The Original Horse Bible

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: BowTie Press
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933958758
• ISBN-13: 978-1933958750

This is a thick, information packed book that I think would be a useful addition to any horse owner’s library, especially those who are just starting out. The Original Horse Bible covers all the basics a horse owner and rider will need to know, from choosing the right horse to preparing for competition. There is a short section on breeding and foaling and many well illustrated breed descriptions

The Original Horse Bible was written by Moira C. Reeve and Sharon Biggs. Sharon Biggs a writer with many credentials, including contributing writer with Horse Illustrated Magazine. She is also a dressage trainer and instructor. Moira C. Reeve, who sadly lost her battle with breast cancer in 2010, was former editor of Horse Illustrated magazine, authored two horse books and was a life-long time competitor in both the western and English show ring. This book reflects the knowledge, wisdom and style of both writers. It is not only an interesting and informative read; a lot of personality shines through. I loved the writing style with its sometimes humorous, but clear descriptions and explanations.

While no book can contain every minute facet of horse riding and care, I am impressed by the volume of informative details. For example, on page 364 I learned the fabrication of a good quality western hat. Personally, I’d rather see western riders wearing a helmet, but if you must know where to put your money when buying a felt hat, you’ll be well informed.

The breed profiles are great reading with lovely photos. In fact, I thought all the photos were wonderful, as one would expect from a photographer like Bob Langrish, who provided the bulk of the images for the book. I especially loved the cheeky photo on page 439.

Other contents include choosing the right horse, disciplines and sports, choosing a truck and horse trailer, nutrition and grooming, health and illness, riding basics, including how to find a coach or instructor, training, and caring for senior horses. The focus of this book is on riding but a chapter on driving horses would have been a nice addition.

Besides telling you what to do, this book also makes suggestions on what not to do. For example, hauling a horse trailer with a mid-sized SUV (something that we often see) is a bad idea, and the section on towing vehicles explains why. In the section on breeding the authors explains why it might not be a good idea to breed your mare and the training chapter contains information on poor or harmful training methods.

At the back of The Original Horse Bible book, along with the cheeky horse with its tongue out, are two resources. The first is an appendix that gives outlines of equine illnesses and diseases. These are brief descriptions that give the symptoms, treatments and places to find more information. There is also a listing of equine breed, health and welfare associations. Each article within the book contains informative sidebars that contain clarifications, tips and definitions.

Overall I am really impressed with this book. The authors have pulled together an impressive amount of information and made it accessible and digestible. Whether you read it from cover to cover or just dip in when you need some information, you can be sure that what you are reading is accurate and represents best practices for riding and care. With its lavish photos, The Original Horse Bible wouldn’t look out of place on the coffee table, and it will certainly be a book you want to keep handy.