Whether you love horses for sports, beauty or hard work,
this comprehensive and up to the minute encyclopaedia is a
wonderful compendium of knowledge. If you're like me you
won't be able to stop turning the pages. The beautiful
colour photos of breeds, sports and many facets of equine
life make THE HORSE LOVER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA an addictive read.
Author Jessie Haas spends a couple of pages introducing her
own horses and her love of them; then it's off at letter A.
Whether you want a photo of an Arabian (who doesn't?) or
you need to know the difference between blanket-spot and
leopard-spot Appaloosa, you'll find it here - and I like
that we also get a potted history of each breed. Some
breeds like the Caspian, Exmoor and Breton have been in
existence for thousands of years; the Quarter Horse,
Missouri Fox Trotter and Tennessee Walking Horse a couple
of hundred years; while others like the American Curly,
Florida Cracker, Moyle and Azteca are only a few decades
old. In fact I was very interested in the new breeds, most
stemming from the Americas, as they include some not
contained in Denhardt's The Horse of The Americas,
published in 1975. And some of the oldest breeds we are
told have endangered livestock breed status.
What if your horse is ill? Digestive or joint illness and
injuries, less palatable conditions and a guide to normal
feeding are all contained. This could be a first-reference
veterinary handbook. Scientific terms are used, like
metabolic processes, but in straightforward style that I
find easy to read. One comment; we are told a few times
that mules are always sterile, but when I first learned
about them, we were told that mules are usually sterile,
but sometimes they are not. And a couple of years ago I saw
an article about a jenny mule which had produced a healthy
foal, with the explanation of the rare chromosome match
required. The various sports in which we employ our equine
friends are well described and illustrated, from four in
hand carriage driving to barrel racing, dressage and polo.
Fox hunting in Virginia is shown with a look at the
controversial sport in Britain too.
A word of warning. This might be too much concise
information to give a child who is merely pony mad and just
wants to have fun. Be guided by a young rider's reading age
and a wish to expand their knowledge beyond feeding,
grooming and winning prizes. I find the book suitable for
adults and advanced young adults.
I like that the book tries to be open and honest and
doesn't shy from less easy topics. I also spotted a photo
of the Irish Draught judging at the renowned Dublin Horse
Show. We see horse teams used for logging in
environmentally sensitive areas, giving potential for
further discussions. A para-equestrian is featured, as is a
mounted police horse, as the use for horses spreads in new
directions. Pack mule racing, anyone? And I even spotted a
picture of a rhino. Find it if you can! THE HORSE LOVER'S
ENCYCLOPEDIA will delight and inform horse lovers for sure.
I can see it galloping off the shelves and into stable
yards.
Here is a completely revised, full-color second edition of the established go-to source for equestrian information. This comprehensive A-to-Z guide covers “everything horse” and bridges gaps in the equestrian universe between English and Western styles. More than 1,700 entries explain wide-ranging topics such as breeds, tack, facilities, equine care and management, health and safety issues, riding styles and disciplines, shows, and much more. Whether you’re a rodeo hand, thoroughbred racer, seasoned professional, or armchair admirer, you’ll get everything you need from noted equestrian author Jessie Haas’ clear and thorough descriptions.
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy