Horse Crazy!: Fun Facts, Ideas, Activities, Projects, Games, and Know-How for Horse-Loving Kids [Paperback]

Jessie Haas (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Everyone knows horse-crazy kids - the 12-year-old who would rather hang out at the stables than at the mall, the 8-year-old who spends every spare minute curled up with a horse book, or the teenager who is more comfortable jumping in the show ring than learning to drive a car.

Horse Crazy! is a jam-packed treasure chest of a book that will keep horse-obsessed kids (ages eight and up) busy for hours on end. Nearly 400 pages of equine information are divided into three broad sections: In the Saddle (and the Stall and the Show Ring), In the Spotlight: Horses in the Arts, and In the Know: All About Horses.

"In the Saddle" offers practical information on working with horses, with all the details and fine points of horse handling that fact-obsessed kids crave. How do Western-style riders hold the reins? Is a helmet always necessary? What makes a rider successful in the show ring? The answers are all here, along with coverage of model horse shows, a look at the world of Thoroughbred racing, tips on how to choose a horse camp, information on career possibilities in the horse world, and much more.

"In the Spotlight" sets free the creative impulses of the young horse enthusiast. Kids may want to write horse stories, take a drawing pad and pencil to the stable, or wander around with a camera. Tips and friendly advice give young artists the confidence to get started. "In the Know" teaches kids about equine anatomy and history, horse adoption options, and what horses can safely eat.

Every section of Horse Crazy! is filled with fun sidebars, breed IDs, crafts to make for friends (equine and human!), amusing facts and bits of lore, horse word roots, movies to see, books to read, and activities to share with horses. There is never a dull moment in the life of a horse-obsessed kid!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Horse-crazy kids will delight in this packed paperback compendium of projects, tips, lore, and lists. Haas, whose diverse books for youth include horse-themed poetry and fiction, draws on her vast equine experience in pages that cover riding advice, horse breeds, grooming techniques, books and movies about life in the saddle, and more. Crafts comprise a large portion of the book, and the suggested projects range from the large-scale, such as a crocheted halter, to simpler efforts, such as a decoupage treasure box. Also included are helpful exercises for drawing horses that are sure to improve young fans’ ubiquitous notebook-margin sketches. The projects are outlined in detailed language (including safety warnings) and sketches that cover each step of construction, making it easy for kids to follow along; although most young people will still want an adult’s assistance. The format, with its pink gingham page borders and drawings of mostly female figures, yells “girl,” but the wealth of information and activities may find an audience with serious riders of both genders. Grades 4-8. --Gillian Engberg

About the Author

Besides working, keeping and caring for horses since childhood, author Jessie Haas has written many popular children's books including her sixth book about horses for young riders, Jessie lives in Vermont with her husband, Michael, and her Morgan horse, River Echo Atherton.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; 1 edition (August 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603421548
• ISBN-13: 978-1603421546
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Horses
  • #86 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Crafts & Music > Crafts & Hobbies

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars horse crazy, January 30, 2010

By 

Notre Dame "Go Irish" (Notre Dame IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horse Crazy!: Fun Facts, Ideas, Activities, Projects, Games, and Know-How for Horse-Loving Kids (Kindle Edition)

this is a great book for kids i am 12 and love this i was going to purchace storys guide to horses but instead i got this book it is awesome it has fun crafts and things to make and has important things to like how to lead and hold the reins little bits of important information are placed everywhere i love this book you really should get a sample if you arent sure but you will end up buying it!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Overall cute book but some misinformation, April 22, 2010

By 

WindRider "Pro Artista" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horse Crazy!: Fun Facts, Ideas, Activities, Projects, Games, and Know-How for Horse-Loving Kids (Paperback)

On the positive side, I found this book to be really cute and informative. It's fun for both kids and adults! Lots of ideas, tips and information covering pretty much every aspect of enjoying horses. My only gripe is that there is some misinformation here and there. For instance, the author states that the horse Genuine Risk was injured in a race and had a "sad ending" (page 199). Genuine Risk was in fact never injured in a race and she lived a long, pleasant life in retirement. As another example, the author states that the Tennessee Walker has only three accepted colors (black, bay and chestnut), when in fact there are MANY accepted colors (palomino, buckskin, gray, perlino, champagne, cremello, red roan, black roan, pinto, etc.). There are other "goofs" here and there that I find disappointing. I think the author should have done a little more research before publishing this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE horse book for these trying economic times!, November 28, 2011

By 

michael (Vermont, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horse Crazy!: Fun Facts, Ideas, Activities, Projects, Games, and Know-How for Horse-Loving Kids (Paperback)

If you're looking for the smartest investment for your horse crazy child, this book is for you. It is the perfect resource to drop into the clutches of a young person WITH or WITHOUT a horse of their own. It's packed with ways to enjoy horses without having to spend lots of money---either by the child or parent. It introduces an amazingly huge world of horse-related events, activities, crafts, and challenges (past & present) that is sure to appeal to young people yearning to grasp the full meaning of equestrian!