The Backyard Horseman

Whether you already have a horse or are thinking of buying one, you’ll find plenty of practical advice and valuable information in The Backyard Horseman, a down-to-earth guide to raising and caring for horses on a small scale and a limited budget. Emphasizing ethics and economy, longtime backyard horseman Ron Rude covers topics such as buying, feeding, and training, as well as health, gear, facilities, pasture management, shows and events, and decisions owners face when horses grow old. The Backyard Horseman dispels romantic myths about owning horses and replaces them with something far more valuable: a philosophy of ownership that, with planning, study, and practice, leads to a rewarding relationship and a solid foundation of true horsemanship.

Ron Rude has kept a few horses on a few acres with a limited budget for nearly forty years. He is the author of Waiting for Otto and Wild Horses Running, as well as numerous articles in equine publications. Ron rides extensively in the backcountry, occasionally works cattle for neighborhood ranches, and reads widely on the subject of horsemanship. He lives in Plains, Montana, with his wife Karen.