The horse is one of the most beautiful and complex animals, and has fascinated mankind for many thousands of years. The purpose of this book is to capture some of the magic associated with horses - why so many have devoted their lives to them. It also aims, on a more practical level, to provide invaluable information for anyone with an equestrian interest, whether you ride for pleasure or competition, are planning on buying your first horse or pony, or just love horses. A practical training course on how to ride, with step-by-step photographs, and a complete encyclopedia of horse breeds An illustrated guide to horse and pony breeds of the world Expert advice on choose and looking after your horse, including stable management, grooming and exercise, health and first aid A complete guide to learning how to ride, form first steps to tackling fences An illustrated catalog of saddlery and riding equipment for riders of all levels
While informative, I would say it's more for people who have never really been around horses, making it dull at times for those who have. It does work as a great reference guide. Just skip over the stuff you already know.
I first got an encyclopedia as a kid and loved going over all the breeds, what they are best bred for, the horse care, riding instructions, outfits, and everything around horses. My grandfather was a veterinarian who grew up taking care of horses on his parents farm, and I used to sneak into his office to see his photographs of horses or followed him to farms to deliver them. I love learning more as I get back into connecting with these amazing creatures!! Love this one as it goes into shows and contests or games with horses, history, riding best practices, care instructions, types of saddles and riding styles, really everything that encompasses horses and best go to for any new or intermediate riders! I find horses fascinating and am so thankful to be part of the equestrian community!
The Complete Book of Horses and Riding is perfect for any equestrian lover, and it goes through everything you would need to know about the horse, from different breeds, to how to care for them, to how to ride. I think that this would be a good read if you are interested in horses, or if you are looking into buying one. It takes you through different breeds of horses and ponies, how to care for them, how to ride them, different events for competition, and all the supplies for a horse and how to use them. I really enjoyed this book, and I always looked to it if I had any questions about anything to do with horses.
While this book is a tad outdated (published 2003), I doubt much of the information has changed with the exception of tackle and some methods. For the most part, I would reckon this book is as good as any other for anyone looking to learn more about horses, including particular breeds, and riding. It was wonderful detailed color pictures of many horses and types of tackle and more. I've had this book for years and will continue to use it until it falls apart.
This book was very helpful in some ways. I knew a lot of the basics but some of them really helped me and my horse. Most of the horse health and riding tips were very helpful. I loved having examples and pictures of everything to help me out. I loved being able to relate to them, it helps me get involved with the book and be able to really enjoy it and use it.