The Kingfisher Illustrated Horse and Pony Encyclopedia - Hardcover

Sandy Ransford has over 30 books for children to her credit. These include titles on horses and riding, dogs, fashion for kids, and conservation - as well as many activity, game and puzzle books. She is the author of all of the books in the Kingfisher Riding Club series - First Riding Lessons, Horses & Ponies, Horse & Pony Breeds, and Horse & Pony Care - as well as Horse & Pony Factfile.

Grade 4-8 - This comprehensive and beautifully illustrated volume provides a wonderful overview of horses and horsemanship. The first part of the book covers the life cycle, domestication, and types of horses and ponies. The many different breeds appear in striking full-color photos, often highlighted by comments about the standards that are important to that breed. The second part deals with how to care for these animals and discusses horsemanship from taking riding lessons to training and driving a horse. Procedures are explained with great detail and accuracy, and the illustrations effectively expand on the words. Hard hats are the rule in the photos even in the section on western riding, clearly emphasizing the importance of safety. Whether youngsters want to know how to braid a horse's mane, what the different types of concentrated food are, or what a Haflinger looks like, they will find the answer in this clearly written book. Filled with appealing photos of young people interacting with their four-legged friends, this title is an extremely useful addition to any collection. It covers the information found in both Elwyn Hartley Edwards's The Encyclopedia of the Horse (DK, 1994) and Bernadette Faurie's The Horse Riding and Care Handbook (Globe Pequot, 2000), but the many photos of the interaction between the young people and their horses make it particularly appealing. - Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
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