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Preface - This reference book is designed for the non-professional rider, the casual rider, those with a curiosity about and an interest in horses— especially beginners—boys and girls, men and women. The author has endeavored to present in a medium-sized volume essential basic information concerning the principal equestrian activities in the United States and Canada, and some fundamentals concerning the anatomy, nature, care and history of the horse.

01. General-Breeds - Color—The unmixed colors of a horse, from darkest to lightest, are: black, brown, bay, chestnut, dun and light gray (the usual manner of referring to a white horse). There are, of course, variations of these, such as a liver chestnut, golden chestnut, dark bay, etc.

02. Historical - Origin—It is generally accepted that the horse descended from a small cleft-hoofed quadruped reaching its present characteristic development thousands of years ago in Asia.

APPEARANCE IN NORTH AMERICA-While fossil remains indicate that in prehistoric times horses existed in the North American continent, probably arriving by successive migrations from Asia, entire races became extinct. Horses were reintroduced to North America through Mexico by the Spaniards who brought horses with them from Europe on their voyages of exploration—the first by Cortez in 1519.

03. Myth + Fable - Symbols and superstition-The horse has been, over the ages, variously a symbol of: courage, strength, speed (swifter than eagles), the passage of time and human life, pride (get on your high horse), death (Book of Revelation, horses of The Apocalypse), and war (sacred to and sacrificed to Mars).

In the Bible, persons with military rank were generally mounted on horses—those without rank very seldom; and the association of horses with war is frequent.

04. Anatomy - Important points of the horse:

CHESTNUTS—Chestnuts are the elongated calluses (horny structures) on the inner surface of a horse's legs. On the forelegs, they are above the knees—on the hindlegs, they are below the hocks.

05. Stable Management - Basic—Regular exercise and frequent grooming (at least daily and certainly always after riding), in addition to a proper diet, are required to maintain a horse in good condition.

When approaching a horse from the rear, speak to him in a calm voice so that he will not be startled and perhaps kick.

06. Injuries + Vices - Good health—A horse is best maintained in good health by regular exercise suited to the horse's condition—thorough and regular grooming —a clean stable—and good shoeing. A sound horse is one not afflicted by defects, malfunctions, diseases, injuries or weaknesses which might affect the use to which it is being put.

07. Shoeing - Need—Horses are shod to prevent the wall of the hoof wearing down to the sensitive tissue—to provide a good grip on slippery surfaces and race tracks—to protect the hoof from corns, cracks, and contracting—to induce change of gait and action—and to correct faulty hoof structure and growth.

08. Tack - Colors—Stable colors are frequently displayed on brow bands, blankets and coolers.

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE-When tacking a horse, he should first be bridled and then saddled; when removing tack, generally the girth should be loosened and the stirrups run up on the saddle—then remove the bridle and replace it with a halter. Removing the saddle last avoids the sudden release of pressure on the horse's back.

09. Equitation - Good hands—This means that the hands are supple, sensitive, sympathetic, flexible and adaptable—maintaining a light, constant contact with the horse's mouth—thus giving a maximum control of the horse while he remains calm—with the least possible exertion on the part of the rider.

10. Learn By Doing - There are a number of things every horseman should know how to do—even if he does not have to do them often. Of course, these things could be—and no doubt are—explained in writing, but they can only be learned well and properly, and certainly more easily, by actually doing them. The following is a list of the most important:

11. Horse Shows - American horse shows association (A.H.S.A.)-The governing body of horse shows is the American Horse Shows Association with headquarters in New York City. For administrative purposes, the A.H.S.A. is divided into eleven geographical zones and 19 divisions. There are 8 special committees, 11 regional committees, 21 division committees.

12. Fox Hunting - The hunt—When hounds attempt to find and pursue a live fox, it is a fox hunt.

When hounds are put on a prepared "line" on which a natural or artificial scent has been dragged, it is a drag hunt.

Cubbing is early, pre-season hunting. Its primary purpose is the training of young hounds to hunt fox—pick up the scent, travel together, obey the huntsman's voice and horn, become used to the work and routine of hunting. The term is imported from England where Cubbing is primarily the Blooding of young hounds and the scattering of fox cubs.

13. Beagling - Although not strictly activities connected with horses, (there are no mounted beagle or basset packs in the U.S.), pack beagling and bas-setting have been recognized in recent years as important primers to fox hunting, particularly for Pony Club children. Some of its advantages as an introduction to fox hunting are very similar procedure, excellent visibility, proximity to hounds and hence a really good view of hound work, lack of worry about riding well and jumping fences, and lack of expense.

14. Steeplechasing - Steeplechase—A steeplechase is a horse race over brush obstacles on a prescribed course. The term is sometimes used broadly to mean any kind of race over obstacles of whatever nature—on a course or cross-country. The term "Steeplechase" originated in the 18th century when it was usual for the sporting gentry to race cross-country from a designated point a distance of approximately four miles to "Yon church steeple"—the only reference point clearly visible on the horizon.

