Practical Horseman's Book of Horsekeeping

by M.A. Stoneridge

Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, 1983. Hardbound, about 10.5 inches tall, 299 pages. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385177887
• ISBN13: 9780385177887
• Release Date: June 1983
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 299 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.3" x 10.5"

Customer Reviews

Buying your first horse? Get this book!

This is a very helpful book for the first time horse owner who has some basic knowledge of horse care already, but who is not exactly sure what kind of equipment they need, should they blanket their horse, stalls vs. pasture, etc. This book is organized into editor written facts and professional horsemen and women's opinions. There is useful information about barn and stable management, common horse problems (hard to catch, biting, restraints, shying, loading, etc.), grooming(including clipping), blankets, tack, and bandaging. Still more useful is a very in depth chapter on feeding. From the basic descriptions of the nutrients and types of feeds, to managing your own pasture enough to provide complete (or near complete) nutrition for your horse. It addresses harrowing, when to mow, what type of grass to plant, to soil testing and fertilizing. The most useful of all (for me at least) was the first chapter, Choosing and Buying a Horse. A handful of common breeds are introduced(Arab, TB, QH, Appaloosa, Am Saddlebred, some warmbloods, and for some reason Cleveland Bay). Conformation is discussed, as well as the test ride, what to look for in the horses' temperament (easy to catch, head-shy), pre-purchase vet exam, and how to do your own tests for soundness, which may possibly eliminate the expense of a vet check. Also discussed were leg blemishes and Which Ones Are Acceptable. Many books show you curbs, sidebones and splints, but do not tell you if they will affect Your Plans for the horse. This book does, by letting the professionals of various sports explain what they look for when selecting a horse for a chosen field. They (the experts) delve into movement, conformation and which blemishes will still allow a horse to do its job. While this book is entirely english riding based, horse care is the same, and the tests for soundness still apply to the western horse. Also, while this book talks about leg straightness, it assumes you know what to look for and does not give any pictures or diagrams illustrating good leg conformation next to poor. If you are inexperienced in this area, get your hands on a book that does. The United States Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship C level has an excellent section devoted to leg conformation with clear illustrations. The only reasons I didn't give this book five stars were because one, there is no section on health care or first aid. Hello? Worming, the odd wound! You'll have to buy a vet manual. Two, the section on bandaging shows the bandage being wrapped around the wrong way, where it could be pulled too tight and damage the tendon. I suppose if you are buying a horse you should already know how. Otherwise, truly, one of the most useful horse books I own.

An essential reference -- covers all but how to ride!

From the pages of Practical Horseman, this book gathers articles together that come to the point. If you don't have anyone around to ask, this book can probably give you the answer. It contains at least 100 articles from the magazine. Everything is in it -- conformation analysis of the horse for various disciplines and what to look for in the optimum mount -- bitting theory -- pulling manes, tails, braiding tails -- leg wraps: types, why and how -- how to clip, various styles and why you use them -- feeding: pasture management, feeding vitamins & minerals and their benefits and consequences of excesses. A comprehensive spectrum of topics that will answer all your questions. This one's a treasure.

Great book to have around!

I bought the book and was so happy with it I bought a copy for my Mom and brother. The book gives some good information and is easy to understand. I recommend this one highly!