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Paperback £13.95 Reviewing this book took me back to the days when I was studying for my BHS Grades I & II when the Manual of Horsemanship was one of my main stays of information. The book is now in its 11th edition and is such a 'standard' that it looks set to go on and on. The previous editions have sold more than a million copies in the U.K. alone and the concept has been copied in several other countries all of which speaks for itself! So what is different about this latest edition? It is produced in a large format which improves the layout and a second colour is used to highlight the text and diagrams. I don't feel that the second 'colour' really works where the photographs are concerned (it makes them more dense and harder to discern) but that is the one and only minor criticism of a book that is worth its weight in gold to the budding horseman. The advice is given in a simple style, is full of commonsense. Another new feature and a most important one is the Injuries and Ailments Section by Dr Ann Dyson of the Animal Health Trust. The information given covers all the usual and not so usual injuries and sicknesses that the average horse owner may be faced with, whilst not discounting the need to seek help from a veterinary surgeon. It gives clear practical advice on how to deal with injuries when they occur, and there is also a section devoted to nursing care of a sick horse. As anyone who has ever been in hospital will know, it is good nursing that accelerates recovery and this aspect of treatment is often overlooked so this is a particularly welcome addition. The riding instruction, and the diagrams for movements, such as for lateral work, succeed in making everything look incredibly easy, and there is a well thought out training schedule for both horse and rider over jumps. Saddlery - the choice, suitability and fitting of; feeding; shoeing; general stable management, and care of the grass kept horse and pony - it is all in this manual, every section is written by an expert in their particular field and it shows. Highly recommended and an invaluable aid to the horse and pony owner.
Available from Tindalls Books +44 (0) 1638 561760
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The Manual of Horsemanship
(The Official Manual of the Pony Club)
