Pony club manual of horsemanship

When I had my first pony in the '70s, it was my bible, just almost every answer to my questions. Found a newer version in a charity shop recently and thought it just as good as I remembered, just haven't got the number of questions these days.
 
Daughter just received hers for joining Pony Club and I ve had a quick look...a reasonable over view of horse care to start younger folk off with I feel.
 
abbie22 said:
Is this book and good what are peoples opinion on it, does it go into detail or is it to basic?
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It is the best and clearest book you could get - its proved over the decades its been around to give its reader a sound, common sense and safe approach to all things related to riding and caring for your horse.

I still have mine from decades ago.

You won't go wrong if you read it.
 
Has it been modernised? I loved it over the decades, but the most recent copy we bought for my stepson (perhaps 10yrs ago) seemed very out of date and I thought there were much better beginners books around. And that's coming from an old fashioned horsey instructor/owner!
 
I bought one when I got my first horse. It was invaluable... it was about 10 years ago and did talk about new zealand rugs but besides that it was pretty up to date! I found it incredibly helpful and would recommend it!
 
Honey08 said:
Has it been modernised? I loved it over the decades, but the most recent copy we bought for my stepson (perhaps 10yrs ago) seemed very out of date and I thought there were much better beginners books around. And that's coming from an old fashioned horsey instructor/owner!
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Definitely not out dated, remember that it is a book that gives good grounding in horse knowledge. It still refers to the basic feeds because everyone should be able to recognise and know about the basics that go into feeds. Many people revert to the base feeds as they become more knowledgeable as they realise the composit feeds are outrageously expensive and some not actually good for the horse.

Saddlery and its fit still remains the same. People do still use New Zealand rugs. Fitting these is still the same as fitting a modern synthetic rug.

The riding instruction is based on the classical skills handed on from The Spanish Riding School.

Many modern equipment isn't actually necessary but bought because it is the 'In' thing to have. Eg 'The face brush' what's wrong with your body brush? It's bristles are soft and do an excellent job of brushing the face.

I teach to A & H at Pony Club and examine at B level, the Manual of Horsemanship well read and learnt will certainly provide quality information to enable you to ride and care for a horse well.

It's still the foundation for the BHS exams, obviously along with books on definitive subjects to compliment the information in the PC manual.
 
Tnavas said:
Definitely not out dated, remember that it is a book that gives good grounding in horse knowledge. It still refers to the basic feeds because everyone should be able to recognise and know about the basics that go into feeds. Many people revert to the base feeds as they become more knowledgeable as they realise the composit feeds are outrageously expensive and some not actually good for the horse.

Saddlery and its fit still remains the same. People do still use New Zealand rugs. Fitting these is still the same as fitting a modern synthetic rug.

The riding instruction is based on the classical skills handed on from The Spanish Riding School.

Many modern equipment isn't actually necessary but bought because it is the 'In' thing to have. Eg 'The face brush' what's wrong with your body brush? It's bristles are soft and do an excellent job of brushing the face.

I teach to A & H at Pony Club and examine at B level, the Manual of Horsemanship well read and learnt will certainly provide quality information to enable you to ride and care for a horse well.

It's still the foundation for the BHS exams, obviously along with books on definitive subjects to compliment the information in the PC manual.
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I think there are many better books nowadays. It's a lot of 'nice to know' rather than 'need to know' content. I don't find it half as useful for teaching at PC nowadays. For me it's more historical reference. It was a book that meant a great deal to me in the 70s/80s but it hasn't evolved. I agree that a lot of modern equipment is not particularly needed, but some is good and needs mentioning!
 
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Honey08 said:
I think there are many better books nowadays. It's a lot of 'nice to know' rather than 'need to know' content. I don't find it half as useful for teaching at PC nowadays. For me it's more historical reference. It was a book that meant a great deal to me in the 70s/80s but it hasn't evolved. I agree that a lot of modern equipment is not particularly needed, but some is good and needs mentioning!
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Please if you are teaching at Pony Club, teach from the manual as the certificates are based on its content. For A and H level it's OK to go beyond the manual as by this stage the content of the manual should have been learnt.

