Learning to Ride Horses & Ponies (Complete Guides to Horses & Ponies)

A guide to riding horses and ponies, discussing such topics as getting started, how to mount and dismount, sitting right, riding in a group, and jumping

Grade 4 Up-Featuring a design reminiscent of teen magazines, this thorough, solid set presents information on double-page spreads with content-rich layouts that include colored boxes, checklists, and liberal use of full-color photographs. The attractively presented material is clearly written and accurate. Breeds is the weakest title as the use of action shots often makes it difficult to see the distinguishing features of the breed under discussion. However, a useful fact file on each type of horse is a plus, as are the discussions of the meaning of hot-, cold-, and warm-blooded breeds. Care is an excellent introduction to the intricacies of keeping an equine friend, covering stabling options, feed and feeding, grooming, shoeing, common ailments, etc. An outstanding overview of the details beginners need to familiarize themselves with, including the basic gear, lessons, and more, is offered in Learning to Ride. Each volume includes a list of books, videos, and Web sites for further information. Although The Random House Book of Horses and Horsemanship (1991) remains the genre's bible, these titles deserve a place on most shelves.
Lisa Falk, Los Angeles Public Library.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.