This is a compact, spiral bound manual containing practical advice on the raising of orphan foals from birth to weaning, written by someone with over 30 years of equine stud farm experience. The language is simple and much of the information is presented in point form making it easy to read through and create a mental checklist of what is needed and how to get organised for each step and process. Being prepared is half of the battle and the author has carefully listed the equipment and facilities needed to undertake whichever rearing route is taken.The author starts with why you might have to consider hand rearing or fostering and what to be on the look out for in a newborn or very young foal. The choice made will depend on many factors and the chapters on both fostering and handrearing outline the pros and cons of each option so that the reader acquires a good understanding of what will be involved. There is excellent advice on handling the foal and trying to ensure that it develops ‘normal’ horse behaviour if it is handreared – they can all too quickly become humanised and badly behaved.There is no baffling science but reassuring reference to the need to take professional veterinary advice if needed.This book covers all of the basics and more and would be an excellent addition to the reading material for stud managers and stud employees plus the amateur breeder who wants to ensure they have access to some sensible, practical advice on rearing a foal when things haven’t gone to plan. Vets and vet students will also find it useful if they are unfamiliar with these situations.

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 analyse 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-colour 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.

Former international event rider Eric Smiley has brought along his own top-level
horses for decades. Now he taps his immense knowledge to help riders whose horses
may not have had “the right start.”

Every horse comes with his own “baggage” behaviour or training issues, minor or significant, that may be difficult to pinpoint or resolve. In these pages, Smiley addresses the most common problems he has seen over the years in dressage, eventing, and show jumping, including:

- Problems with head and neck position.
- Connection issues.
- Failure to follow the rules of forward, straight, and regular.
- Difficulty with collection.
- Lack of consistency.

Smiley teaches readers how to identify what isn't working by looking at how things
should work. Then he walks us through dismantling and reassembling the issues,
providing an easy-to-follow system for determining what's potentially wrong with a
horse and choosing sensible exercises for fixing it. 

Completely updated and revised, the third edition of this essential textbook describes the basic genetics of the horse including coat colour, parentage, medical and population genetics, cytogenetics, performance, breeding systems and genetic conservation, as well as the many recent advances in genomics.

New for the third edition:

• More information on genomics and biology have been included.
• There are two additional chapters on genetics with respect to infectious diseases and reproduction.
• Expanded sections on quantitative genetics and genomic selection provide comprehensive coverage.
• Many new figures further illustrate key points in the text.
• Redesigned in colour throughout and keeping the popular features of previous editions

This authoritative text remains one of the key sources of information for basic genetic principles and their specific applications to the horse, and is essential for students of equine studies, animal breeding and veterinary science, as well as horse breeders and owners.

Authors: Ernest Bailey, Samantha A. Brooks.

It is no secret that speed, stamina, jumping ability, and athletic prowess depend on the horse's physical ability to perform. However, the world has seen many ‘great' athletic bodies, human and horse, fail to reach their true potential, while others, perhaps thought to be less great in form and function, reach the pinnacle of their sport or discipline. In the world of human athletes, we might claim hard work, ‘grit', or ‘heart' as the force greater than muscle that propels them to the top. But the horse doesn't have performance goals in the way we do, so what is it that motivates one racehorse to leave the rest of the field behind to cross the finish line first? In these pages, Kerry explains how it is possible - initially by using an Emotional Conformation Profile - to determine if a horse has what it takes inside him to make what he has on the outside great. Can your racing prospect handle distance? Does your event horse have the ‘finish' to clear that last enormous cross-country obstacle when his legs are tired? Is your horse capable of maintaining focus in the face of large crowds and multiple distractions? More importantly, he tells you how to develop specific training protocols towards given goals, thus enabling a horse to perform at his very best.

The author, a natural hoof-care exponent, provides straightforward, impartial advice on making the transition from shod to barefoot, and discusses the importance of diet and exercise in the maintenance of healthy hooves. She describes different kinds of trim and offers guidance on choosing a hoof-care professional. Barefoot boots are discussed in detail, along with how to choose and fit them. At least one case study is included with each chapter and there are helpful notes on troubleshooting.