Introducing the horse: neutral world of horses -- Life cycle of the horse -- Domestication of the horse -- Types of horses -- Colors -- Markings -- What is a breed? -- Hotblood horses: Arabia -- Thoroughbred -- Anglo-Arab, Barb, Akhal-Teke -- Coldblood horses: Ardennais Boulonnais -- Percheron, Suffolk -- Shire, Clydesdale -- Belgian draft, Noriker, Friesian, Dutch Draught -- Warmblood horses: Swedish Warmblood, Selle Francais -- Competition breeds -- Oldenburg, Gelderlander, French Trotter, Camargue -- Przewalski's Horse, Tarpan -- Irish Draught, Hackney Horse, Cleveland Bay -- Andalusian, Lusitano, Lippizzaner -- Morgan, Criollo, Quarter Horse -- Pinto, Palomino, Appaloosa -- Tennessee Walking Horse, American Saddlebred, Missouri Foxtrotter, Standardbred- Mustang, Waler -- Pony breeds: Dartmoor, Exmoor, Connemara, New Forest -- Welsh Sections A,B,C, and D -- Fell, Dales, Highland -- Fjord, Icelandic, Haflinger -- New breeds of the U.S. -- Caspian, Chincoteague and Assateague, Basuto, Boer -- Australian, Falabella, Shetland, Hackney Pony -- Keeping a pony: Providing company -- What a pony need -- Ways to keep a pony -- Where to keep a pony -- A barn of your own -- Stable management -- Choosing a pasture -- Caring for the pasture -- Turning out and catching -- Feeding a pony: Rules of feeding -- Different kinds of feed -- Diet for your pony -- grooming a pony: Grooming equipment -- grooming routines -- Hoof and foot care -- Washing a pony -- Clipping a pony -- Choosing a blanket -- Other care routines: Care after exercise -- Shoeing a pony -- Traveling safely -- Summer and winter care -- Health care: Signs of good health -- Health routines -- First aid -- Common aliments -- Caring for a sick pony -- Before you start: Why take riding lessons? -- Where to take riding lessons -- Clothes to wear for riding -- Types of ponies -- A ponies tack: Saddles and girths -- Bridles and bits -- Western tack -- Fitting and caring for tack -- Saddling up - Putting on a bridle -- First lessons: Meeting your pony -- Getting to know a pony -- Mounting -- Dismounting -- How to sit in the saddle -- Aids -- On the lunge or lead line -- On your own -- Turning left and right -- Learning to trot -- Cantering -- Riding at top speed -- Western riding -- In the arena: Riding in a group -- Exercises in the arena -- Without stirrups and reins -- Exercises in the saddle -- Looking forward: Road safety -- Trail riding -- Your first jumping lessons -- Jumping higher -- Simple dressage -- Advanced riding -- Taking part in events: getting ready for a show -- Going to a show -- Fun and games -- Show jumping classes -- Showing and dressage tests -- Cross country -- Training and driving: Breaking in a horse -- How to drive a horse -- Harnesses and vehicles -- Specially trained horses -- Glossary -- Index -- Web sites and acknowledgements.

Breeding identification, riding techniques, and the proper care for tending to horses are elements of a comprehensive guide about horses and ponies, complete with sidebars, full color photos, helpful tips, and more. The Kingfisher Illustrated Horse and Pony Encyclopedia is a fantastic gift for children who dream of having a horse or pony of their own. There is a clear introduction to the horse followed by chapters explaining horse and pony care, riding lessons, and breeds. The encyclopedia is packed full of gorgeous photographs of horses and ponies showing how they look, what they do, and where in the world they are found. And of course every horse lover wants to ride, and The Kingfisher Illustrated Horse & Pony Encyclopedia takes the novice rider from first mount to cantering and galloping.