Do you know offhand the best way to groom your horse? What about how to handle an emergency – for instance, if your equine ingests poison? It’s impossible to remember all the ins and outs of horse care, but luckily there are several reference guides available. The following four books should be in any horse-owner’s library:
If your horse has an attitude problem, this is the guide for you. It details over 130 bad habits and breaks them into four major groups: stable, saddle, ground manners and traveling. You’ll also find recommendations for how to correct behavior issues and what to do if these methods don’t take.
Even if your horse appears to be the most angelic equine around, you can still benefit from looking through the pages of “Good Horse, Bad Habits.” You might not realize one of your animal’s common behaviors is actually something to discourage.
“Finish Line has a variety of external applicants for your equine’s appearance.”
Want your horse to look its best during a performance? This book has over 1200 photographs of the best way to keep your equine gorgeous. It details what tools to use, methods for mane and tail care, proper ways to wash a horse and more. It also tells you what sort of products to look for. Finish Line has a variety of external applicants to improve and maintain your equine’s appearance.
This book is essential to have on hand in case of an emergency. It details what to look for, possible causes, how to start treatment and when a veterinarian is needed. The book also provides a rating system to help you understand how serious the situation is. Keep in mind this is not a complete guide to horse medicine. Rather, it’s designed to serve as a quick and reliable reference for when you notice something wrong.
A staple of professionals and students alike, “The Merck Manual” describes in detail the ailments and diseases of all kinds of domesticated animals. This book is much more in depth than the Dr. Kellon guide – when necessary, it goes into detail about a horse’s biology, and it’s filled with technical terms. As such, it can present a challenge for the layperson to understand. People committed to their horse’s health should make the effort to get through this book, however. Even a limited understanding of “The Vet Manual” helps you get your horse treated faster in the event of a major, life-threatening emergency.
