In the Middle Are the Horsemen

In 2008, 26–year–old Tik Maynard faced a crossroads not unlike that of other young adults. A university graduate and modern pentathlete, he suffered both a career–ending injury and a painful breakup, leaving him suddenly adrift. The son of prominent Canadian equestrians, Maynard decided to spend the next year as a “working student.” In the horse industry, working students aspire to become professional riders or trainers, and willingly trade labor for hands–on education. Here Maynard chronicles his experiences–good and bad–and we follow along as one year becomes three, what began as a casual adventure gradually transforms, and a life's purpose comes sharply into focus.

Over time, Maynard evolved under the critical eyes of Olympians, medal winners, and world–renowned figures in the horse world, including Anne Kursinski, Johann Hinnemann, Ingrid Klimke, David and Karen O'Connor, Bruce Logan, and Ian Millar. He was ignored, degraded, encouraged, and praised. He was hired and fired, told he had the “wrong body type to ride” and that he had found his “destiny.” He got married and lost loved ones. Through it all he studied the horse, and human nature, and how the two can find balance. And in that journey, he may have found himself.

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• Fit & Focused in 52: The Rider's Weekly Mind-and-Body Training Companion
• Out of the Clouds: The Unlikely Horseman and the Unwanted Colt Who Conquered the Sport of Kings
• Know Better to Do Better: Mistakes I Made with Horses (So You Don't Have To)
• Lady Long Rider: Alone Across America on Horseback
• Horses in Translation: Essential Lessons in Horse Speak: Learn to "Listen" and "Talk" in Their Language
• Brain Training for Riders: Unlock Your Riding Potential with StressLess Techniques for Conquering Fear, Improving Performance, and Finding Focused Calm
• Horse Speak: An Equine-Human Translation Guide: Conversations with Horses in Their Language