by Phillip Sponenberg, DVM, PhD, 
Veterinary College of Virginia Tech 

Conquerors - by Dr. Deb Bennett 

"Deb Bennett has succeeded in putting together a book that brings together a host of loose ends in horse lore, history, and horsemanship. The result is nothing short of miraculous. I was enthralled from the first page to the last, and dropped everything else when I began reading the book - I simply could not put it down! The information is exhaustive, and is presented in a very enjoyable format. I found much new, much very stimulating, and much thought-provoking in the information that Dr. Deb so admirably presents. 

This book is essential for anyone for whom the Spanish breeds hold special fascination, but its utility and scope also place it on the "must read" list for anyone interested in horse breeding, management, and training. Deb successfully and concisely lays out the history of human and horse interactions from the earliest days to the present, and details what these interactions have meant for both the humans and the horses. Conquerors provides a very solid conceptual base for horse breeding, and sheds great light on what works and why! The documentation of the intricate tapestry formed by the various threads of horse lineages through the ages is especially valuable to anyone interested in horse breeds and how they arose, and is especially helpful for those interested in conserving various of those threads that are now endangered. Her call to action to conserve endangered horse populations is timely, and I hope that breeders respond. 

Dr. Deb's discussions of horsemanship are intriguing, and trace the management of horses through various stages and ages. Hopefully readers will comprehend the enormity of what is presented here, and will avail themselves of the centuries-old but still revolutionary techniques that move the human-horse relationship to a true partnership much greater than a relationship based on domination. The human and the horse both benefit, and it will be satisfying to see these tried-and-true techniques and approaches once again become widely used. This book should help to re-establish the golden age of horsemanship, which can only help riders of all equine pursuits. 

This book is a delight from cover to cover. The art and the photographs complement the text perfectly, and each page brought forth new information and new understanding. Each and every page is a visual, conceptual, and literary treat. This book is a real gem, and deserves a prominent place on every horse lover's bookshelf!" 
 
 
 

by Nancy Bent 
ALA Booklist 

Conquerors - The Roots of New World Horsemanship 

"This is a truly fascinating book. Bennett, a paleontologist and horse trainer, traces the origins of the domestic horse and horsemanship. Starting with two chapters on the subspecies of Ice Age Equus caballus, the author traces how multiple domestications of these subspecies led to the ancestral breeds of domestic horses. The first section covers the rise of horse keeping, with its attendant equipment and riding styles, in Europe and Asia, while the second takes the horse to the New World. The fact that the first horses were brought to North Amerca from one place, Spain, has affected both the later genetic history of horses in the New World as well as the styles of riding and training. The author’s dual background brings major strengths to the book, evidenced by her careful research into the paleontology and archaeology of the horse as seen through the eyes of a well-known trainer. This scholarly, readable, and well-illustrated work belongs in all libraries." 
 

BOOK REVIEW 

by Juan Llamas Perdigo 
Renowned Judge, Writer 
and Rider of Spanish Horses 

"How much joy Deb Bennett has given to horse lovers! For all her masterful studies on horse conformation and biomechanics, Deb Bennett is considered on both sides of the Atlantic as one of the few authorities who always has something to offer and teach. 

Any page from any one of her works contains more privileged information than one from the hundreds of books that threaten to bury us under the enormous weight of their mediocrity. 

Deb Bennett, moreover, has the great virtue of combining her agile pen with the rare quality of simplicity. The great scholars - and despite her youth she is to be considered as one - are always easy to understand. 

Now, seeking "the most difficult task yet," she takes on the great challenge of confronting history. History is deceptive in that all is never said and all is never known and because the discovery of new evidence can destroy any existing theory that is based on deduction. 

She does so, with all her resources at her disposal: an immense capacity for work, the study of almost 200 specialized books, her experience and her uncommon intelligence. 

With all this, Deb Bennett has succeeded in creating the magnificent volume "Conquerors," which I am sure will gallop over all the trails of the Earth, planting in our hearts the joy of having learned, thanks to her, many more facts about our friend the horse."