First published in 1863, this book is a comprehensive guide to shoeing horses, with chapters on anatomy, diseases and ailments, general maintenance, avoiding common problems, and much more. This profusely-illustrated volume contains a wealth of timeless information, and it will appeal to both modern farriers and collectors of vintage equestrian literature. Contents include: "Description of the Foot", "The Horny Crust", "Definition of Elastic as Applied to the Horse's Foot", "The Sole", "The Frog", "The Bones of the Foot", "The Lateral Cartilages", "The Sensitive Frog", "The Elastic Cushion or Fatty Frog", "The Coffin Joint", "The Navicular Joint", etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in a modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on maintaining and caring for horses.
The equine hoof is a complex marvel of natural engineering, built to withstand tremendous forces and able to adapt to an astonishing range of environmental conditions. It also changes daily–for better or for worse–in response to external and internal factors. Few horse owners have the opportunity to acquire a deep understanding of the hoof, which limits their ability to advocate on their horses’ behalf and make informed decisions about hoof care and management. This book is the first resource of its kind to combine the most current and useful information available, gleaned from the research and wisdom of top hoof experts around the world, with a unique “hands-on” approach. The authors provide basic terms and anatomy, clearly illustrate the differences between healthy and unhealthy feet, discuss biomechanics and management concerns, and cover the causes, treatments, and prevention of commonly encountered problems, including laminitis, white line disease, and thrush. Along the way, readers are given activities to help them better analyze and understand the most important aspects of equine hoof health, such as hoof balance, depth of sole, and point of breakover. Easy–to–follow language, over 400 full–color photographs, and do–it–yourself exercises promise to empower horse owners and caretakers of all experience levels with the tools they need to accurately assess hoof health and keep their horses as sound and happy as possible.
Most horsemen agree that timing, feel, and balance are the holy trinity of horsemanship. The balance is brilliant: scientific facts and the empirical evidence to support those facts assembled by two highly respected professionals in their respective disciplines.
Saddle up... it's time to write!They appear in all sorts of genres, from epic fantasy to the zombie post-apocalypse, but horses can be one of the most difficult topics for authors to get right.This illustrated guide gives writers a leg up on their fictional equines. You'll find practical tips for crafting authentic equines in your works, avoiding the most common mistakes, and making your four-legged characters gallop right off the page. Included are essential illustrations, real-world inspiration, historical insights, helpful quick reference guides, example passages, and more.Topics you'll find inside include:- How to write about horses in terms that horse enthusiasts and laymen alike can understand.- How to write your horses as full-fledged characters, equine archetypes, and how the horses in your story can help reveal information about your characters.- Horses: how do they work? We'll take a look at anatomy, different types of equines, and how to choose the right types of horses for your heroes. Quick reference guides to color and markings, body language, emotion, and vocalizations will help you nail the little details.- The basics of riding and driving horses, and the most common mistakes that authors make when they're depicting a romantic gallop through the countryside. We'll also take a look at horseback combat and a few of the most common ways for humans to die horribly at the hands of their equine companions.- Hitting the road with a horse. Where your characters can find lodging, what they'll need to do to care for their horses, how to handle a water crossing, and whether they'll need to bring along feed, extra horses, or pack animals. Traveling by wheeled conveyance instead? We'll cover that too.- Worldbuilding a horse-powered society. Inventing new breeds of horse unique to your setting, generating ideas for original tack and equipment, creating a culture with horse sports, festivals, laws, and more.- The common mistakes that appear most often in books, movies, and other media featuring horses.- And a few horse-centric writing prompts to get you started!
Many horses will, at some point during their lives, suffer hoof problems which, in extreme cases, can cause permanent lameness. So why should oustandingly healthy, hardworking feet be a relative rarity? Performance Hoof, Performance Horse explores the idea that, given the right conditions, healthy hooves are not difficult to maintain and neither do they need much in the way of human intervention, and that the unshod or 'barefoot' horse can be tough, strong and sure-footed. The book offers practical advice on how best to work with a horse with compromised feet in terms of nutrition, surfaces and exercise in order to restore its hooves to optimum condition. Topics covered include: assessing hooves and hoof balance; the pros and cons of trimming; fixing problem feet; and developing stronger hooves. Fully illustrated with 87 colour photographs.
This covers the basics of hoof care and horseshoeing. Topics range from simple cleaning to trimming and shoeing the foot to dealing with hoof injuries and complex lameness problems. It also described how to achieve healthy hooves through proper nutrition, conscientious care, and proper used of the horse.
