The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge - Rilegato

Julie Whitaker and Ian Whitelaw share a lifelong love of horses. They have acted as editorial consultants on equine titles and have written for a wide range of publishers. Their first horse was the ex-steeplechaser Hjani, which they exercised on the South Downs of England, and they currently keep three horses on a 13-acre farm on Vancouver Island. Julie competes over jumps on an appaloosa/quarter horse gelding and has completed extensive ranch rides in Arizona. Ian rides Western on local mountain trails and English over jumps. Both are members of the Silver Spur Western trail-riding club.
 
William Steinkraus (foreword) was a gold medalist in showjumping in the 1968 Olympics. He has served as a television commentator at four Olympic Games and three World Championships, and has officiated as International Judge at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and World Cup Finals. He is Chairman Emeritus of the US Equestrian Team. 

The ultimate miscellany for anyone with an equine interest.
 
The Horse is an informative gallop through everything to do with the horse:  evolution, history, biology, breeds, behavior, training, competition, health, and care—all gathered into an accessible gallery of solid information, essential facts, and fascinating trivia. 
You may follow the Triple Crown races or know the difference between a pony and a Palomino, but did you know that North American horses were reintroduced by Spaniards in the sixteenth century after going extinct eight thousand years ago? That the highest points of a horse's shoulders are its "withers"? That the world's tallest horse, Mammoth, was born in 1846 and was over 21 hands (86.5 inches) high? Or that many cowboys refuse to put their hats on their beds, believing that doing so brings bad luck?
Whether your interest is in keeping a horse or simply the beauty and behavior of these magnificent animals, The Horse will provide endless hours of entertainment. Filled with short but authoritative entries and quick fact boxes on every physical aspect of the horse as well as its importance to humankind in work, leisure, and sport, The Horse is the ultimate in dippability—open the book at any page and you’ll become totally engrossed. Praise for The Horse
 
“Horse enthusiasts should be grateful that the co-authors of the present compendium have taken on and executed this challenge with such energy, skill, and judgment. I am confident that the product of their labors will find a place on the shelves of horse devotees of many different generations and equestrian interests, who will derive both edification and pleasure from perusing it. I can only hope that they enjoy traversing the following pages as much as I have done."--William Steinkraus, from the Foreword