Rating: 
Summary: Powerfully transformational
Review: This is the most powerful book I have ever read. I have been recommending it to non-equestrian as well as equestrian friends, to men as well as women. Very complex material and mystical experiences with horses are handled with grace and elegance. It is well grounded with applicable historical, scientific, and mythological research masterfully interwoven into the author's personal experiences and philosophies. The anecdotal stories of healing interactions between humans and horses are moving...I vacillated between tears of joy and sorrow as I journeyed through the book. It is truly inspired and transformational. Kohanov has the courage to delve deeply into her own true feminine wisdom as well as the collective wisdom of horses. She successfully presents information and experiences with a most remarkable blending of the masculine and the feminine...the kind of balance which would benefit our corporate based culture. This is a book that will offer the reader what he or she is needing whether it is to have limiting belief systems challenged, to better understand another human being or animal, or to be personally supported or validated as was the case for me. After reading it, I felt a strong sense of wholeness and completeness which has not left me having at last embraced my own intuitive and mystical experiences with horses and with other forms of nature. I now recognize them as deeply natural and to be the true expression of my feminine wisdom. I have learned to recognize my horse as a wise teacher and his behavior as a mirror of my congruency or incongruency. We are both the happier for it. To me, this is a sacred book...my own copy I hesitate to share.
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Summary: Best book ever read!
Review: This wonderful book is the result of very thorough in-depth research of a woman who knows what she is talking about. It provides an insight of animal-human relationships and how people can use their encounters with horses to develop their own personality. It helps horse people to understand the specialty of interactions with horses and how horses reflect our feelings and attitude. Linda Kohanov is a great horse woman and has provided us with a very valuable book with plenty of further references to explore. Reading absolutely recommended!
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Summary: To Question is to Fear!
Review: To say my excitement level after reading this book was beyand the "high" I could have imagined is an understatement. ... Like Linda, I too own a "black horse" who also happens to be an Arabian. A breed, like the author, who receives much critizism and misunderstanding because these animals virtually live on a higher, more sensitive plain of existance than most other breeds of animals. If we open our minds and explore the personality and wonders of the being of whatever breed of horse we come in contact with, we can surely share something beautiful and wonderous. In the horse industry, I too have seen and heard dozens of "closed minded" individuals who like it "their way or the highway"! I feel sorry for those humans who have not yet experienced the humilaty to explore their own personal human condition before interragorating the wonders of suggestions that other people can offer. My sincere thanks to Linda who has opened a door for me with the same wisdom and understanding of the horse that I have silently kept within myself for the 6 years I have owned my horse. ...
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good
Review: Very good, insightful & helpful book on horses feelings vs abused womens feelings. The stories are the best. The author has done her research well. She does go overboard intellectualizing the horse myth type things, though I imagine the rich white yuppie folk eat this stuff up daily and somehow feel better for it, which is probably why she can get such astronomical prices for her "training". Still it's a 4 star and I would read others by her.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME
Review: What a fabulous wealth of information. The book is wonderfully written and shows the heart and soul of Linda Kohanov. What courage is shown in tackling this controversial subject. BRAVO!!!!!
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Summary: "Yes, this horse-human relationship can be saved!"
Review: When I found this book, I was researching how to overcome fears of riding and falling. I am a novice rider and first-year horse owner who was, at the time, just recovering from my first major horse-related accident. We were out on the trail, trotting along, and my horse spooked while I was on the upbeat of the post, ejecting me quite thoroughly. A sprained back grounded me for 6 weeks and left me unexpectedly panic-stricken when I tried to ride again. My horse sensed both my fear and mistrust and responded by losing trust in me and becoming increasingly difficult and frightening to handle. Since I didn't want to sell my beloved horse or give up riding out of fear, and because I couldn't locate a trainer specializing in fear issues in my area, I headed to the bookstore for a solution. I didn't find the book I was looking for--but I found the book that I needed. This is one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. Although the subject matter doesn't deal specifically with fears caused by falls, I've found instead a much deeper answer to the myriad of problems with which my horse and I have been dealing. I discovered the root of our problems when I read Linda's description of "emotional incongruity"--when human body language and behavior appear (to the horse) to be out of sync (incongruent) with their inner feelings. I'd been hiding my overwhelming fears behind a false bravado, which unsettled my horse to the point that he no longer felt comfortable cooperating with me. After I read this, I stopped trying to "win" the endless battles and began applying the concepts I was learning from Linda's book to our relationship, with wonderful results. Without resorting to bizarre "training methods" or programs, my horse and I have simply reinvented our method of communicating. The experiences Linda shares in the book, as well as the history, psychology, and intuitive concepts, have helped us work through our problems while providing a scintillating insight into the mind and emotions of these magnificent creatures. My confidence is back, my horse is once again calm, responsive, friendly and "manageable" and we are building an even better relationship than we originally had. Most importantly, riding and being with my horse is fun again. I recommend this book not only for those with a passion horses, but also those interested in animal and human psychology, tribal evolution, and personal growth. This book has it all.
