Sid Gustafson
Novelist and Veterinarian
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Veterinary Behavior ServicesVeterinary Behavior Services: Natural Approaches to equine wellness, performance, and healing 406-581-4946
Dr Gustafson is licensed to practice in California, New York, Washington, and Montana. He offers equine behavioral consultations worldwide. He creates customized training and husbandry strategies in accord with the horse's social and locomotive grazing nature to facilitate optimal growth and achieve peak mental and physical performance. He offers enrichment strategies to enhance performance as well as to improve the healing process in convalescing horses. Horse and Culture, Journeys Into Animal Awareness
Horses and horsemanship in Montana culture through time Equine Behaviour
THE LANGUAGE OF NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP, an upcoming treatise on Equine Behavior by Dr Gustafson.  The Language of Horsemanship
Achieving willing partnerships between man and horse, upcoming non-fiction published by Eclipse Press in Lexington, KY a Bloodhorse Corporation Horseracing in America
With the advent of permissible raceday medication in the 70s horseracing in the United States entered the saddest phase of its history. The drug-weakened integrity of the sport began with Barbaro’s Preakness breakdown, and culminated in the tragic 2008 Kentucky Derby death of Eight Belles, who fractured both front legs in the biggest race in America in front of millions of viewers. Equine Veterinarian, novelist, and journalist Sid Gustafson takes readers onto the backsides of racetracks across America to deliver the firsthand story of the racehorse culture as it evolved from the 60s into the troubled drug culture of the 21st century that resulted in alarming numbers of racetrack breakdowns. He colorfully portrays the vulnerability of horses to pharmaceutical influence to gain competitive advantage and delves into the complex phenomenon of horsemen willing to subjugate horses to potent dangerous drugs for unfair competitive advantage without due consideration for the noble creatures and their riders. In this visionary book Dr Gustafson, a seasoned racetrack practitioner, explains how horseracing came to this low point and delineates the necessary guidelines and equine breeding, husbandry, conditioning, and training practices and principles necessary to restore integrity to the Sport of Kings. 
Nina Gustafson takes flight
HORSES THEY RODE
“This is a fascinating novel.” Jim Harrison, author of Legends of the Fall and Dalva When I started reading this fine novel, I was at first taken aback, then disturbed. After fifty pages, I realized -- or more accurately, admitted -- why: I was humbled. Sid Gustafson's understanding of Montana -- real cowboys and Indians, and the love-hate dependency that ties them, the land, and its animals together -- is bone deep, blood true, and beautifully described. Neil McMahon, author of Twice Dying, Blood Double and the forthcoming Lone Creek, HarperCollins / April 2007 -- set in and around Helena, Montana. Few novelists have a sense of place, for Americans are a rootless people. Sid’s is acute, and he tells a great story of his land and the people on it, and in it… Peter Bowen, author of Coyote Wind and the Gabriel Du Pré Montana Mysteries “Sid Gustafson writes like the language is a race horse and he is the rider, ready to go as far and fast as they both can go. He is in love with words, especially as they attach to the weather, terrain and inhabitants of Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front, one of the most unforgiving and beautiful regions on the planet. He knows what he’s talking about. Listen to him.” Deidre McNamer, author of Rima in the Weeds and My Russian PRISONERS OF FLIGHT
The Great American Wilderness Novel First Aid for the Active Dog
Practical Canine First Aid |
Veterinary behavior is an important aspect of veterinary medicine. Veterinary behaviorists utilize enrichment and teaching principles that address issues from the animal's perspective. Resolution of unwelcome behaviors often involves life style changes. Appropriate enrichment activities and proper training and teaching can help manage many unwanted behavioral problems.
Veterinary behavior requires a deep understanding of the evolution, domestication, and the social structure of animals. Domestic species share a sociality and language with humans, and humans and animals thrive together when communication and understanding are mutual. The prevention and management of behavior problems requires thoughtful insight into the nature of animals and people. Socialization is a critical component of behavioral development. A behavior consult is best accomplished before behavioral problems develop. New pet and horse owners are encouraged to develop a relationship with a veterinary behaviorist to help insure their companion grows, learns, and develops in a fashion suitable to both species. PREVENTION is key to behavioral health. Adequate SOCIALIZATION of young animals both with their species and with humans is essential for normal psychological health and mental development. Appropriate training that appreciates the nature of the dog, cat, and horse is a veterinary behavior essential, as well. 
What Horses Want
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