Introduction 1 Part 1: Beginning with Horse Basics 5 Chapter 1: Welcome to the World of Horses 7 Chapter 2: Understanding Horses from Head to Hoof 17 Chapter 3: Perusing Popular Horse Breeds 39 Part 2: Selecting a Horse and the Stuff that Goes with Him 59 Chapter 4: Preparing to Make Your Purchase 61 Chapter 5: Making the Big Buy 87 Chapter 6: Getting into Gear with Horse Equipment 111 Chapter 7: Housing Your Horse Comfortably 151 Part 3: Taking Care of Your Horse 169 Chapter 8: Establishing an Everyday Routine 171 Chapter 9: Keeping Your Horse Clean and Pretty 183 Chapter 10: Preventing Equine Health Problems 207 Chapter 11: Examining and Treating Equine Health Troubles 219 Chapter 12: Giving Up Your Horse 255 Part 4: Handling Your Horse with Ease 263 Chapter 13: Working with Your Horse from the Ground 265 Chapter 14: Selecting a Riding Discipline 289 Chapter 15: Getting Ready Before You Mount 301 Chapter 16: Taking Control in the Saddle 311 Chapter 17: Staying Safe on (and around) Your Horse 333 Chapter 18: Competing on Horseback 345 Chapter 19: Riding for the Fun of It 363 Part 5: The Part of Tens 377 Chapter 20: Ten Horse Myths 379 Chapter 21: Ten Great Movies about Horses 385 Index 391

Understand the basics of caring for horsesLearn best practices to keep your horse safe and healthyCommunicate more effectively with your horse Updated for today's horse enthusiasts If you're just getting into the world of horses, there's a lot to learn! This book gets beginning-level riders and aspiring first-time horse owners up to speed on all things equine! From selecting the right horse for you to feeding, grooming, and handling a horse, this book covers it all! Featuring updates on breeds, boarding, nutrition, equipment, training, and riding, this resource shows you how to keep your horse happy and take your riding skills to the next level. Inside... Peruse popular horse breedsGear up with equipmentKeep your horse clean and happyTreat equine health troublesSelect a riding disciplineCompete on horseback