Trickonometry: The Secrets of Teaching Your Horse Tricks

In Trickonometry, twenty-five tricks are laid out in a progressive, building block fashion. Easy beginning tricks lay a solid foundation, on which more demanding, more complex movements can later be built. Among the many things I learned myself was that no one should begin their trick training career with the rear!

Trickonometry is a virtual cookbook for the aspiring trick trainer. Carole Fletcher's detailed program provides concise, easy to understand recipes for a variety of tricks. The question of What to do next? has been answered in one easy-to-use reference.

After following the Trickonometry program, my Clydesdale and myself are now performing heavyweights, much in demand as the entertainment main course at local functions. Full credit goes to Carole Fletcher for helping me transform my beer-bellied equine best-bud into an American neighborhood idol.

Gina Allison and Belvedere, the Performing Clydesdale


Trickonometry: The Secrets of Teaching Your Horse Tricks   August 28, 2003
J. Evers (Goshen, NY United States)
30 out of 30 found this review helpful

I thought this book was great. I taught my horse to smile in 10 minutes. He now kisses, shakes hands, shakes his head "no" and "yes" and has turned in to the "belle of the barn"! Very easy to get started and learn to teach tricks. It taught me to become much more precise with the cues I gave and I actually think my horse is smarter now. And, he loves performing!


Fun and enlightening   September 10, 2005
Kathy S. Spencer (XS Heart Ranch, Loveland, Co USA)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

This is a great book. I really like the format of this book, especially all the step by step instructions and pictures. I received this book about 2 weeks ago and have been working with one of our many horses teaching him the bow. He is doing absolutely terrific and I expect will be bowing on cue consistently before long. One of our riding students, using one of our lease horses, has also been having fun with this book. She saw me out training "Chubs" to bow and asked about it. She purchased the book as well, and even as a beginner rider, she has had the success in teaching "Garth" to do the "pickpocket". I find this amazing and a true testament to Carole Fletcher's ability to "show and tell" anyone how to teach these lessons to your equine friend.


Excellent Way To Have Fun With Your Horse!   November 9, 2005
G Borowitz (Northeast USA)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

I'm new to the horse world. Some of these tricks might be obvious to more experienced folks but it was just the right speed and tone for me to work with my 3 year old draft horse. He learned "kisses" in five minutes flat and now does it on cue from a hand signal or spoken cue. By the end of the first day, after working in short periods, he was well on his way to having two other tricks down pat, too.

I'd have to say this book is great fun if nothing else. It might be a wonderful gift for the new 4Her or horse owner who wants to spend as much time with their horse as they can. Even on days when weather or other conditions might not permit riding there is now something interesting -- and FUN! -- to do with your horse.

The only trick I didn't like (although I understand how she works it into her routine) was the one where you scold the horse and tell him to be ashamed of himself. It made me uncomfortable to scold him when he hadn't been bad. I am changing that trick to be "Are you shy?" instead. But, hey, that's just me.


Fun for you and your horse   November 30, 2006
Tasia (Gresham Oregon)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I do a trick training session once a week with my draft horse to break up the riding routine. It's a lot of fun for both of us. This book is really good at explaining the different steps to do each of the tricks and the pictures are pretty fun.

It's a great start for anyone that wants to learn either basic tricks or some of the more complicated ones like bowing.

Put this on your santa list for you and your horse!!