A Good Horse Is Never a Bad Color: Tales of Training through Communication and Trust

by Mark Rashid, Mike Chamberlain (Narrator)

In this follow-up to his first book, "Considering the Horse," Mark Rashid continues to share his gift for using communication, not force, in working with horses. Rashid uses heart-warming and humorous stories to share his techniques of teaching horses by understanding their view of the world. These tales deal with many facets of buying, owning, and training horses. Stories of Arabs, appaloosas, and paints—mistrusted and mistreated because of their breed—will give you a new perspective on these breeds and others. Rashid's accounts of horses bound for slaughter because they couldn't be trained will inspire you to give your own problem horse another look. And when Wil, the ugliest horse you can imagine, turns out to be the best on the ranch, you'll understand why a good horse is never a bad color.

Genres: Horses, Nonfiction, Animals, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published January 31, 1996

About the author

Mark Rashid (pronounced RASH-id) is an internationally acclaimed horse trainer known for his ability to understand the horse’s point of view and solve difficult problems with communication rather than force. He began working with horses at age ten, when he met the “old man,” who taught him to work with horses, not against them, and to listen to what the horse is trying to say. Mark’s clinics center on one-on-one work with horse and rider and are immensely popular with people around the world.

When Mark decided to study the martial art of aikido as a way to improve his horsemanship, he brought the same quiet determination to it that he exhibits in his work with horses. After years of practice, he has earned a second degree black belt in Yoshinkan aikido and now teaches the “way of harmony” in the local dojo.

Mark worked full time on ranches for many years gathering herds, managing stock, and training horses. When time permits, he still enjoys working on ranches near his home in Estes Park, Colorado.

Mark has been a guest on NPR’s The Horse Show and was featured on the Nature series on PBS. He is the author of nine books - Considering the Horse, A Good Horse is Never a Bad Color; Horses Never Lie; Life Lessons from a Ranch Horse; Horsemanship Through Life; Big Horses, Good Dogs, & Straight Fences; A Life With Horses; Whole Heart, Whole Horse; and his latest, a novel, Out of the Wild. He also has a solo music CD Song of the Prairie and enjoys singing and playing guitar with a local band The Elktones.

Reviews

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good Horse is Never a Bad Color is by Mark Rashid I liked Mark’s first book as well. This one was returned to me from a student friend, and I read it again.

Why I like this book, and recommend it heartily to my horse loving friends especially to the new owners, is that horses are like people and have differing habits, upbringing and behaviors. Being able to understand and figure out why horses are different is explained thoroughly in this book, and will make it easier to befriend and calm a cranky horse.

If one is lucky enough to obtain a few days old horse and are responsible for its care and upbringing differs very little from any other critter including humans. Love and tender care works well on all critters.

This book answers a lot of questions for those working with horses they haven’t raised from very young, and what can be done to calm and correct bad behavior in a significant way.

I always recommend Mark’s books.

[Jordy Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another thought provoking book from a humble horseman.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a teenager and learning how to show my 4-H calf my Dad once told me "a good cow of any breed is a good cow," when I asked him what breed of cow was his favorite. That simple phrase stuck with me and has reminded me many times to look beyond the obvious.
"A Good Horse is Never a Bad Color" tells many stories around this concept and will give any reader not only a better understanding of what makes a good horse but, more importantly, what makes a good horseperson.

[Khari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome.

Just plain awesome.

There is really not much more to say than that.

The author wrote in a simple and engaging way. I learned a lot about how to train a horse, and how to think from a horse's perspective and it was all couched in fun little short stories. I read a third of this book the first night I started it and the next morning went and checked out all the other books by this author. Just a lot of fun to read while still being educational.

[Christie Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another spectacular, stand-out book about human-horse relationships, but with plenty of lessons for human-any-animal (including other human) relationships: Show, don't force; think about it from the other's perspective; let it take the time it takes/lay the foundation right; don't assume you know from a glance what the other is really like. I cannot get enough of Mark Rashid.

