended it to many people. It certainly moved me and reinforced how horses can reach out to us in spite of mistreatment by others. I expect to continue to learn for the rest of my lifetime and Joe Camp's book was a great way to encourage me to be more emotionally available to my own horses and those helping in therapy.

What a wonderful (and far too quick!) read!

Mr. Camp does an excellent job at truly bringing the horse's mind to the reader's mind. What was especially refreshing was that he did not come off as having all of the answers, but rather took the reader through his learning process and admitted what he didn't know. The book felt very "true" and was outstanding, a must have for any horse lover's library.

The Soul of a Horse: Life Lessons from the Herd

This is one of the best books I have ever read. You don't have to own a horse to enjoy this book, but if you do no matter what level of experience you have with horses I am sure you will learn something. This is a book that will show you the true depth of a horse and the potential you have for a relationship with your horse. Reading this book will take you on several journeys, into the personal learning experience of the author and his wife, and on the more personal level your own journey into the soul of a horse along with the discoveries into your own spiritual side. If you are looking for practical advice and expertise, do not be put off, because this book is also filled with common sense and real hands on how-to's. Whatever Joe Camp does not cover in the book his refrence list will lead you to. Regardless of your level of horsemanship, I recommend this book as a must read.

Joe speaks a clear and simple truth that grabs hold of your heart. "The Soul of a Horse" reminds us of that magical connection possible between man and equine--if we only listen to the horse. For some people, this book will evoke that eternal desire to experience the true spirit of horses. For others, this book might be a challenging revelation--one that might forever change their relationship with horses, for the better.

I just finished reading, "The Soul of a Horse - Life Lessons from the Herd" by Joe Camp. What an amazing book! I couldn't put it down until I devoured every word, every idea, every beautiful thought.
By the way, I am not a horse owner. I am quite simply an animal lover.
One day when I was in my local bookstore (Rhode Island) to purchase a gift for my cousin, the cover of this book caught my eye. I saw a beautiful horse, embraced by his owner Joe Camp. I could see the love there. Then the title intrigued me, "The Soul of a Horse" and I wanted to know more. Inside, Joe Camp says, this book is... "For everyone who has ever loved a horse... or loved the idea of loving a horse." That's me!
The discoveries Camp and his wife Kathleen make with their horses is astounding. But most importantly, their discoveries are born of love. My own soul leapt as I read how Joe Camp spent time with his herd to figure out how horses communicate with each other and then applied it to his own work with them. Here, the reader learns about the horses evolution, their language and how to best care for these magnificent creatures to keep them healthy, happy and living longer.
Joe Camp's clean writing style puts you right in the pasture with the horses to see, feel, smell and understand them.
This book is for anyone who loves animals, loves the planet and wishes to make the world a better place. And, it'll breathe a breath of fresh air into your own soul. It did mine!
I am forever changed by this spectacular book! And, I can't wait to own a horse one day (if he chooses me)!
Raina Smith
Rhode Island

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.

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.

My Mother-in-law and I were so enraptured with the book, Soul of a Horse, that we spent the entire morning in sheer, blissful silence. This is a beautifully written book with clear insights beyond what you would ever expect from a book seemingly about horses. It is really about our relationships with all who we share this planet with. Horses are just the beginning. Thank you for the beautiful book. This book will share that sacred place in my life experience that the BENJI films (which I absolutely adored!) did while I was growing up.

Joe Camp has confirmed everything I felt inside when I bought my first horse. I am 58 years old and knew nothing, except that I wanted, NO, needed a horse. When she was boarded in a small stall and standing in poop, I knew that wasn't right. When the farrier was hammering nails into her hoofs, I knew that didn't feel right. So, now we too have horses out in pasture 24/7 and there are no shoes. They are happier, healthier and now I too am happier and healthier after reading how Joe and Kathleen travelled similar roads. Validation of your feelings from someone who says it all from the heart is a wonderful thing. Read it and change how you live with your animals too.

I found this to be a return, for me, back to the way I KNOW I should work with my horses....but in today's world of real cowboys (where I live and work) these methods are still scoffed at, overlooked by guys who think a horse is a tool. Joe is brave enough to be a man and still treat horses with the respect usually given to them by women, who tend to be more patient.
I have found a friend through Joe's pages of his writing.

