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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thoroughly recommended for every horse owner, 23 Dec 2001
By A Customer
The author is well-known in the North-East of Britain for her tireless work, not only in support of the International League for the Protection of Horses, but on behalf of horse welfare in general. Care and Management of the Older Horse is the fruit of Heather Parsons's immense knowledge and experience. Written in an easy, readable yet never patronising style, the book is packed with information relating to every aspect of caring for the older horse. In the Introduction, the author highlights the 'ageist' attitude adopted by many people in the equestrian world - an attitude which, as she points out, is responsible for many horses being unnecessarily written off in their mid-teens. Just like humans, some horses may age sooner than others. Each horse is an individual! What this book does, admirably and thoroughly, is give horse owners the necessary information to enable them to recognise - and prepare for - signs of ageing in their older horse(s). It is divided into two parts: Part I covers general care and management, while Part II is devoted to veterinary care. Each chapter is broken down into logical divisions. For example, under the heading of 'General Care', Chapter 1 covers the basic facilities required for keeping an older horse; day-to-day care (including environment, etc.), companionship, and seasonal care. Chapter 2 goes on to look at health: establishing the horse's normal health parameters, vaccinations, worming, dental care, foot care etc. Subsequent chapters cover such diverse subjects as feeding, exercise and work, schooling and fitness, saddle fitting, care of the back, retirement, etc. Chapter 7 also takes a sensitive and yet practical look at the difficult question of euthanasia. Part II covers in considerable depth the health problems which may beset the older horse, and offers practical suggestions on how to deal with them. The author does not preach, or make dogmatic assertions. Instead, she gives the reader sufficient information to make their own, informed decisions about their horse's lifestyle. A bibliography, or at least a 'further reading' section, would have been helpful, but this is a minor quibble. Its wealth of valuable information, relating to every aspect of horse care, makes this a book which every horse owner, not just those with older horses, should read. Thoroughly recommended. - Lesley Skipper
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by Robert E. Holland
by Hilary Page
