The pleasure of whoa. The surprise of the "unscheduled dismount." And why, when jumping, to throw your heart over first. Drawing on her lifelong passion for horses and riding, award-winning artist Bonnie Timmons offers up a book full of whimsy and wisdom and a huge helping of giddy up.

These are the truths as recorded by an astute observer:

• Of little girls who spend every minute after school mucking out the barn in hope of one trail ride
• Of the mechanics of riding: the walk, the trot, the canter, the gallop--a gait so fast your worries can't keep up
• Of English vs. Cowboy-speak. Of Outfits and Accessories, and Good Horse-Keeping Tips, (including how to weigh your horse so you know how much to feed him: 1. Weigh yourself. 2. Weigh yourself holding your horse. 3. Subtract 1. from 2.)
• And finally, of knowing at the end of the day that when you hold your hoses, they will hold you right back