Laura S. Jeffrey - Choosing a Horse: How to Choose and Care for a Horse

Is a horse right for you?

Horses can be great pets, but it takes a lot of work to take care of a horse. Choosing a Horse will tell you about the different types of horses, where you can get one, and how to care for one. Read about a horse's diet, training, grooming, and much more. Learn how you and your horse can spend many happy years together.

About the Author

Laura S. Jeffrey is the author of almost two dozen nonfiction books for young readers. She and her husband have two grown children and live in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.

About the American Humane Association

Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting children, pets, and farm animals from cruelty, abuse, and neglect. Today were also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine, and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training, and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies, and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit www.americanhumane.org today, call 1-866-242-1877, or write to American Humane Association at 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 360, Washington, DC 20036.

An Appaloosa horse

Horses are symbols of grace, freedom, and speed with their flowing manes and majestic bodies. It is no wonder that so many people want a horse for a pet.

Horses can be very challenging to take care of, however. Owning a horse means more than providing a pasture, a bucket of water, and some feed.

Horses are strong and powerful animals.

Horses need regular grooming and daily exercise. They need to eat special food, and their hooves require regular care. They need constant company throughout their entire life.

This book will help you choose a horse for a pet. It will tell you what to feed your new pet and how to make it feel comfortable and safe. This book will help you to know about keeping your horse healthy and happy.

While very beautiful, horses can be difficult to take care of. They need care every day.

In ancient times, horses were used to pull carts and wagons.

Horses have a long and important history in the world. They are believed to have come from Asia somewhere around 3000 or 4000 B.C. Early Spanish explorers brought horses to North America. Horses quickly became popular with American Indians.

Before cars or planes were invented, horses were used to carry people and goods.

Because of their great speed and strength, horses were used in wartime to carry soldiers to battle. Later, they were used by armies to carry heavy loads. Horses pulled wagons and supplies.

The first miniature horses came from Europe in the 1500s. Kings and wealthy people kept them as pets. English farmers used them for chores. In the 1800s, miniature ponies helped to pull coal out of mines. By the 1900s, equipment powered by electricity replaced the horses, and horses became pets.

Some horses became famous. During the Civil War (18611865), General Robert E. Lee had a horse named Traveller. They were together for many years. After Lee died, Traveller walked behind the wagon that carried Lees body during the funeral procession. Traveller is now buried outside the entrance of the museum of Washington and Lee University in Virginia.

Seabiscuit is another famous horse. Seabiscuit was a racehorse during the Great Depression, in the 1930s. Whenever Seabiscuit raced, thousands of Americans traveled to watch him. Others listened to the race action on the radio.

The famous racehorse Seabiscuit has his picture taken before a race in 1938.

Today, there are about 350 different breeds. The breeds are divided into four basic groups: light, heavy (or draft), miniature or pony, and feral (or wild).

Appaloosas are light horses with beautiful spotted coats.

Light horses have small bones and thin legs. They weigh less than 1,300 pounds. Examples of light horses are Thoroughbreds, quarter horses, Morgan horses, and Appaloosas, or Appys. Appys are versatile and can be ridden over jumps or used to round up cattle. Appys are known for the dark spots on their coats.

Heavy horses, also known as draft horses, can weigh up to 2,000 or 3,000 pounds. They are strong with large bones and sturdy legs. Examples of heavy horses are Clydesdales and shire horses.

Draft horses are used on farms.

Miniature horses and ponies are shorter than other horses. Miniature horses are less than three feet tall. Ponies are usually not more than fifty-eight inches tall. Examples of breeds of ponies are Shetlands, Chincoteague, and the Canadian Pony of the Americas.

Feral horses are wild or semiwild. Semiwild means they live in the wild but are sometimes handled by people. The ancestors of todays feral horses escaped their owners or were released into the wild hundreds of years ago. Examples of feral horses are the mustang in North America, the brumby in Australia, and the Sorraia in Portugal.

Horses usually live for about twenty-five years but some live into their thirties and forties. With proper care, they will give their owners love and companionship for many years.

Horses are very expensive. But buying a horse is not the only cost of horse ownership. Before you buy one as a pet, talk with people who already own them. (Be careful when talking to someone who wants to sell you a horse.) Learn about the money, effort, and time you will spend when you become a horse owner. You should also learn how to ride horses and how to take care of them.