Horses for Dummies [Paperback]

Audrey Pavia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 1999 | Series: For Dummies (Computer/Tech)

Horses are amazing, incredible creatures. They’re as breathtakingly beautiful as they are powerful and fast. They’re wild in their souls, yet they gladly give us their hearts. Horses offer people beauty, a connection to nature, and a quiet and dignified companionship that no other animal can provide in the same way.

Whether you’re contemplating riding a horse for the first time in your life or wondering how to care for your first horse, this book will be a great help to you. Even experienced riders benefit from the in-depth coverage on riding styles and the wide variety of competitive disciplines.

Horses For Dummies can help you understand the horse and how it functions, both physically and mentally. When you know how to communicate what you want to a horse, he’ll do your bidding. You also find out how to care for this amazing creature and to ride with ease.

To fit in with the horsey crowd, you find out all about the following and more:

• The parts of a horse and distinctive markings, such as a star and blaze
• How the horse sees the world – and humankind
• Whether horse ownership is really for you at this time in your life, or whether leasing or taking lessons are better options
• Choosing a horse based on breed, age, or gender
• Types of horse equipment: Tack, grooming supplies, and riding apparel
• Recognizing common health problems
• Brushing up on grooming skills
• Handling your horse while you are on the ground or in the saddle
• The best ways to mount and dismount, and how to hold the reins
• The basics of the different riding disciplines
• Safety issues

If you want to achieve a profound bond with your horse, always put yourself in your horse’s place and try to comprehend the equine experience. Not only will you come to understand and appreciate your horse, but your horse will come to view you as a protector – and will ultimately grow to trust you with his very life.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Horse lovers will flock to this volume, which is chock full of down-to-earth, practical advice. While much of the information would be useful to anyone involved with horses, this book is really for the prospective horse owner who is just starting out. The novice will find the book easy to use, as each chapter stands on its own as a source of information about a specific aspect of horse ownership. Users can refer to the topic they need, and important sections are marked with icons indicating "Tip," "Warning," and "Remember." There is even an indicator for "technical stuff" that the beginner may not need to know. The book's coauthors are a veterinarian and an editor of an equine magazine, respectively, and both are well versed in the intricacies of horse ownership. They are careful to point out matters of protocol, those things that are always done a certain way in the horse world, though often for no apparent reason. A worthwhile purchase for public libraries.ADeborah Emerson, Monroe Community Coll., Rochester, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

Look inside for a full-color guide to horse breeds

The fun and easy way® to train, care for, and have fun with your horse

If you're crazy about horses and thinking about buying one, then this friendly guide is just what you need to giddyup and go. From boarding, feeding, and grooming to training, riding, competing, and more, it tells you how to keep your four-hoofed friend happy — and take your riding skills to the next level.

Discover how to

• See what?s involved in horse ownership
• Feed, groom, and handle your horse
• Recognize common horse ailments
• Have fun in the saddle
• Get involved in equestrian competitions

Praise for Horses For Dummies

"Andrea Pavia's longstanding passion for horses serves as a wellspring for providing readers with accurate, inspiring, and interesting information on equines."
— Moira Harris, Editor, Horse Illustrated and Equine Athlete magazines

"A must-have resource for horse lovers and novice owners. . . . An easy-to-read, informative book that takes readers through all aspects of the equestrian world."
— Carroll Brown Arnold, Publisher/Editor, America's Cutter and America's Barrel Racer magazines

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (June 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764551388
• ISBN-13: 978-0764551383
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #431,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in New York City, where I lived until the age of two. When I was still a toddler, my family heeded the westward call and moved to Los Angeles, where I spent my youth. I fell in love with animals and science at a young age, and played "mom" to a variety of pets including dogs, cats, rabbits, lizards, mice, hamsters, birds, snakes, guppies and a horse.

After graduating El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, Calif., I worked at various jobs including key shop manager, and cashier at Sears. At the age of 21, I returned to New York City and became a student at New York University in Manhattan. I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and a minor in Astronomy.

While living in New York, I worked for several years as an editor for a home fashion trade magazine, then moved on to become an editor for the American Kennel Club Gazette. After five years with the AKC, I accepted a position as managing editor on Dog Fancy magazine in Irvine, Calif., and moved back to the Golden State. Shortly after, I became editor of Horse Illustrated magazine. I left the position in 1995 to pursue a full-time career in freelance writing and editing.

I live in Norco, Calif., with my husband, Randy Mastronicola. We share our home with an Appaloosa gelding named Idaho Hawk (Bailey); a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Nigel; four cats named Murray, Holly, Cheddar and Stanley; and two rabbits, Prudence and Karma.

Nigel (Ninacorte Nigel Tuff S Nails, NA, NJ) and I compete in American Kennel Club agility events, and are currently working on our Open title. I am also preparing Bailey for a career in competitive trail riding.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect basic reference!, June 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Horses for Dummies (Paperback)

I was honored to be able to review an early copy of this book -- and proud to give an endorsement quote. I'm a lifelong horse-lover, and I used to ride a great deal. (I have a once-broken bone to prove it from a jump I went over without the benefit of my horse!)

Horses are complicated -- to understand, to buy or lease, to care for, to equip, to train and to handle. Audrey's book does a wonderful job explaining it all, and her love of these marvelous animals comes through on every page.

If you dream of horses, this is a book you must have!

-- Gina Spadafori, Universal Press Syndicate pet-care columnist, author of "Dogs For Dummies" and co-author of "Cats For Dummies" and "Birds For Dummies."

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book For Beginners and All Around Horse Info.!, March 1, 2001

By 

K. Perdue "oktobermoon2" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Horses for Dummies (Paperback)

As I've gotten back into horseback riding, horse care, etc., after many years and am now starting over again... this book provided me with all the information I need to get started and covered every possible subject of horse care for the beginner. I found it to be reader-friendly, informative, and it is responsible in that it covers all the basics in not only riding and enjoying your horse or lesson experience, but also touched on all the topics of horse care, tack care, tacking up, mounting, tips on buying one's first horse, etc. It's a must read for those who are either getting back into riding, looking into purchasing or leasing a horse, or for the first time equestrian enthusiast. Buy the book...you won't be sorry!

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best beginner horse book you can buy, May 14, 2004

By 

petsits.com "petsits.com" (WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horses for Dummies (Paperback)

My husband & I decided to buy horses on a whim, but we knew we'd have to do alot of learning before we were ready to buy our first horse. Out of the many (many, MANY) books we bought, this book clearly stood out. It taught us ALL the basics, and was a wonderful referrence guide for all our questions as we got through the first 3 years, going from boarding to moving out to our own land. This book is a MUST HAVE for beginners, and worth more than the asking price. When I lent it to my cousin, I counted the days (actually YEARS) until she gave it back - once a month there was something I wanted to look up quick!

For more advanced horse people, or casual rent-a-horse riders, this book may be too basic. It covers everything from care, to buying, to everything about owning a horse. Not advanced concepts, or anecotes, or riding styles, etc.