15. Flat Racing - History—New York State is generally credited with having pioneered organized horse racing in the United States—on the Hempstead Plains on Long Island in the 1660's. This was on a course. In Virginia, there was much "quarter" racing in the early days—a quarter of a mile straight away.

16. Harness Racing - The sport—Harness racing is conducted with Standardbred trotters or pacers drawing a light, two-wheeled racing cart known as a sulky. A driver sits in the sulky and controls the horse through long reins. Many years ago, the racing cart was a high four-wheeled "wagon" —and then a large two-wheeled wagon with the driver sitting high. Prior to one hundred years ago, trotters were raced under saddle and trotting races under saddle are common in France and Belgium today.

17. Polo - The game—Polo is played both outdoors and indoors.

Outdoors, the field is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide. The goal posts are 24 feet apart. Ten-inch high boards retain the ball on the playing field.

There are four players on a side: Number 1, Number 2, Number 3 and the Back.

The ball is made of willow root or similar hard wood. It is solid and covered with a heavy coat of glossy white paint. The ball weighs approximately 42 ounces and is 34 inches in diameter. (About 4 inch in diameter larger than a baseball and about % ounce lighter than a baseball.)

18. Gymkhana - A Gymkhana is a meeting of horsemen and horsewomen of all ages to engage in informal mounted games. These are particularly suitable for children and inexperienced riders, for boy and girl scout troops, for pony clubs and for summer camps as a means of improving ability, providing variation and increasing interest in their riding. Some of the mounted games usually included in a Gymkhana are:

19. Cowboys - The range horse—The typical range horse or "cow pony" used in working cattle is of unknown ancestry, but is obviously descended from the horses brought over by the Spanish Conquistadores. They tend to be on the small side, about 15 hands—ranging from 14 to 16 —somewhat smaller in the southwest than in the northwest. They are handy (able to stop and turn quickly, to change direction on the correct lead and to respond promptly to neck reins), surefooted, rugged, courageous, and they subsist well on the limited forage and water found on the Western plains.

20. US Cavalry - The cavalry—The cavalry is no more. But it has a glorious past. It was the elite corps of the Army because it was small and because,

throughout the ages, glamor has surrounded the horseman; in any age, at any time, he is a knight in shining armor wearing a bright plume! Perhaps the most famous poem lauding the valor, color and courage of the cavalry is Lord Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade" (an action of British Cavalry against the Russians in the Crimean War in 1854). Probably the best known stanza is:

21. Mounted Police - Purpose—The primary purpose of mounted police, which are found in all large cities and seldom anywhere else, is to control riots and heavy traffic and to patrol public parks. Also, when the occasion demands it, they act as mounted escorts to dignitaries and participate in parades. They are most frequently on regular duty in the theater district, congested shopping districts, the waterfront and at railroad and truck terminals.

22. Mounted Escort - There are no rules for mounted escorts, but several sound principles. Most important are these:

UNIFORMITY—The horses used should be of generally uniform appearance in height, weight, conformation, color and type. The bridles and saddles should be the same or at least very similar. All or none should use blankets or pads and, if blankets or pads are used, they should be uniform in design, color and shape. All should wear halter shanks or martingales—or none should. If halter shanks are used, the rope should be of good quality and whitewashed.

23. Mounted Drill - Consuming Approximately Thirty Minutes
 
Fall In. Count fours.
Anyone who feels incapable of riding at No.  1 or 4, change positions.
Fours right, March.
Column right, March,
Column of twos,
March.

24. Horsemanship - Dismounted

1. Nomenclature: Bring in a horse:

a. Ask the individual to point to the following:

Muzzle, hocks, loins, fetlock, cannon, knee, elbow, withers, croup, dock, forearm, point of the shoulder, coronet, gaskin, frog, pastern, bars of the jaw, stifle, chestnut, poll.

25. Horse Organizations - The following is an outline of National Horse Organizations not included elsewhere in this book.

The United States Pony Clubs

The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., 53 State Street, Boston 9, Massachusetts, is a national organization to promote the riding and care of horses and ponies by those under 21 years of age.

26. Record Associations - Draft horses

American Cream Draft Horse Association American Shire Horse Association American Suffolk Horse Association, Inc. Belgian Draft Horse  Corporation of America Clydesdale Breeders Association of the

United States Percheron  Horse Association of America

Light Horses

American Hackney Horse Society, Inc.

Bibliography - Anatomy, stable management, ailments and shoeing

Ellenberger, Wilhelm and others. Atlas of the Anatomy of Animals for Artists. Translated and illustrated by Helen Weinbaum. New York: Dover Publications, 1956.

Ensminger, M. M. Light Horses. Washington: U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1958.

Hance, J. E. The Owner Groom. London: Country Life, Ltd., 1950.

Hayes, M. Horace. Stable Management. 2nd Ed. London: Hurst & Blackett, Ltd., 1960.

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