Harness Horses, Bucking Broncos & Pit Ponies: A History of Horse Breeds
Thousands of years ago people living on the steppes of central Asia realized that horses could transport them long distances, help them fight their wars, pull their plows, and provide them with sport and companionship. Ever since, horses and human history have been intertwined. Today there are fifty-eight million horses in the world. The author-illustrator team of Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson celebrates all kinds of horses in this beautifully illustrated, fact-filled book. From fast horses like the Barb, which traveled to Spain from Africa in the early eighth century to become a foundation for many Spanish and European breeds, to war horses like the Mongolian that gave their owners military advantage (today there are more horses in Mongolia than there are people), to the hard-working horses ranging from the tiny American Miniature to the giant Clydesdale, Harness Horses, Bucking Broncos & Pit Ponies is a treasure-trove of information. This is the perfect book for those who own (or dream of owning) a horse, who ride, or who simply like to read about these magnificent animals and the special relationship they share with humans.
Honors and Awards
- 2012/2013 Red Cedar Book Award Nominee (British Columbia’s Young Readers’ Choice Awards)
Praise
Illustrations consist of beautifully rendered paintings which show the horses in their original habitats and performing the duties for which they were bred. Some examples include the Appaloosa carrying its Nez Percé rider on a buffalo hunt, a Gypsy Vanner pulling a caravan, and a team of Clydesdales hauling a wagonload of coal. Readers will get a sense of history as they peruse the illustrations. The authors’ admiration and respect for horses are clearly evident throughout this book, and, though the book is the perfect read for horse lovers, one need not be a horse enthusiast to thoroughly enjoy it. Highly Recommended.
Kids will be taken with the stunning illustrations and popular subject matter, but the text is the real star here. The information is unusual enough that even avid equestrians will learn something intriguing…. While this monograph will surely appeal to horse lovers, it’s also a worthy educational tool to provide a lesson in human geography and world history.