Horses & Ponies. Kingfisher Riding Club

by Sandy Ransford

This introduction to the world of horses and ponies features specially-commissioned photographs which show the beginner how to approach, care for and exercise a horse or pony. Also contains information on different breeds, riding, pony shows, dressage and eventing.

Genres: Animals, Reference, Nonfiction, Horses

96 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1996

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I wish that the general equine based information provided by author Sandy Ransford in her 1996 (and updated in 2001) illustrated reference manual Horses and Ponies regarding horse and pony breeds, their sizes, colours, markings, conformation (equine anatomy) and horse evolution from eohippus to equus caballus (the modern and generally domestic horse) could be a bit more textually substantial and factually thorough (and with in particular the details provided by Ransford on the different horse and pony breeds and in the equine evolution section feeling a trifle rushed, lacking in depth and with the absence of a bibliography most definitely for me rather lowering the teaching, learning and especially the supplemental research value of Horses and Ponies), I do remain very much impressed with the textual scope with which Sandy Ransford shows in Horses and Ponies just how much work, how much time, know-how and also adequate monetary means are required to own and adequately take care of a horse or a pony (and indeed, that even if you are boarding your equine, you still will need to make sure that the barn boarding your horse is providing adequate care, feed and is keeping your horse or pony healthy and happy).

And while much of the information encountered in Horses and Ponies is of course mostly of interest and of practical use to and for child readers who already own or might want to own a horse or a pony sometime in the future (or desire to take riding lessons), considering that there are still far too many individuals out there who seem to actively and naively believe that one can simply obtain for oneself an equine, put said horse or pony in a pasture and then occasionally jump on its back and go riding for a while (and not just children either but often also adults, but often equally parents), I sure am glad that Sandy Ransford specifically demonstrates in Horses and Ponies that this is absolutely and in no way the case, that owning a horse requires a constant and round-the-clock commitment both physically and financially, and that for example even keeping a horse or a pony outside in a pasture 24/7 will naturally and of course also necessitate constant supervision, mucking out, removing manure from the field, from the pasture in question, having safe and adequate shelters for inclement weather provided, keeping fences mended and above all making sure that the pasture grass contains no toxic and potentially lethal for equines to consume vegetation.

Four stars in general for how in Horses and Ponies Sandy Ransford shows that horseback riding can be fun and that owning a horse or a pony can be very much rewarding and pleasant, but that both riding and owning an equine requires much commitment and lots of constant work (and that this all is not cheap either), but lowered to a high three stars as I think that the absence of a bibliography is academically annoying and that the general information on horse and pony breeds and equine evolution in particular really should be a bit more substantial and detailed.

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books gives you a lot of facts that will help you learn how to ride. J.S.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't the right edition.

[Mas5thgrade2012 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good and I love looking at the horse pictures in the book.
~Horse29~