Books

The real-life story of a wild and tempestuous Exmoor colt foal who was rounded up from his moorland home and – after being weaned and multiple hot branded – found himself unwanted and facing a bleak future. He was offered a lifeline by Dawn who faced the formidable challenge of taming him. This is the story of how ‘Bear’ becomes a magnificent registered stallion – taking the showing world by storm, winning two world championships in horse agility – and how he conquers his fears and learns to build a bond of trust with Dawn. The book is a candid account of the highs and lows of their journey – how they both strive to learn and find the resilience to overcome adversity to succeed – with amusing anecdotes throughout. It offers fascinating insights into the characters and behaviours of stallions, the wild Exmoor ponies of Exmoor National Park and their quest for survival. There are invaluable tips for empathetic trust-based horse handling – including backing to saddle – with a practical section detailing the Core Connection Warm-up Exercises that Dawn uses to establish the foundation skills for liberty, agility and ridden work. The book explores riding bitless and the ethics of competition. It will appeal to people interested in better understanding the equine mind and developing trust and connection with any horse or pony. Most of all, it is the captivating story of a charismatic wild-born Exmoor stallion that will resonate with anyone who loves horses

Hardback.