A New Horse Book is Always Welcomed by the Horse Lover.

Giving a horse book as a gift is always a wise thing to do. A good horseman is absolutely sure of one thing...that he or she does not know everything about horses. There is always something new to learn, and with the right books, learning can be fun and exciting.

After all, horse books are part of that "E & E Combo" group: gifts that both educate and entertain. Who says educational books can't be entertaining? Or that entertaining books can't be educational? There are many wonderful equine books out there that any horse enthusiast would love to add to his or her library.

If you don't find a horse book that's just right for your horse fan, or you want an additional "E & E Combo" gift to choose from, make sure you take a good look at the "inside scoop" for the many choices of horse magazines available today on my E & E Combo Gift page. You will find even more of these gift ideas on my Sight-n-Sound page, which features some great choices of horse videos and CD ROMs.

Of course, the challenge doesn't lie in whether or not a horse book makes a great gift. The challenge lies in which horse book is right for your recipient. You can use the same criteria we looked at when considering magazines: your horse fan's riding discipline or area of interest, ie: english or western, dressage, hunter-jumper, cutting, reining, barrel racing, driving, miniature horses, etc. You could focus on the breed, on training, or subjects appropriate for all disciplines and areas of interest, like horse safety, nutrition and first-aid.

We'll look at how to personalize this gift in just a moment, but first, let's take a look at some of your choices so that you can get an idea of what horse book would work well for your horse lover. I found a terrific selection at PetSmart at prices that go with my "bargain shopping" nature. Here are some ideas:


We'll begin with books that would be appropriate and appreciated by all disciplines and special interests -- horse books that focus on the over-all well-being of horse and owner.

Horse Lover's Encyclopedia Book
Absolutely indispensible! A-to-Z guide is packed with illustrations, charts, quotations, tips and insights. Includes all the information you need - whether you're a seasoned professional, a novice equestrian, or someone who just wants to know everything there is to know about horses. Paperback. 480 pages.

Storey's Guide to Feeding Horses Book
Equine nutritionist Melyni Worth addresses the many ways diet impacts a horse's health, temperament and performance. Comprehensive, easy-to-read and packed with advice that's easy to put into action. An essential reference horse owners will turn to time and again. 288 pages. PB.v

The Original Book of Horse Treats by June Evers
by June Evers. Recipes you can make at home for your horse! Including hors(e) d'oeuvres, salads, desserts, bran mashes, liniments, hoof oil, electrolytes, fly repellents & more. The only book where you'll find recipes to make Stuffed Molasses Apples, Carrot & Apple Pate, Birthday Cones and much more -- all for your horse! 72 pages. Spiral bound.

Emergency! Book
Highly readable book with graphics and photos that put quick information at your fingertips. Learn how to access a situation, how to decide what can and can't wait and how to take steps to improve the odds that when the vet arrives, your horse's chance for a full recovery will be better. A necessity for the tack room, tack trunk or trailer. 232pp. PB.

How To Be Your Own Veterinarian (Sometimes)
Veterinarian helps horse people recognize and treat simple medical problems when they happen. Illustrated. Author: Ruth B. James, DVM. 352 pp. PB.

101 Lunging & Long Line Exercises Book by Cherry Hill
by Cherry Hill. Learn a variety of ground training exercises with lesson plans from square 1 to square 101. Each exercise is laid out with a diagram, step-by-step instructions and an explanation of its benefits. Exercises progress from basic to advanced. 237 pp.

Rider's Fitness Program
A fun and effective six-week program to strengthen the muscles riders use while improving overall balance, flexibility and coordination. More than 85 exercises designed to help new and experienced riders hone their skills and prevent injuries. 224 pages. Paperback.

**How about some horse books just for kids?

Horsecare for Kids
Formatted for the pre-teen and teen horse set, this guide to caring for your horse is a great start to any kids horse library. Kids need to learn that caring for their horse is an essential part of being a rider.

Horse Show Handbook for Kids
Featuring expert advice from the pros, kids learn everything about horse shows: what to bring, what to wear, who does what at a show, show ring etiquette, how to impress the judge and much more. 160 pages. PB.

