Horses: The Definitive Catalog of Horse and Pony
Breeds.
Scholastic. $19.99.
A photographic extravaganza that will
delight anyone who has ever ridden a horse or just dreamed of riding one, Horses is a testament to the
longstanding closeness of the special bond between humans and horses and a
remarkable exploration of the wide variety of horse types and characteristics.
Even people knowledgeable about horses will likely learn new things about the equine
world here – this is one of those books intended for young readers but
absolutely fascinating for anyone of any age. From extreme close-ups that show
the characteristics of various horses to gorgeous photos of forms of racing –
harness and thoroughbred – to historical perspective on the human/horse
relationship, Horses is packed with
information as well as being just beautiful to look at.
The book explains that there were two
kinds of ancestral horses some 4.5 million years ago, one of which led to the lines
of today’s mules and asses, while the other resulted in modern horses. Further
developments have been much more recent: “For example, when stronger horses
were needed for farm work, to carry knights in armor, or to pull large weights,
heavier breeds were created.” And this continues today through targeted
breeding of specific types of horses for specific purposes.
The sheer number of horse breeds may come
as a surprise to readers. Many may have heard of “Arabian” horses, but in fact
there are quite a few different types. The rare Gidran Arab, for example, “was
created at Hungary’s oldest national stud, Mezöhegyes, which was established in
1784 to breed military horses.” And the Shagya Arab “was originally bred in the
19th century in Báblona as a riding horse for the Hungarian
cavalry.” And those are just the Arabian horses from Hungary – there are others
from many other countries.
In addition to specifics of horse types, Horses gives good information – and
wonderful pictures – about horses in general. “Light horses are split into two
groups – hotblood and warmblood – depending on their characteristics and
ancestry,” with hotbloods being “spirited, nervous, and full of energy,” while
warmbloods are “gentler, calmer, and eager to please.” Within the groups, each
breed has specific characteristics that are clearly shown in Horses, often with striking photos, such
as the ones showing the coat colors of the Akhal-Teke, a rare Central Asian
hotblood whose coat may be bay, dun, chestnut, black, grey or golden palomino. The
pages about this breed not only show the horses racing but also display an
emblem from Turkmenistan, where it comes from, explaining that the Akhal-Teke
appears on that nation’s banknotes and coat of arms, and also on postage stamps
from Turkmenistan, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. Like many other elements
of Horses, this shows the continued
importance of these animals to humans.
Light horses are the most-familiar kind,
and they get more than half the space in Horses.
But other equines are in some ways even more interesting, simply because
readers are less likely to have seen or interacted with them. There is a
section on ponies, “hardy animals that have learned to survive in the harshest
of conditions, many on remote northerly islands,” and that are “intelligent,
energetic, and sometimes stubborn.” Photos of the winter coat of the Icelandic,
which dates to Viking times and has five different gaits, are very striking, as
are views of wild or semi-wild island ponies: the Eriskay of Scotland, Skyros
of Greece, Batak of Indonesia, and others – plus pictures of the tiny and
graceful Falabella of Argentina (actually classified as a horse, despite its
size). Horses also has an extended
section on heavy horses, “also known as coldbloods or draft horses,” which are
large, patient and very strong working animals. Bred for strength rather than
speed, they have solid, broad legs, wide hooves, a short and very muscular
back, and other characteristics that clearly show how they differ from light
horses – a full-page explanatory photo highlights the distinctions. Some heavy
horses may be familiar to readers – Clydesdales, for example, which are
exceptionally tall and heavy, with weight that “is about the same as a
Volkswagen Beetle” – but many will not be: the Belgian Heavy Draft, the Auxois
of France, the ancient Ardennais warhorse that Julius Caesar considered
“tireless,” and others. There are some real surprises here, such as the leopard-spotted
coat of the Noriker and the striking appearance of the Black Forest Horse of
Germany. Horses is a book to dwell on
and return to again and again to look at and learn about the richness of the
equine world and its continued importance to human commerce and, in many
places, daily life.
In
case all the photos and information lead readers to want a horse of their own, Horses offers a concluding section
called “Care of Horses” that provides basic information, but only after warning
that owning a horse “requires real commitment,” including “early starts day in
and day out in all weathers” and a long-term commitment to proper housing,
equipment and veterinary care. Daily rides or walks are necessary, for example,
to prevent muscular and digestive problems, and “it is essential that the stable
be mucked out regularly and clean, absorbent bedding put in place” to prevent
respiratory problems. Horses are big animals and a big responsibility – likely
far more than most readers of Horses
will be able to assume. But just seeing how magnificent these animals are, in
all their variety, turns horse ownership into a dream for many people. Horses is a book that can encourage the
dream, but it also offers non-owners a much easier way to observe, appreciate
and enjoy the wonders of the equine world.
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