First Guide To Horse And Pony Care (The Howell Equestrian Library)

Discusses the anatomy, life cycle, care, and grooming of horses and ponies.

Grade 5-9-- The scope of this oversized volume is so comprehensive that it could overwhelm novice caretakers. The compendium includes hundreds of facts and horse-care methods not found in similar adult titles. Its equestrian terms and practices assume a certain background knowledge. The text focuses on preparations for and after-ride care rather than actual riding skills. Captioned, good-quality full-color photographs, paintings, and drawings depict a variety of horses and their handling. The tone is British, with no mention of Western gear, which the majority of U. S. riders prefer. The British foodstuffs, stable management, and some terminology will baffle American readers, as there is no glossary and some unfamiliar words are not defined in context. The book's prime audience will be members of the Pony Club and those equestrians who pursue methods of ``proper'' British horsemanship. Typical American horse fans will be satisfied with less intimidating titles such as Blumberg's The Horselover's Handbook (Avon, 1984; o.p.) or Rodenas's The Random House Book of Horses and Horsemanship (Random, 1991). --Charlene Strickland, formerly at Albuquerque Public Library , NM
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