An encyclopedia that provides a comprehensive introduction to the horse, including anatomy, horse and pony care, riding, and breeds.

Includes index.

Introducing the horse: neutral world of horses -- Life cycle of the horse -- Domestication of the horse -- Types of horses -- Colors -- Markings -- What is a breed? -- Hotblood horses: Arabian -- Thoroughbred -- Anglo-Arab, Barb, Akhal-Teke -- Coldblood horses: Ardennais, k Boulonnais -- Percheron, Suffolk -- Shire, Clydesdale -- Belgian draft, Noriker, Friesian, Dutch Draught -- Warmblood horses: Swedish Warmblood, Selle Francais -- Competition breeds -- Oldenburg, Gelderlander, French Trotter, Camargue -- Przewalski's Horse, Tarpan -- Irish Draught, Hackney Horse, Cleveland Bay -- Andalusian, Lusitano, Lippizzaner -- Morgan, Criollo, Quarter Horse -- Pinto, Palomino, Appaloosa -- Tennessee Walking Horse, American Saddlebred, Missouri Foxtrotter, Standardbred- Mustang, Waler -- Pony breeds: Dartmoor, Exmoor, Connemara, New Forest -- Welsh Sections A, B, C, and D -- Fell, Dales, Highland -- Fjord, Icelandic, Haflinger -- New breeds of the U.S. -- Caspian, Chincoteague and Assateague, Basuto, Boer -- Australian, Falabella, Shetland, Hackney Pony -- Keeping a pony: Providing company -- What a pony need -- Ways to keep a pony -- Where to keep a pony -- A barn of your own -- Stable management -- Choosing a pasture -- Caring for the pasture -- Turning out and catching -- Feeding a pony: Rules of feeding -- Different kinds of feed -- Diet for your pony -- grooming a pony: Grooming equipment -- grooming routines -- Hoof and foot care -- Washing a pony -- Clipping a pony -- Choosing a blanket -- Other care routines: Care after exercise -- Shoeing a pony -- Traveling safely -- Summer and winter care -- Health care: Signs of good health -- Health routines -- First aid -- Common aliments -- Caring for a sick pony -- Before you start: Why take riding lessons? -- Where to take riding lessons -- Clothes to wear for riding -- Types of ponies -- A ponies tack: Saddles and girths -- Bridles and bits -- Western tack -- Fitting and caring for tack -- Saddling up -- Putting on a bridle -- First lessons: Meeting your pony -- Getting to know a pony -- Mounting -- Dismounting -- How to sit in the saddle -- Aids -- On the lunge or lead line -- On your own -- Turning left and right -- Learning to trot -- Cantering -- Riding at top speed -- Western riding -- In the arena: Riding in a group -- Exercises in the arena -- Without stirrups and reins -- Exercises in the saddle -- Looking forward: Road safety -- Trail riding -- Your first jumping lessons -- Jumping higher -- Simple dressage -- Advanced riding -- Taking part in events: getting ready for a show -- Going to a show -- Fun and games -- Show jumping classes -- Showing and dressage tests -- Cross country -- Training and driving: Breaking in a horse -- How to drive a horse -- Harnesses and vehicles -- Specially trained horses -- Glossary -- Index -- Web sites and acknowledgements.