The Complete Horse Care Manual

by Colin Vogel

Your pony or horse means the world to you, and now they can have the care they deserve with this practical, tried-and-tested guide to every aspect of equine care.

Horses are supremely beautiful and intelligent beings and, with the right care, will form an incredibly rewarding bond with you. The Complete Horse Care Manual is written by the experienced vet and horse specialist, Colin Vogel. It offers a guide to horse anatomy and shows you how to interpret their body language and prevent them from becoming frightened or bored, explaining how to deal with common problems and unwanted behaviors.

It shows you, step by step, how to catch, handle, and groom horses, and how to keep them well-fed and watered. It advises you on kit to buy, and how to keep all your tack and equipment in tip-top condition. When a horse is ill, it’s a worrying time, but this indispensable manual offers reassuring advice, including when to call the vet, and how to administer first aid.

With suggested daily routines and tips on shoeing and hoof care, The Complete Horse Care Manual has everything you need to keep a horse healthy, safe and happy

Genres: Horses, Nonfiction, Animals, Reference

Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Kathrynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely basic horse care book with lots of visuals--emphasis on "lots and extremely." Even has pictures of how to spread out the hay with a pitchfork. Great book for someone that knows absolutely nothing about equine management and care; excellent book for young adult, too!

This is a large, hardcover book that contains:

Chapter 1 is Looking at the Horse
- Development, types of horses, colors and markings, equine senses, body language....

Chapter 2 is General Care
- Owning, handling, leading, checking feet, shoeing, grooming, clipping, transporting....

Chapter 3 is Turning Your Horse Out
- Fields, gates, water, shelter, poisonous plants, catching....

Chapter 4 is The Stabled Horse
- Bedding materials, how to muck out a stall...

Chapter 5 is Food and Water
- How to feed and water, nutritional needs, hay...

Chapter 6 is The Sick or Injured Horse
- Lameness, foot, joint and leg disorders, eye, nose and mouth disorders, internal parasites...

Chapter 7 is Tack and Clothing
- Saddles, girths, bridles, bits, fitting tack, putting on a saddle, putting on a bridle, cleaning tack, blankets...

Chapter 8 is Hints and Tips
- Buying and Keeping a Horse

[Жепка · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated introduction of the basic concepts about the horse and horse care for a beginner rider 🐴🌟

[Amanda up North]

Our youngest son has been trying to convince us to get a horse. It's been his "life's dream" but the intensity of his mission has increased over the past several months.
I read this as reference and to share with him as he does his homework on all things horse-ownership related.
It is just what the title says it is, a horse care manual, but I'd say it's more basic than complete.

[Princess · Rating 5 out of 5]

brelinte book on looking after horses

[Sarah Toton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty basic but a good overview.

Would recommend for beginnners, will not read again.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent introductory reference.

[Lily Scarlet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mine has a different cover.
Overall very informative.

[Krianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informational

[Ava Yeates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very basic but covers everything well. Great for experienced equestrians and beginner equestrians too, would recommend.
Thanks for reading ♥️

[Jenna T · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you are new to horses, you want this book!

[Rosa Beagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slightly outdated now, but at the time it was published would have been very good. Jam packed with information. Two ponies I know are in it which is amazing!

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overarching exploration of the horse, horse care, what you need to work with/care for horses and some basic horse world information. Some of the veterinary care information is a little dated and Mr. Vogel is based in the UK, so some of the terms are not the same as what we use in the USA (for instance: what they call "horse rugs" we call "horse blankets"; most of these terms you can figure out from the context, however, if you then go to a USA based stable and call them "rugs" you may get a blank stare).

This book has a special place in my heart, it is one of the first horse care books I picked up when I first developed an interest in horses and I found it perfect at the time. There is a lot of information about a lot of topics, but it rarely dives super deep into anything, instead encouraging the reader to field further questions to knowledgeable professionals (vets, trainers, instructors, owners, etc. and includes a good guide in the back for how to get in touch with horse professionals/organizations). For the young enthusiast who dreams of owning their own horse one day, this book has good information and doesn't sugar coat the amount of time and energy you will need to put into this creature to achieve any goals.

Content notes: No issues; there are some vet care pictures of nasty wounds, but usually also include "after" pictures where the horse has been treated if not healed. As noted earlier, some of the information is a little dated (topics I can think of off hand are water temperatures for recently worked horses, de-worming schedules and blanket styles (considering this version is almost 30 years old that's not bad!)), but having knowledgeable stable staff/vet will set you straight on these changes and is honestly encouraging because it means the horse world is still devoting time and energy to horse care.

[Ann Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colin Vogel, a leading authority on horse care, presents the reader with a fine manual for the beginning and intermediate equestrian. Mr. Vogel illustrates basic horse behavior and anatomy, providing vital tips on controlling your horse, essential hoof care, clipping, transporting your horse and preparing for a show, tack, as well as everyone’s favorite task, mucking out a stall.

Especially important is the back of the book, detailing foot and leg disorders, parasites, tips on when it’s time to call a veterinarian, first aid for injuries and nursing care, as well as foaling and year round care of your horse. The Complete Horse Care Manual is a must for the library of any novice or intermediate equestrian.

[Nadia Taranta · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a very good book if you want to learn about horses. It teaches you all the differnt kinds of diseases and sickness they can get, and how to take care of them. It is nonfiction It has more then 200 pages. it is easy to read. It's has alot of information about horses.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-illustrated and straight-forward introduction to all aspects of taking care of a horse. Anyone wanting to get a horse should definitely read this book first. Nothing much on riding--this is really just focused on taking care of the horse.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells you everything you need to know about horses to take care of them!!!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what to rate a non fiction book but it does have many facts so that's good!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may have read an earlier version, but it had too much horse anatomy and basic horse information. A good disease and first aid section, though.

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful in my quest to educate myself on horses and riding.

[Lilian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much great stuff, I actually would have liked even more comprehensive, I would have liked 100 more pages.

[Jane Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it could be really useful for horse keepers :)