The ideal gift for young horse lovers everywhere: A practical step-by-step guide to the essentials of horse ownership.Renowned equestrian authority Elwyn Hartley Edwards describes the horse as "the creature that has supported all man's endeavors through his history" in his lavishly illustrated book, The New Rider's Horse Encyclopedia hardcover). Packed with more than 500 photographs, including several state-of-the-art photographic how-to sequences, The New Rider's Horse Encyclopedia serves as a celebration of this beloved and indispensable animal, as well as the definitive reference guide for the horse owner. Edwards begins at the beginning, tracing the evolution of the horse from a small, multi-toed browsing animal of 60 million years ago to the powerful competition horses of today. He touches on every aspect of horse history, including their impact on legend, literature and art; the contributions of working horses to war, agriculture, and industry; and the many horse-related sports, including racing, steeplechase, hunting, rodeo, polo and more. Along the way Edwards celebrates the world's most famous horse heroes and amazing equestrian feats.In addition, he provides a complete catalog of all the major horse and pony breeds, from the tiny Falabellas of Argentina to the giant Shires of England. He offers instruction on the proper selection and maintenance of tack and equipment, and a complete guide to owning a horse, including selecting the right horse, feeding, grooming, exercise, handling, health issues, and more.A bonus is Edwards's unique ten-lesson riding course that teaches the fundamentals, from mounting for the first time to cross-country riding and combination jumps. The ideal gift for young horse lovers everywhere: A practical step-by-step guide to the essentials of horse ownership.Renowned equestrian authority Elwyn Hartley Edwards describes the horse as "the creature that has supported all man's endeavors through his history" in his lavishly illustrated book, The New Rider's Horse Encyclopedia hardcover). Packed with more than 500 photographs, including several state-of-the-art photographic how-to sequences, The New Rider's Horse Encyclopedia serves as a celebration of this beloved and indispensable animal, as well as the definitive reference guide for the horse owner. Edwards begins at the beginning, tracing the evolution of the horse from a small, multi-toed browsing animal of 60 million years ago to the powerful competition horses of today. He touches on every aspect of horse history, including their impact on legend, literature and art; the contributions of working horses to war, agriculture, and industry; and the many horse-related sports, including racing, steeplechase, hunting, rodeo, polo and more. Along the way Edwards celebrates the world's most famous horse heroes and amazing equestrian feats.In addition, he provides a complete catalog of all the major horse and pony breeds, from the tiny Falabellas of Argentina to the giant Shires of England. He offers instruction on the proper selection and maintenance of tack and equipment, and a complete guide to owning a horse, including selecting the right horse, feeding, grooming, exercise, handling, health issues, and more.A bonus is Edwards's unique ten-lesson riding course that teaches the fundamentals, from mounting for the first time to cross-country riding and combination jumps. Read Less