Rachael

It's time, people. In the wake of Eight Belles' tragic death...in an uncertain, stressful world where bad news is the norm, I urge you to read this one. Author Joe Camp, creator/writer/director of all the "Benji" movies continues his love for animals in his poignant discovery of what it feels like to own his first horse. Instinctively identifying with the horse's perspective, Mr. Camp's hunger for the truth led him to own a healthy "herd" of his own. Each one barefoot, and having the freedom to roam his property. Real horse lovers will stand up, wipe the tears from their eyes and applaud this gentle man for shedding the light on keeping your horse as healthy as possible and for celebrating the connection between humans and horses. OK, so he may not be the first person to advocate natural horse boarding and if you're looking for a mythical tale filled with literary rhetoric to pack in your beach bag, this book isn't it. What it is, is a charming, responsible page-turner which we equine enthusiasts can devour like a juicy summer peach. It's TIME. Time we all know what the horse wants. Non horse-folks beware, however. This book will enlighten you, too. It makes me want a t-shirt that says, "Everything I need to know I learned from my horse." Thank you, Joe Camp, for embracing these beasts and for giving them the respect they deserve.

This is truly a fresh look at an animal that we humans owe a large debt. This book gives us humans a look at the horse's view of the world, views from a man that wasn't afraid to ask why when things didn't make sense, and an untainted look at numerous `traditions' of training/managing horses from multiple horse professionals. Thousands of years of evolution created a pretty efficient animal in the horse, we as humans have altered what evolution created, and perhaps to the horse's detriment.

Every horse person (as well as non-horse people) needs to read this and see what a wonderful feeling they get from this book. I was laughing one minute, in tears the next, then saying "I know exactly what that was like". I have been around horses all of my life and I would get a chill from reading what this man wrote many times while reading. I agree that equines possess a magical curative power over us humans. All negative thoughts disappear when you have your horse come up to you and give you a big sniff hello, along with a request for a nice scratch in their favorite spot.

You may not agree with what is said in this book about the multitude of equine instructions and guidance available to horse owners today, or agree with the natural methods of horse care and upkeep for equines presented in this book, but you should hopefully come away with the ability to ask `why' when confronted with a new equine predicament, or a human one for that matter. This book shows the power of common sense, and the power of thousands of years of evolution, the miraculous power of the horse.

"Why do you do that with/for/to a horse?" Joe asks. "Normal" people answer, "Because that's the way we've always done it." Joe is courageous enough, loves his horses enough, to find a better way! I am a horse woman who is addicted to horse books of all kinds. I have been reading horse books since I was a little girl. I own three horses and have attended many horse clinicians' events. Joe's book is now my favorite! Maybe because Joe's horse owning experiences are so much like my own. He is a man who loves animals and is brave enough to ask why one does something for the horse. He doesn't do something just because, "That's how we've always done it!" I read this book cover-to-cover over the week end which is unusual for me. I often stop reading a book about a quarter into it. Mr. Camp also weaves a magical story about a wild stallion throughout the book - every other chapter. I wish he would write more about the stallion. I want more!

This is all great advice that the horse world needs to hear, without a doubt, but the author comes across like he's the first person to figure out that we need to educate ourselves about the animals in our care. The repetition of the same advice in several chapters feels almost like a lecture and becomes tedious. If you liked this book, you'll love author Melanie Sue Bowles and her books about Proud Spirit. She's been telling us to let our horses live like horses for years, but does it through heartwarming, inspirational true stories.

Loving horses my entire life, I read from this book another soul who felt the same. Horses are different. It's not like getting a dog to lie down or roll over, horses have a different idea about how things should be. And THIS is how it should be. I rode my first horse just the way he talks about it. I see a little of him in each of Joe's horses and I know I did the right things for him. Having been a true believer in patience, kindness and caring for a horse who had been beaten up more than once, this book expressed in words what I could only do from the ground. The writing is caring and at times deep. It is funny and thought provoking.

It is unfortunate that most of the readers of this book will be those who love horses. Because there are SO many who should read it and understand their way is totally wrong. Submission is not the same as loving and showing love and Joe knew just what to say to show us how.

God bless you and all those who love their horse(s)and want to see them grow in more ways that "up".