Understanding Basic Horse Care: Your Guide To Horse Health Care And Management

by Michael A. Ball, George H. Morris (Foreword)

This informative guide focuses on the day-to-day interaction between owners and their horses, and covers various topics of basic husbandry, such as handling, grooming, housing, and stable vices. Understanding Basic Horse Care also discusses in detail the major body systems, ailments and diseases that affect them, and treatment options.

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 25, 2000

Reviews

[Sheelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that went into some basics of med stuff beyond my speciality of cuts and scrapes and lameness. Well written and explained, will def reread someday

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good reference but it is not a how-to book for beginners. It may be most useful as a companion book for someone new to equine healthcare, especially regarding veterinary care. It starts with descriptions of restraint techniques for freaked-out horses that no beginner should EVER learn from a book--muchless use--without professional direction and supervision. As a total novice, I could have used more information about preventing escalations and calming horses who are mildly agitated before they get out of control.

The book goes on give an outline of horse nutrition and shelter needs. Then it summarizes the anatomy and physiology of horses and common ailments/treatments. In that respect, it gets way more detailed and technical than I found helpful. I would have liked less science and more about what how to prevent and recognize emotional and health problems early.

I am still looking for a more comprehensive, accessible horse care 101 book.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book was good, I feel that it went well beyond the "basic" level it claims to be. Many of the chapters appeared to be for those who have had lots of experience with horses, which I have not. This book was informative, however I think you need a solid background before jumping into more comes understanding and techniques that shouldn't be tried by beginners.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Tendons and ligaments are composed of the densest form of fibrous connective tissue, consisting of parallel bundles of coarse, collagen fibers. ... The simplified difference between the collagen in the elastic tissue of the skin and that in a tendon is the degree of organization of the collagen fibers. In the skin, the collagen fibers are loosely arranged and do not have much "strength," whereas in the tendon the collagen fibers are very tightly organized in a parallel manner, providing a significant increase in strength.

Tendons have a great tensile strength. Tensile strength refers to the resistance of a material to a force that tends to tear it apart when it is stretched or extended. In addition to their strength, tendons have the property of elasticity - they are capable of absorbing and storing energy when stretched." (Example: rubber band on balsa wood airplane)