For information on horse care and grooming, here are some helpful books: 

Grooming to Win, Susan Harris, Howell Book House, 1991

The US Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship, Susan Harris, Howell Book House 1994

101 Horsekeeping Tips, Jessie Shiers, The Lyons Press, 2005

For Western Performance:

Reining, Al Dunning, Western Horseman Books, 2002

Cutting, Harrel Leon, Western Horseman Books, 2002

Charmayne James on Barrel Racing, Western Horseman Books, 2005

Barrel Racing 101, Marlene McRae, The Lyons Press, 2006

101 Reining Tips, Laren Sellers, The Lyons Press, 2006

Did You Know???

"Murphy's Oil Soap, which is actually a wood soap, works well on leather, providing a leather cream is used afterward.  It is an economical way to clean tack, being much cheaper than saddle soap and going further."  (The Horse Lover's Bible, p. 143, Pickeral, Tamsin, 2008)

Also, for stirrup irons, use stainless steel sink cleaner for the stirrups.  It works great and is cheap!  (The Horse Lover's Bible, p. 144, Pickeral, Tamsin, 2008)

When saddling with a Western saddle with two cinches, always do up the front cinch first, then the back.  When unsddling, undo the back cinch first and then the front.  For the English rider, when putting on the girth, do it up the same amount of holes on both sides of the horse.  This will keep pressure more evenly balanced and will help prevent the saddle sliding to one side. 

The Greek soldier and historian Xenophon is called the "Father of Classical Equitation."  He wrote extensively about the horse and horsemanship.  The Art of Horsemanship is the oldest surviving manual on horse riding.  (The Horse, A miscellany of Equine Knowledge,  Whitaker, Julie, p. 35)

I found this article in Tidbits Newspaper, March 15, 2010.  Pat from www.bequickhorseshoeing.com is offering a seminar on farriers and horseshoeing on May 15, 2010 at his store.  Pat's main point is to have the horse relaxed and alert.  A sleepy horse can spook more easily than an alert horse.  Also make sure the horse respects you and your space.  You don't want to move too quickly or scare the horse by moving too quickly into their space.  Pat also suggests that, "One of the biggest reasons owners get kicked is because they don't warn the horse they are going to grab a foot."  Make sure you give your horse warning before grabbing any part!  Pat suggests that,"... you start at the wither and move your hand down his back and leg.  Be careful not to lose contact with the horse or this could cost you some pain.  This is especially important on foals."

For more helpful hits, visit his website listed above.