[Geri Omohundro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought several "cowboy" type books for my mom for Christmas. I read this one and thoroughly enjoyed it. It reaches way beyond just the horse training set. I enjoyed the stories the author shares of growing up while working for an ol' cowboy who trains horses. He learns so much about handling animals, BUT I felt the things he learned would help us all understand animals or people, who might be frightened or confused or just balky. I felt like it gave me more understanding and patience in my everyday encounters. The author shared wisdom from the old man that is priceless. I will definitely read his other books.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Count me in as a Mark Rashid fan. As a newly returned and less confident rider (English this time), I have been doing a lot of research and reading in an effort to expedite this long process of horsemanship. While it can't exactly be "rushed", there are definitely things that can be understood quicker! Mark adds value to understanding where the horse is coming from, and I like that a lot. There may be English and Western and any number of sub-categories of riding, but horsemanship is an overarching goal. Add Mark to your reading list. Through his stories of horses (and people!) he has known and worked with, you will broaden your own background of knowledge.

[Marjolijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again an inspiring book. I really enjoy the way Mark's encounters with horses are described and how he looks at it, what he has learned from "The Old Man" and how you should train your horse. His books are a good recommendation for everyone who works with horses, either on a daily basis or every once in a while.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am tearing through Mark Rashid's catalogue and this was another good one.I didn't relate to the title topic - not too many people I know are prejudiced against horses based on their color and, while many people have a favorite breed, they aren't actively discriminating against horses of other breeds but, that aside, this is a good book about general horsemanship and even the titular idea is a good reminder to judge everyone as an individual (in case you forgot). This book is an easy read (or listen, on audible) and provides great learn-by-example stories of working with horses on the things that are hard for them. Just a content warning - some parts deal with abuse of the horses, but not too many - still those that did are really sad.

[asma · Rating 4 out of 5]

What most people don't understand, I think, is that once we see the horse's point of view and understand the way horses see the world around them, working with them becomes a whole lot easier...Then, instead of forcing the horse to fit into our world, we can meet it halfway, which, I would wager to guess, is the only thing a horse would ask of us, if it could.

*

Phenomenal storytelling and so, so informative. What a read.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, and fascinating stories about how the author learned to teach horses in a way that understands that horses don't think like people think. Worth reading again (I've read it a couple of times in the past), but it always makes me sad to read of the abuse and neglect the horses experience before Mark Rashid (or his mentor) come upon them.

[Rudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the exception of a few lulls in the latter half of the narrative, this is such an exciting, engaging, and enjoyable book. I don't have horses, but I still found Mark Rashid's stories to be universally applicable in how I interact with most animals, and was even challenged to a bit more patient in life. That last statement sounds corny, but it's true.

[Jenna George · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only complaint with Rashid is his devotion to using a bit. I think bit-less is a much softer way to ride, so I'm confused why it's never offered in his training. But other than that quibble, he's clearly one of the best horse trainers.

[Gordana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tales of empathy, understanding and training

Beautiful mixture of training practical advices/insights and all what You need in between as human being that wants to work or to be involved in any way with horses.

[The Mockabee · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING BOOK!!! I keep reading it over and over again. It really makes you think of what you are doing with your horse, and if you are doing it right. It helps you think from the horse's perspective which i thought was awesome. Would definitely recommend for horse lovers of any age.

[Cheri Pallett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book because Rashid told many interesting stories that illustrated different training strategies. I especially loved his consideration of the horse’s viewpoint when making training decisions.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy writing style and great stories. I didn't want this book to end.

[Linda Mattison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been a horse lover, but never understood how to train a horse. This book was very interesting to read and made me want to get a horse just to have the opportunity to train.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite !

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Lianne Arnote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shows a profound and uncanny respect for horses and a caution for horse owners who don't understand how to treat their responsibilities.

[Beanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!! Every Horse Owner or horse enthusiast should read.

[Jo-jean Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rashid's writing is as empathetic and humane as his training techniques! I'm very appreciative of what I've learned!

[Nadia T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Mark Rashid and the stories he tells

[Cynthia T Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes

Lovingly written. And that's enough to say about that
(and eleven more words won't add anything of significance to this review)

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book that really showed how it doesn’t matter what the color of a horse is. It gives a couple of examples of a horse being trained; each a different color.

[Re Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book and would highly recommend for any animal owner.

[Sydne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do enjoy his stories; my training differs from the way he works, but there's definitely truth in a lot of the things he points out.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Rashid continues to be a good storyteller.

[Katie Labedz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book

I loved everything about this book. From working with troubled horses and owners, to his realization he had a gift. Fantastic!