The Book of Miniature Horses: Buying, Breeding, Training, Showing, and Enjoying [Hardcover]

Donna Campbell Smith (Author), Bruce Curtis (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2005

How to select, care for, and enjoy (including showing) this diminutive breed.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A solid and interesting guide to Miniature Horses. Overall, a great book for the Mini enthusiast."--Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

Although pony-like in appearance (measuring no more than 38 inches at the shoulder), Miniature Horses are nevertheless small well-proportioned horses with refined features. As pets or as show horses, for driving as well as for therapy and guide animals, whether kept in limited spaces or on larger property, Miniatures are a horse lover's delight.
The Book of Miniature Horses, the perfect introduction to buying, keeping, enjoying, and breeding these delightful creatures, is full of essential information, including:
" Historical background, requisite land and space, amount of care needed, where to look, and what to expect to pay when considering buying a Miniature Horse.
" Tips on how to care for your Miniature, including information on feeding, grooming, veterinary considerations, and exercise.
" Non-competitive ways to enjoy ownership of Minis as pets and companions.
" Behind-the-scenes show preparation and ribbon-winning tips for showmanship-in- hand, conformation, jumping, and even trail course classes.
" Instruction on training and driving a Mini behind a cart or sulky to enjoy their company through pleasure driving and harness racing as trotters or pacers.
" How Miniatures are used as guide animals for sight-impaired individuals, as well as the benefits of using Miniatures as companion animals or as participants in r rehabilitation programs at adult care centers, nursing homes, and group homes.
" The feasibility of breeding Miniatures, selecting a stallion or mare, breeding for color, foaling and first days and months, and registering the foal.

Profusely illustrated with stunning photos by prize-winning photographer Bruce Curtis, The Book of Miniature Horses is as delightful an entry to this fascinating breed as the horses themselves.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592286003
• ISBN-13: 978-1592286003
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #76 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Horses > Riding
  • #81 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Horses > Equestrian

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars dissapionted, September 15, 2005

By 

Ella "Interested Viewer" (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Miniature Horses: Buying, Breeding, Training, Showing, and Enjoying (Hardcover)

I was unhappy with this book. I bought it expecting to learn about things mentioned in the title.

I read the whole book and there is no real mention of training, except training for the blind. It gives a very vague topic of showing, and being new to miniature horses I was hoping to get a good idea about how shows are conducted.

If you just want a narrow view of the topics you might like this.

But if you're like me and want to actually learn about the topics listed in the title, I wouldn't recommend this to you. I returned my copy!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to get an overview on American Miniature Horses, April 29, 2006

By 

Denise (Bloomfield, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Miniature Horses: Buying, Breeding, Training, Showing, and Enjoying (Hardcover)

This is a great book to purchase if you are looking at an overview of American Miniature Horses and what is involved with their care, upkeep and what one can do with these unique equines from keeping them as pets to having them as show animals.

It covers all topics with sound advice and handles even "sensitive" topics in the field with care without bias.

I have owned, bred and shown American Miniature Horses (AMHA and AMHR) since 1992 and have been involved with horses of various breeds for 37 years.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointed, March 28, 2006

By 

Crazy about horses (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Miniature Horses: Buying, Breeding, Training, Showing, and Enjoying (Hardcover)

I bought the book hoping to gain some additional insight into the world of showing & breeding mini horses. If you have been around the show ring at all and have some showing experience - especially in hand, then this is not the book for you. Clipping a bridle path is the same regardless of size of horse. It is this type of elementary subject material discussed in the book. As for breeding, the author recommends live cover as AI for mini's is almost non-existent. I believe you could gain more knowledge from the miniature horse registry than from this book.

If you have absolutely no experience around horses - then this book may be a great first read as the principles for care are the same for minis as it is the regular size horse.