Favorite Books, or An ADD's Guide to Horse Training

I am really short on time this week. I had a great suggestion to make up a list of the reading that has shaped me as a trainer.
That's pretty easy for me, because I have my most important books sitting on a shelf in my studio, always within reach.
I'd love additional suggestions from anybody that has them. I am a voracious reader, especially horse books, any breed, any discipline, it all interests me.

Misty of Chincoteague (and the rest) by Marguerite Henry, illustrated by Wesley Dennis
OMG. Do you want your horse crazy child to go off the deep end? Here you go. Only the hard cover, full color editions will do on these beautiful, wonderful stories. I learned that you had to earn the right to ride, you should always listen to Grampa, and if you did those things, you could run off on your pony, fall, jump, or swim your pony in the ocean, save lives, capture wild ponies, and win races.

The Black Stallion Series by Walter Farley
Alec was the coolest, most savvy kid on the planet. The Black was the best dream horse anybody could come up with.
Solid horsemanship came along with these wild ride books. Walter Farley knew what he was talking about.
The Black gave me a fairly stubborn, often unrealistic tendency to help the underdog. It convinced me that if I stuck with a horse, tried to understand it, and believed in the impossible, I would be able to tame anything.
The Black also gave me a bad case of the go-fast.
I've never recovered.
I guess I'm lucky ol' Walter didn't get me killed.

Monte Foreman's Horse-Training Science
This book went hand in hand with my learning the Monte Foreman method. I was sixteen years old when a young trainer named Mike Craig started me on this system.
It changed my life with my horse, and turned on my "trainer brain". Monte dissected every maneuver a horse performed with film. He mixed up western and english concepts with abandon.
To this day I break down every maneuver a horse in my training is required to make, and figure how to teach the horse to reach his optimum capacity for each step. I'm obsessive. Thanks Monte. I guess.

Lyons On Horses by John Lyons
My first peek into the kinder, gentler world of NH. Although John would cringe if you called him an NH trainer. A smart and savvy man, he teaches a safe, sane way to work with your horse.
This is the first of three books I recommend to new horse owners.

Think Harmony with Horses by Ray Hunt
Dryer than dust, still a must read as far as I'm concerned. This is the second book I want my new horse owners to read. Every single clinician on the planet, and a lot of the rest of us, have been influenced by this great, great, horseman.
I'm so old I remember Pat Parelli attending his clinics. Pat strutted around quite a bit, had a bevvy of little twinkies swirling around him, and I never saw Ray acknowledge him once. Ever. Kind of tainted my view of Pat. Seemed he was so busy planning his pyramid scheme, and his product line, he forgot to listen to the man. I digress.

True Unity by Tom Dorrance
The third book for newbies, this book makes Ray Hunt seem like a Pulitzer prize winner. Tough to wade through, but loaded with dynamite thinking. Plus it's good to know where Ray's thoughts about horses were shaped.

Dressage by Henry Wynmalen
This is my bible. I carry it around in my car. It has helped me in every area, balance, hands, foot placement of my horse. My colt development is largely based on exercises I learned in this book.

Simple Dressage for Every Horse, Every Sport by Jane Savoie
This fun book helped me understand what the hell Henry Wynmalen was talking about.

The Body Language of Horses by Tom Ainslie and Bonnie LedBetter
Simple, direct, not sappy. All of the things that keep my attention while I'm looking at things from the horses side. Kind of like horses, ya think? This book is also a great help if you like to bet a little on the ponies.

The Less Than Perfect Horse by Jane Thelwall
Written by three day eventers in the 60's, this book covers an incredible range of training issues. It addresses problems, causes, and solutions. It also addresses those horses that are not physically perfect, and how to work with them within their limits. Go Fuglys!
This is a great book for every discipline, I find ways to use the techniques in all of the areas they cover, even if the only thing I jump is a wet steamy cow pie, or a random yucca plant.

Larry Trocha Video Series
I know this isn't a book, but I first encountered Larry's videos when I first got into reining and cows. They really helped me.
Larry isn't exactly an Academy Award caliber speaker, but he has great information to share, and it makes sense. He shows you broke horses, green horses, talented ones, and some that aren't so much.
I had a nice conversation with him once when I was trying to put together a video package I wanted. Not only was he a really nice guy, but it turns out he started way back when with Monte Foreman too. So I really understood his approach.
Any of his tapes that apply to you will help a bunch. I still refer to mine whenever I get stuck. There's always something new for me to pick up.
So that's my list. Share yours, I need something to read.