(1888PressRelease)
August 25, 2009 - Caballo Press of Ann Arbor, an award-winning independent publisher specializing in books related to Thoroughbred horse racing, will publish Kerry M. Thomas’ innovative research focusing on the equine athlete. Tentatively titled A View From the Hoof: The Thomas Herding Technique, Volume One, the book will bring together a number of research articles based on independent research that have brought Thomas national and international recognition. The book will include Thomas’ position essays as well as an interview with Thomas in which he expands on his theories pertaining to the equine athlete. One of the topics to be covered is Thomas’ belief that the mental capacity of the equine controls the physical output of the athlete.
Thomas unveiled his unique research in 2006. Since then, industry insiders have hailed his theories. Thomas has been filmed with hall of famer Bob Baffert and Kentucky Derby winning trainer John Shirreffs discussing his research. The Thomas Herding Technique (THT) is seen by many as revolutionary and timely. Commenting on the project, Caballo Press publisher and CEO Rudolph Valier Alvarado stated that, “Kerry Thomas’ research is intriguing and of value to anyone who is searching for a new approach to understanding, training and communicating with horses. Caballo Press is committed to publishing books with a unique perspective, or subject; Thomas’ book certainly meets the criteria.”
Inspired by his love and admiration for wild horses, Thomas made his first trip to the wilds of Wyoming and Montana in the late 80’s. A natural investigator, Thomas focuses on the natural behavioral dynamics of both the prey and the predator, knowing that any real hope of dissecting the social and individual equine behavioral patterns lay within the cause and effect of the environmental stimuli. Years of independent studies of America’s Wild Mustang have slowly developed into a focus centered on the psychology of the equine as nature intended. This led to the cornerstone of THT’s core belief, which, as Thomas explains, “is to advance the natural herd dynamic into the artificial world.”
Working closely with Dr. Brett Dolente, THT’s Chief Medical Advisor, who was formerly with University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, Thomas has been able to blend equine behavioral research and psychology with the physical, clinical horse in order to develop concrete theories that include methods to implement them. One of those methods is a highly specialized emotional soundness grading system called EthoGrade. THT uses this system to assess herd hierarchy of wild horses and the emotional soundness and behavioral and training potentials of domesticated horses in all stages of training and life. Not only is EthoGrade a unique behavioral insight tool it is also a pioneering effort into equine behavior.
A View From the Hoof: The Thomas Herding Technique, Volume 1, will be released in the coming year. The book marks the second title published by Caballo Press of Ann Arbor. The independent publisher’s initial release, The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez: The Voice of Santa Anita won the 2009 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, an award that recognizes Thoroughbred horse racing’s Book of the Year. Thomas’ book is one of five books Caballo Press hopes to publish in the coming year. For further information regarding Caballo Press of Ann Arbor and this title go to www.caballopress.com.
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