Overview

What if the next chapter of your life demanded more courage than the first? In this deeply honest and uplifting memoir, Tik Maynard confronts midlife not with crisis but with a colt, a countdown, and a call to grow. After building a dream life in equestrian sport, family, farm, and a clear purpose Tik Maynard found himself haunted by uncertainty. Was he still learning? Still evolving? Or simply coasting? Starting in the Middle chronicles his year-long journey to rekindle passion, chase challenge, and redefine mastery by accepting an invitation to compete in the Road to the Horse, the high-stakes World Championship of Colt Starting. This gripping follow-up to his bestselling memoir, In the Middle Are the Horsemen, blends heart-pounding personal stakes with intimate storytelling as Maynard studies with elite trainers, faces self-doubt, and prepares for 265 make-or-break minutes with an untouched colt. Along the way, he explores the very core of connection between man and horse, student and mentor, father and child. Whether you're an equestrian, a lifelong learner, or simply someone standing at life's crossroads, this book offers both inspiration and a blueprint for growth. Inside, you'll discover: A behind-the-scenes view of the Road to the Horse competition Lessons from leading voices in natural horsemanship and animal behaviour Deep reflections on parenting, identity, and personal reinvention Powerful metaphors that bridge colt-starting and midlife evolution Candid insights from a rider unafraid to rethink everything he knows

Full Product Details

9781646012480

Table of Contents

Reviews

""A well-written and compelling journal of the emotional, physical, and transformative process Tik Maynard undertook on his way to winning one of the country's most renowned horsemanship competitions. Well worth the read."" --Mark Rashid, Author of For the Love of the Horse and Considering the Horse ""Tik Maynard transcends traditional horsemanship--his work with horses is a living art, a graceful performance where each encounter peels away the layers of distraction, fear, and ego to reveal the raw truth of who you are."" --Beth Behrs, Actress, 2 Broke Girls and The Neighborhood ""Tik Maynard is the ultimate triple threat: engaging storyteller, gifted teacher, and thoughtful rider. This book exemplifies this."" --Noëlle Floyd, CEO NF+ ""This lovely book about starting horses on their journey to realize their potential is also about us and our journey to become our better self. It's about facing our fears. Taking risks. Trying something new. Following our curiosity. And, of course, never giving up."" --Art Davidson, Author of the Mountaineering Classic Minus 148° First Winter Ascent of Mt. McKinley ""Ever since I met Tik Maynard, his quest to learn has always been amazing to watch. He seeks advice from those he trusts and is completely open to trying any tips you might have for him. He fully engages with the suggestion or technique and gives it a completely honest try, ready to absorb anything the lesson may have to offer. I'm always impressed and inspired at his willingness to try to find better ways."" --Glenn Stewart, The Glenn Stewart Horsemanship Academy Praise for Tik Maynard's previous book In the Middle Are the Horsemen ""Readers interested in horsemanship will certainly find that here, but Maynard's journey of self-discovery will appeal to a wider audience as well."" --American Library Association Booklist ""Both a fascinating record of a young man's quest to find his place, and a vivid portrait of an industry and a culture built upon on one of our most ancient and transformative relationships, that between the human and the horse. Acutely observed, vividly told, and not to be missed."" --Kathy Page, Author of Alphabet and Paradise & Elsewhere ""A horseman's greatest asset is the ability to accept what is being presented, learn from it, and then turn it into something special. Having worked with Tik Maynard, I can say first-hand that he is indeed one of those special horsemen. This book does a wonderful job illustrating the effort has gone through to help get him there. A great read!"" --Mark Rashid, Renowned Horseman and Author ""What an enjoyable ride... an entertaining, well-told story.""--Vancouver Sun ""[Maynard] writes beautifully, the book is full of wry humor and beautiful descriptions of his world and the horses he shares it with. Read this book as a delightful memoir and perhaps as a social commentary on the equestrian world, but for those who want to learn more, to improve their relationship with their horses, this is a gold mine. --Haynet.com ""An outstanding equestrian with an unparalleled insight and instinct for understanding equines and communication with them."" --Elite Equestrian

""A well-written and compelling journal of the emotional, physical, and transformative process Tik Maynard undertook on his way to winning one of the country's most renowned horsemanship competitions. Well worth the read."" --Mark Rashid, Author of For the Love of the Horse and Considering the Horse ""Tik Maynard transcends traditional horsemanship--his work with horses is a living art, a graceful performance where each encounter peels away the layers of distraction, fear, and ego to reveal the raw truth of who you are."" --Beth Behrs, Actress, 2 Broke Girls and The Neighborhood ""Tik Maynard's book about his journey to Road to the Horse reads more like a 'Road to the Self.' Modelling vulnerability, humility, and curiosity, Tik lets us into his inner world and shares not only his aspirations but also his self-doubt, and does it in such a way that will reach the heart of every reader.""--Warwick Schiller, Attuned Horsemanship, Two-Time Australian WEG Team Member, Worldwide Clinician, Author, and Podcaster ""Tik Maynard's new book explores the preparation, both mental and physical, in the journey to a competition, this being Road to the Horse. It is very valuable to any competitor in the horse world as it shines a light on what true preparation means. The study, the learning, even the nerves are wide open for all to see. It is a great example of someone who is present in the moment--LOOKS so he can see and LISTENS so he can hear. I recommend this read, illustrating how we can explore so we can learn."" --David O'Connor, Olympian, US Equestrian Chief of Sport, FEI Board of Directors ""Tik Maynard is the ultimate triple threat: engaging storyteller, gifted teacher, and thoughtful rider. This book exemplifies this."" --Noëlle Floyd, CEO NF+ ""This lovely book about starting horses on their journey to realize their potential is also about us and our journey to become our better self. It's about facing our fears. Taking risks. Trying something new. Following our curiosity. And, of course, never giving up."" --Art Davidson, Author of the Mountaineering Classic Minus 148° First Winter Ascent of Mt. McKinley ""Ever since I met Tik Maynard, his quest to learn has always been amazing to watch. He seeks advice from those he trusts and is completely open to trying any tips you might have for him. He fully engages with the suggestion or technique and gives it a completely honest try, ready to absorb anything the lesson may have to offer. I'm always impressed and inspired at his willingness to try to find better ways."" --Glenn Stewart, The Glenn Stewart Horsemanship Academy ""With a diligence and intelligence that is unique to the horse book genre, Starting in the Middle extends beyond the barn to the broader questions faced by the human race. Maynard has again given us an honest telling of one life and the pursuit of fulfilling it."" --Northwest Horse Source

Author Information

Tik Maynard spent much of his twenties competing full time in the sport of Modern Pentathlon (running, swimming, shooting, fencing, show jumping). He was on the Canadian National Team and won the National Championships twice, and he competed at multiple World Cups, World Championships, and at the 2007 Pan-Am Games in Rio de Janeiro. Maynard has evented at the Advanced level and been Long-Listed and Short-Listed for the Canadian National Three-Day Event Team. He won the Freestyle twice at the Thoroughbred Makeover (2015, 2018) and judged it once (2017). Maynard won the Road to the Horse World Championship of Colt Starting in 2024 and 2025. He travels year-round, teaching clinics in the United States, Canada, England, and Scotland, and is an online instructor for The Horseman's University and the Noelle Floyd Equestrian Masterclass. He is a regular guest on podcasts and a contributor to many equestrian magazines and online news sources. He is the author of In the Middle Are the Horsemen and Starting in the Middle. Maynard lives with his wife Sinead, a top American eventer, and their two children in Citra, Florida, where they run Copperline Farm (copperlineequestrian.com).

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