“We might be discussing horses and learning horsemanship, but those incredibly valuable lessons were and are life lessons.”
― Van Hargis: The Horse is My Teacher
Today I bring you another Book Club entry! This new book is by a cowboy named Van Hargis and is titled The Horse is My Teacher: Lessons from the Ranch: Training, Riding, Luck and Love.
You can get your copy directly here at Trafalgar Square books!
I’ve known about Van Hargis for years, he first came across my radar in 2017 at Equine Affaire (My 5 Most Memorable Clinicians at Equine Affaire 2017). In that clinic, my friend rode her horse Jojo in the colosseum. I took home notes about knowing where the horse’s hooves are at all times. In fact, to this day I sometimes sit at the walk and feel my horse’s belly sway left and right and feel where each foot makes contact with the ground, and I can adjust his cadence using that feel.
“The ones that seemed to have the greatest understanding of the horse appeared to be the ones that worked the hardest-not at acquiring trophies, buckles, or titles, but at finding ways to get along better with the horse and share it with others.”
―Van Hargis: The Horse in My Teacher
I’ve always wanted to read Van’s books but never really made much time for reading. As a child I read like a fiend…then in my school years I lost that love. Now I have finally found the time and passion for books once again. Finally, I was able to pick up one of his books.
The Horse is My Teacher was first published in 2022 and consists of 18 thought-provoking chapters. Each chapter is a lesson we can learn to improve both our horsemanship and humanship. Van supplements each lesson with a story to help explain his thoughts.
“As it turned out, the issues she was experiencing with her son mirrored almost exactly the problems she experienced with her horse. He was lazy, belligerent, non-responsive, and disrespectful. So by learning solid horsemanship, she rediscovered the tools that she already possesssed in order to be less stressed at her job and to be more successful in her relationship with her son.”
―Van Hargis: The Horse in My Teacher
One of my favorite lessons is “Where you Release is What You Teach.” That’s been a major theme throughout my life with horses and it was nice to see this confirmed by Van as well. In a clinic with Sinead Halpin Maynard, she got on a thoroughbred who, as thoroughbreds do, was trying really hard to understand what was being asked. She said he was giving you five answers to your question…so timing was everything to make sure you taught the right thing. I’ve found the same to be true with Stanley as he wants to do the right thing but gets frustrated if he can’t figure it out.
In the book, Van explains how this concept worked to help train a mare to accept clippers. He follows up the horse story with how he applied the concept to raising his daughters.
“In the beginning it is imperative that we are willing to work hard to deliberately communicate in a way that the horse understands. In time, as trust and understanding develop, then refinement of communication may transpire. That’s what my horsemanship training program is all about: keep it simple, keep it basic, and train from the horse’s perspective.”
―Van Hargis: The Horse in My Teacher
Chapter 8 was captivating for me as well; it’s titled “Dare Your Horse to Be Good.” I love this idea and it’s something I both excel at and struggle with in different ways. I love the idea that you need to offer your horse a chance to do the right thing. Years ago someone thought I was crazy for riding my big spooky horse on the buckle. “You’re brave,” they told me. But from my point of view, I showed my horse I trusted him and I was relaxed…in turn, he trusted me that nothing was scary and walked perfectly with no spooking. Yet when I’m training, or at a clinic or at a show I get hyper-focused…I get busy with my hands and overcorrect.
I love that Van also relates this in the real world. Putting your trust in others is equally as important. Easier said than done.
“The not so simple act of letting go and giving those around us the opportunity to do something well is a step in developing trust in one’s self, others, and one’s program or process. Learn to develop that trust by strengthening your personal skills to the point where you have confidence in others. Where they are weak, help them be strong. Where you are weak, work to improve.”
―Van Hargis: The Horse in My Teacher
I simply cannot choose a favorite chapter in this book because they all have a place in our world. They are all so important in making ourselves better horsemen and better people. I never truly put the lessons about horses and humans together before this…I have great relationships with my animals but humans have always been a source of anguish for me (Except for maybe a few). Van is a master of connecting the dots to make you see the concepts really to translate well across species.
“If you start out abrupt and stay abrupt in your relationship with a horse, he is always going to expect abrupt behavior from you, and what you are going to get back from him will be abrupt (anxious) behavior. If instead you are consistent in you you ask with a progression from light to firm, horses (and people) will trust thee fact that by the time you get to the point of being firm, then you have been fair in the process.”
―Van Hargis: The Horse in My Teacher
Throughout the book Van touches on aspects of his not-so-happy childhood with his abusive stepfather. In Chapter 12: Taters, Eggs, or Tea Bags? Van dives into a story about the aftermath of those years. I’ve always known the story of the egg and the potato. If you stick a potato into hot water (turbulent, uncomfortable) it’ll soften…an egg will harden. But the tea bag was new to me. Essentially the tea bag doesn’t change, it changes the water around it. I love this addition to the lesson but also the bravery and character Van shows in this chapter.
“Solutions to most obstacles can be found if we take them inch by inch rather than in yards.”
―Van Hargis: The Horse in My Teacher
Final Word:
I love The Horse is My Teacher by Van Hargis. The book uses a well-balanced blend of story and lesson. The pages are easy to read. The chapters are brief but thorough. Each chapter is carefully laid out to summarize the one lesson being presented.
I love that Van combines personal experience in both horses and his human life to show that the concepts translate between species. Essentially these concepts are the path to a good life.
Any person will really get a lot out of this book, but I think adults will especially get more out of it. Adults may have more life experience to draw from. That said truly anyone could take something from this book. In fact, I wouldn’t even hold this exclusively to horse-people. Any person who desires to both be entertained but also learn some valuable life lessons can appreciate this book. The lessons inside can help with interpersonal relationships in the family, between friends, at work. Van embodies the “humanship” aspect of his horsemanship program.
This is a fantastic book!
“I love people. I love helping people. I love the horse and I’m grateful for the horse because the horse has been the vehicle that has made it possible for me to do what I truly love, and that is to help people..”
―Van Hargis: The Horse in My Teacher
I also want to add that I buy most of my horse books from Trafalgar Square Books. I’m excited to say that I am an affiliate with the publisher, and so proud to be. Trafalgar Square embodies the spirit of horse people…. they ARE horse people. The operation is based in an old barn in Vermont and run by only a few people…people you can talk to and meet in person at events. It’s not a big corporate conglomerate, and for that I am grateful. This happens to be one of such books. You can find your copy through my affiliate link here, it’ll let TSB know I sent you!
The Horse is My Teacher: Lessons from the Ranch: Training, Riding, Luck and Love by Van Hargis
Published by Trafalgar Square books, North Pomfret, VT
If you have any questions, comments, or would like further information, please contact:
contact@trafalgarbooks.com / (802) 356 6706
The Green Horseman 
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