Horse book recommendations

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Horse book recommendations

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alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 06 11:15 pm Post subject: Horse book recommendations
We are begining to think about a pony for the children. A long way off still! Although I have ridden for more years than I care to remember, I have never had my own horse. Is there any books people can recommend, not only for me, but also for my 7 year old daughter to learn from.

jamsam

Joined: 21 Oct 2005
Posts: 2560
Location: erm....i dont know, its dark.

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 06 12:53 pm Post subject:
have a look for the chat room, tack room gossip, its run by some friends of mine who are a mind of information. they will know just what to rad.

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 06 5:49 pm Post subject:
The good old BHS manual is a must for first timers, it covers everything from tack to keeping horses in/out, feeding, basic first aid, all sorts.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 06 6:53 pm Post subject:
Jamsam - have we met? I know the people you are talking about (the ones that you pop in to visit and then come back with an extra horse , cat or hen? Which might be helpful to you Alison but be warned - I know very few people with "just the one pony" (not least because they would be miserable living on their own)!

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 06 7:03 pm Post subject:

Sorry - will answer your question now - Dorling Kindersley I think are well designed and have several pony related titles. The Manual of Horsemanship is the Pony club recommended one - which might have improved in recent years but my old copy is rather dry for children (sorry don't know the age of yours) Joining the Pony Club at their local riding stables is usually good fun for them - and hands on is much better. (I have to reeducate them on some things as I don't approve of some BHS stuff - arrogant aren't I

) They don't need to own a pony but get taught how to muck out and lay out a stable beautifully - not that ours ever enter a stable!

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 06 8:23 pm Post subject:

I should explain

We live next to the riding stables, and we have horses all around us!

Children are 9, 7 and 5, although it is the 7 and 5 that are most interested. They both go to junior jockeys, where they ride and do stable stuff too.

I have ridden for years, but my actual knowledge af all the names of things are rubbish.

I was thinking, proberbly of two, but also was wondering what else they could be grazed with on the farm. We have dexters, sheep, alpacas.....

My 7 year old is also dyslexic, so reading has to be in an easily digested form, and not to dry. I'll have the drier stuff!!

I have looked at all the pony care books on ebay, and have watched a lot, but I don't know which ones to really go for, if any.

I will look at the forum though, as they may help me too.

Thanks for all the help so far.

Many daft questions to follow!

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 06 8:52 pm Post subject:

My daughter is also dyslexic and riding is one of the things we encouraged her to do to help - balance and confidence - It has definitely has - that and being lucky with the ponies we have had. When I read your post my first thought was - what about all the books in her bedroom - that she has never read. (She is now thirteen and has finished the Hobbit, though to what depth I don't know - just pleased she has had a glimpse of what fun books are) We also bought a computer specifically to help her - she never went near it for years - now we can't get her off - tackroom gossip - and the local msn ring. Last summer she joined pony club with her new horse - a young flightly but beautifully trained Section D - and she is a different girl. So much confidence - galloping everywhere, jumping everything. Totally terrifying

as I am forced to go out riding with her at times. I couldn't name the points of the horse and I don't know the finer (or the coarser points) of dressage - however I did go and buy a lovely and totally traumatised mare a few years ago - steep learning curve...and you quickly get the feel of what not to get in the future! Having horses has worked so well for my daughter. Her younger sister (who I think is also dyslexic

) is just starting off in the same way. I hope your children get as much out of it as mine have done.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 06 8:59 pm Post subject:

sorry answer the question! - mine graze with sheep - I know cattle are a great combination because they take the long rough stuff - horses are picky eaters - I think you are very lucky to have that combination - I haven't been able to find someone with a few cows who would graze the fields for short spells at time. Mine have also met alpacas - spooked them greatly - this thing with a streaming coat charging towards them

but that would wear off.

Anna-marie

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 06 9:46 am Post subject:

Hi Alison,
When I bought my first (and subsequent second and third!

) horse, I bought absolutely loads and loads of books on how to buy/care for/ride them.
To save you the cost of buying books, I am happy to have a look through mine, and photocopy anything that I think might be useful to you.
I have found that most books that I bought, while including very pertinent issues, have also duplicated much of the information.
If you like, I will copy bits and pieces regarding: buying; tack; grooming; riding; illnesses; worming, etc, etc, and send it to you, if you PM me with your address.
Then, if there is anything else you would like to know, I will copy the info for you, or lend you the book. (To read at your leisure)
I also have lots of info on horse behaviour and "Intelligent Horsemanship", if you are interested.
Don't spend money if you don't need to - save it for riding lessons!

I graze my horses with Dexter cattle, sheep, ducks and goats. I'm not sure about the ducks

, but the others help to keep each others' worm counts down, as the worms tend to be host-specific, ie, horse worms can be eaten by cattle, sheep or goats (and vice-versa), without affecting the animal that has eaten them. By being ingested by the other species, the worms are then killed, and taken out of the grazing cycle.
Each species also grazes/browses differently, and will keep even the tattiest of fields nicely "mown".
Please let me know if I can be of any help to you.
Anna-marie

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 06 9:15 pm Post subject:
Thank you I have PM'd you.

Anna-marie

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 06 10:19 pm Post subject:
OK, Alison, I'll have a good mooch tomorrow. Regards, Anna-marie

Debbie

Joined: 04 Dec 2004
Posts: 160
Location: Exmoor Devon

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 06 1:51 pm Post subject:
Didn't know you were thinking of this Ali, I'll bring my horse library with me when I bring the incubator over in the next few weeks. Mole Valley actually do some very easy thin books that the children would be able to manage very easily I would think.....erm we are also thinking of getting a third ourselves

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 06 9:12 pm Post subject:
considering a fifth in a few months time. You have been warned

Debbie

Joined: 04 Dec 2004
Posts: 160
Location: Exmoor Devon

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 06 10:32 pm Post subject:
a slippery slope!

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