**Or books for those raising babies? Horse babies, that is.

10,001 Names For Horses Book
Lists literally thousands of names with tips for naming your horse, names for horses with attitude, easy ridin' horses, all sorts of names that apply to colors and more. 160 pp.

Bringing Up Baby by John Lyons
by John Lyons. In this award-winning training guide, renowned horseman and clinician, John Lyons, gives you his proven program for developing your young horse into an accepting, reliable equine partner. Includes 20 multi-step lesson plans. 120 pp.

Guide to Raising Horses Book
Useful information for facilities, feeding, daily health care, disease prevention, foot care, dental care, selecting breeding stock, foaling care of the young horse and more. Comprehensive for both novices and experienced horse handlers. 512pp. PB.

**Let's look at some educational books that focus on a variety of specialty areas. If you don't see one here that fits your horse fan, PetSmart has many more to choose from.

Dressage from A to X
From the basics of the sport to the minutest of details, Barbara Burkhardt provides information on preparing oneself and one's horse mentally and physically, choosing shows, memorizing and riding the dressage test, selecting and caring for appropriate and legal equipment, grooming, developing a warm-up, evaluating performance, and planning for future improvement. 288 pages. PB.

101 Jumping Exercises for Horse & Rider
By Linda Allen with Dianna R. Dennis. This book provides a logical and consistent series of exercises with clear maps and straightforward instructions. For each exercise, Linda Allen covers set-up; how to ride the exercise; steps to make the exercise more difficult; what every successful rider should keep in mind while working when to move on the next step; and the benefits of exercise.

Jumps, Etc. Book

Games on Horseback
More than 50 games for a delightful diversion while improving a rider's performance and safety skills. Illustrated instructions for games such as Red Light, Green Light; Root beer Relay; and Broom Polo reinforce skills such as starting and stopping, mounting and dismounting, balance, steerign and leading. Great asset for riding instructors. 144 pp.

Helpful Hints For Horsemen Book
This invaluable horse book is a collection of hundreds of helpful hints culled from the "Here's How" column appearing in Western Horeman magazine. Easy-to-understand form.

Lyons on Horses Book by John Lyons
John Lyon's proven conditioned-response training program emphasizes gentle persuasion over force. Beginning with his philosophy on horses, this horse book provides techniques that virtually guarantee success for any level of trainer. 228pp. HB.

Western Practice Lessons Book By Charlene Strickland
by Charlene Strickland. Highly visual collection of riding exercises builds specific Western riding skills and fosters greater communication between horse and rider. Effective step-by-step lessons feature a complete description of gaits and movements, purpose and benefits, analysis and instructions, cautions, and tips for a better performance.

Endurance Riding Book
Offers advice and encouragement for those starting out in endurance riding, as well as professional tips for the dedicated competitor working towards the ultimate achievement of racing over 100 miles - and winning. 176pp. HC.

**And last, but certainly not least, there's always a demand for some "lavatory laughter!" These horse books make what I call "good bathroom reading material."

"I'm At The End of My Rope" Book
Another hilarious horse book full of horse cartoons by famed artist and author Jared Lee. 112 pages of hysterical cartoons with an absurd twist will keep you laughing. A great gift! PB.

Talk To The Hoof Comic Book
A book guaranteed to bring a good horse laugh. Nationally recognized humor illustrator, Jared Lee, shares his love and knowledge of horses with his absurd twist on their situations in these witty cartoons.

These horse books ought to be a good starting place for you. Now let's look at how you can personalize your horse book to add that special touch that says it's just from you. We'll start with the simplest option first: make your own card. Using My Cardmaker, you can use your own picture, or choose some horse clipart from the internet. Of course, the ideal card would have a picture of your horse lover and his or her horse on it! It's really simple to do, but it will allow you to add that "little something extra" that makes your horse book gift unique.

Your second option is to trot on over to my Thats-a-Wrap page for some ideas and instructions for creating your own special gift box or gift bag. Whatever option you choose, be creative...be yourself. And have fun!

Don't forget to mosey on over to my Sight -n-Sound page for more great "E & E Combo Gift" ideas that are sure to please the horse enthusiast on your list.

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