Product Description
In Search of Feel and Connection with the Horse
Internationally acclaimed horse trainer Mark Rashid shares and analyzes the remarkable events, quiet moments, and humbling stumbling blocks that—looking back—he can identify as significant in his personal journey to finding “softness” with both horses and people. “Softness,” via what many in the horse world today might refer to as “feel,” begins, Rashid says, with one simple truth: “It’s not about what we do that starts us on the path to softness, but rather, it’s what we don’t do.” Softness is having the sensitivity we need in order to feel when and if the horse tries to “give.” It is about developing the kind of awareness and feel it takes to know when we are working against our horses, rather than with them. In these forthright stories, readers get a glimpse of a life that has produced a man known for his ability to solve difficult problems with communication rather than force, as well as methods and techniques gleaned from decades of work with horses, horse people, and martial artists.
Paperback, 184 pgs.
8 reviews for Journey To Softness by Mark Rashid
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aperry2395 –
Possibly my favorite of Mark’s books. He perfectly applies his aikido lessons to his horsemanship. “Let us practice Kindness today.”
Sandy Mckay –
“There is strength in muscle, but power in softness” This quote by Mark Rashid at the beginning of his book “A Journey to Softness” is illustrated throughout the book in recollections by Mark and several other people who have worked with Mark. As a person who can get very tense I find reading this book grounds me. As a person who is not physically strong, the insights in this book have shown me that it is not about strength, but about feel and timing and the patience to wait, things that horses have but we have to learn.
sarahandshiloh –
I love all Mark Rashida books and dvds and recommend then to everyone, especially to anyone just getting started in horses.
david –
The more time I spend on my horsemanship journey the more I realize how much softness within ourselves is so important, maybe most important. Mark Rashid does a wonderful job communicating how to develop this softness within ourselves which then translates to our horses.
gerryboris –
Mark always has such insight into living and working with horses. He offers many nuggets of information . Softness transfers to everyday life as well. If I am not soft and relaxed before I manage my horses they quickly tell me. A book well worth reading many times.
Betsy Bierman –
This book is a must read for those on the path to learning and feeling softness with horses (or any living thing). It it educational, entertaining, and a book you will likely read again and again. One of the best Mark Rashid has written!
krantz82 –
An excellent book for horse people at any level. The one thing that I took away from this book is the ideology of practicing a “softer” way of being throughout life as a whole. Love this book!!
socialstockwoman –
This book is a must read. All of the stories that Mark shares are entertaining as well as educational, and share the learning of developing softness, not only in our horses, but in ourselves. One quote from this book that has stuck with me is “There is strength is muscle, but there is power in softness.” I love all of Mark Rashid’s books, but this one is my favorite.