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Summary: Tao of Equus
Review: When Linda first published her book, I watched with excitement, and disbelief, as it all came together. You see, I had the great fortune to live in Tucson Arizona and board at The Ranch, a central location for many of the events in the book. I was a student of Linda's during the time she was writing the book. I knew the characters, human and equine, and even had the chance to read proof chapters of her book. (Which I skimmed and deemed "too far out" for my taste) My faith in her ability was small. We were "local yokels" boarding our horses in a rural environment, playing around the edges of things. Nothing profound was happening here, therapeutic riding was "nice," and we were all enjoying a great hobby. Even after her book was published, I continued to fail Linda. We went out to dinner one night and talked about horses. I cannot remember the exact topic, but in reference, she asked if I had read a certain part of her book. I could not respond clearly because I still had not read the book! Fortunately, Linda had the courage to go on the journey without the rest of us. Since reading the book, my entire outlook is different. I have decided to throw out the equitation rulebook. I have always been a caring rider, but since reading Linda's book, I have been freed up to relate to my horse in a way that has not seemed ok before now. As fate would have it, I experienced the fluttering, bursting feelings of joyful resonance that Linda talks about in her book. I decided to be ok with the idea that it was either coming from my horse or I was resonating with my horse or, heck, in some way, it involved my horse, and I was not crazy. Now that I have opened up to this possibility, when I am around my horses, I feel euphoric. I love them and they love me back. Linda has written something so beautiful and touching, spiritual, creative and magical. It is stunning. I cannot believe how alone she was on her journey while she was writing this book. I was there to witness that fact. The people, who could have supported her, like me, were too far behind. I wanted to write this as an affirmation of the direction that she took, it was the right one, and to thank her for paving the way. Read this book!
Rating:
Summary: Tao of Equus
Review: When my wife gave me this book for Valentines Day I thought, "Why do I, a man, want to read a book about a woman's journey". About a month later I had to put my favorite horse down because of an accident. I picked up the book. It was filled with wisdom, reasearch and insight into a world I knew in someways existed but didn't really give that much thought to. This book was the missing piece for our leadership development program. An opening for people to use the horse to open up more of themselves. I am not the kind of guy who likes fluff, and there is some fluffy stuff in the book and at the same time there is research and data that showed me that Ms. Kohanov had really done her homework. Excellent book for those people looking for a different way, a new way, a more enlightened way!
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Summary: Mind/body awareness takes a new turn
Review: Writer and equine therapist Kohanov explores questions of horse psyche, spirituality, and connections with human emotions in Tao Of Equus, an intriguing guide, which considers the behavioral nuances of horses and people alike. Mind/body awareness takes a new turn within Kohanov's detailed examination of equine habits and psychology.
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Summary: Apply to your own daily experiences, it really works!
Review: Yes, this book is a collection of stories that Linda procured over her vast experiences (some supernatural, so if that doesn't float with you, then don't buy this book) in dealing with horses and their connections with people.
I remember reading the first few chapters thinking, "Ok, so it's an interesting read. I'll give it a go because I love horses so much," however after reading at least past chapter 5 I began to change the way I thought of horses. There was some "click" that began to take over my heart and mind, joining the two to form a conclusion: That this stuff actually can be used! Yes, this book is part story, part practical. No, Linda does not specifically tell you how to tap into your intuition, however one should keep an open mind while reading this anyway.
I had been having problems trying to control an unruly Thoroughbred, one which didn't like listening to anyone, let alone be subject to control from a light-weight creature on its back. This thoroughbred had the worst attitude I had ever encountered, but once I finished reading Linda's book I began to re-train my mind. I began to reform circuitry in my brain that led to a much more open heart toward that horse.
Using Linda's book, her ideas inspired me to use my intuition to communicate with the horse. The horse miraculously responded rapidly to this form of communication. No need for whips, no spurs, no nothing...no typical human need (on my part) was left for controlling that creature.
I can't recommend this book enough for those horse-enthusiasts that are SICK and tired of whipping, pulling, and being frustrated over unruly horses. Really, is the problem with the horse or with us? You'll start asking yourself that question all the time after reading this book.
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