A Pocket Guide To Horses and Ponies: An Illustrated Guide to Horse Breeds

In the equine world, the different breeds are not as well defined as they are in some other animals, partly because the horse has a much longer gestation period so it takes a greater stretch of time to develop clearly defined characteristics. In addition, horses have not been intensively bred for very long - most stud books are less than 100 years old. The breeds of horse fit into three main groups - ponies, light horses, and heavy horses - and in addition there are types, which can be any breed but are particularly suitable for a defined purpose. This book is arranged into four sections, and within the three groups the breeds are then listed by area of the world, then by country. The types of horse are covered at the end. A short introductory section covers horses in mythology and explains some of the main terms used to classify a horse, such as blood temperature, coat color, and markings. A useful glossary at the end explains many of the technical terms that may be used when describing a horse.