Scholastic Canada - Crazy for Horses

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Scholastic Canada
ISBN 0-590-51507-1
40 pages
Ages 7-12

by Karen Briggs
Photgraphs by Shawn Hamilton

A whole book of full-colour mini-posters brings you the most beautiful horses in the world!

Imagine thoroughbreds thundering over your desk or graceful Arabians flying across your wall! Here are sixteen full-colour photos of horses and lots of fascinating facts to read, too. Stats and a description of the breed accompany each poster, and additional information abounds: the oldest breed of horse alive, how to tell a pony from a horse, horse anatomy, colour terminology, famous horse events, kinds of competitions, and more! There is even an extensive list of addresses and websites for kids who want to gallop into the world of horses.


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Excerpt from CRAZY FOR HORSES
by Karen Briggs and Shawn Hamilton

Shetland Pony

Who's that peeking out from under the thick, shaggy forelock, with the cheeky look in his eyes? It must be a Shetland pony, the smallest of all the pony breeds.

Shetland ponies originated on the Shetland Islands off the northern coast of Scotland - a harsh, barren place with bitter winds and little food or shelter. No one is sure how they got there. Some say they were brought by the Vikings who settled the island over a thousand years ago. What is certain is that the unwelcoming environment meant only the cleverest and toughest ponies survived. To conserve body heat, each generation got a little smaller, with short legs, a thick neck and tiny ears. The ponies also grew a heavy winter coat and thick mane and tail.

The Shetland Islanders used the ponies to bring peat from the bogs for fuel, and seaweed from the shore to fertilize the fields; they even wove their fishing nets from the ponies' tail hair. Though Shetland ponies are extremely strong for their size, they were rarely ridden - but today they are much in demand as riding ponies for children. At under 11 hands, they are the perfect size for young children learning to ride - even if their extreme intelligence and naughty sense of humour sometimes make them a challenge even for adults!

Fast Fact

When the Mines Act of 1847 banned children from working in mines throughout Great Britain, many Shetland ponies were drafted into service in their place. They could travel into the narrow underground shafts to carry out loads of coal. Pit ponies often spent years working underground, rarely - if ever - seeing the light of day. Though they were usually well cared for, it was a harsh life. In a few mines in Britain, Shetland ponies continued in service right up until the 1970s.

From Crazy for Horses, copyright © 1999 by Karen Briggs and Shawn Hamilton

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"This book has easy-to-read facts, important information, wonderful illustrations and everything you want and need to know about caring for a horse. This book is definitely a must-read for anybody that is crazy for horses!!!!! " Paige M., Age 11, British Columbia, Rating: 10

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