That Manual provides solid foundation knowledge for young people/ novice owners. Whilst I own hundreds of instructional books that I read or refer to often, I still only teach from the manual. In discussion we may bring up various other methods/books but the Pony Club manual far surpasses many of them on quality, tried and tested knowledge. It's clear, concise and easy to read.
 
Personally, I like to read really old horse books, as well as the up to date ones (even Xenaphon is as relevant now as it was fighting the Persians). It gives a sense of perspective, and makes you challenge both new and old thinking. It's easy to be nostalgic about the 'old ways'. Some ideas are great - it's amazing how feet improve for standing on clay, for example, but how the horses of the 1850s survived being dosed up with arsenic to make their coat shine, I have no idea!
 
eggs said:
I've got my original copy from about 1974! I don't know what the most recent version is like
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Ooohhh gosh! I think the one I had hailed from about this time.......... I remember sneaking it into my school bag and reading in in class (where I should - obviously! - have been studying something else); I got sent to the Deputy Headmistress for my pains, who was (luckily!) a good old sort who'd ridden in her youth.

There was also a companion book; "Keeping a Pony at Grass". I think I must have worn both books out, they were my Bible and were never far out of my sight, I could probably still quote from them verbatim if pushed........... :)
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Ooohhh gosh! I think the one I had hailed from about this time.......... I remember sneaking it into my school bag and reading in in class (where I should - obviously! - have been studying something else); I got sent to the Deputy Headmistress for my pains, who was (luckily!) a good old sort who'd ridden in her youth.

There was also a companion book; "Keeping a Pony at Grass". I think I must have worn both books out, they were my Bible and were never far out of my sight, I could probably still quote from them verbatim if pushed........... :)
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Along with 'Training the Young Pony' - all awesome books - I have mine from the late 6o's.

I also have The Horsemasters Notebook by Mary Rose - really easy to read
 
There might be more "modern" books, but if everyone followed the Manual of Horsemanship they wouldn't go wrong. I occasionally have a little dip in if there is something I can't find in another book. There was also "Training the Young Pony."
 
pennyturner said:
Personally, I like to read really old horse books, as well as the up to date ones (even Xenaphon is as relevant now as it was fighting the Persians). It gives a sense of perspective, and makes you challenge both new and old thinking. It's easy to be nostalgic about the 'old ways'. Some ideas are great - it's amazing how feet improve for standing on clay, for example, but how the horses of the 1850s survived being dosed up with arsenic to make their coat shine, I have no idea!
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I love Xenaphon, it should be mandatory reading for every owner/rider. I'm also a big fan of 'Complete Training for the Horse and Rider' by Alois Podjasky.

I quite like my copy of The Manual and do refer back to it fairly often.
 
Orangehorse said:
There might be more "modern" books, but if everyone followed the Manual of Horsemanship they wouldn't go wrong. I occasionally have a little dip in if there is something I can't find in another book. There was also "Training the Young Pony."
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I'm not anti Manual of Horsemanship, I'm very old school BHS/PC in General. I just went to buy it for a non horsey family that had got themselves a pony but when I looked at it through a new horse person's eyes it was from another era and had a lot they didn't need to know (jute rugs/stall kept ponies etc. this is why I was asking has it updated as perhaps it was an old issue?). I ended up buying a different, more modern book that still gave a good grounding of basic horsemanship but with up to date bedding, tools, feed and rugs - the kind they were likely to find in shops and buy.
 
I think if it was referring to jute rugs it was an old copy, it gets updated every so often. I had one showing how to make a hay whisp, I am not sure it that is still included!
 
I still have a copy from 1967. There is a section on the use of cavaletties (what is the plural for cavaletti?) I wonder how many people have ever used those. Also had Keeping a Pony at Grass, Pony Club Quiz book, Instructors Manual and Mary Rose book. Learnt so much from all of them.
 
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Orangehorse said:
I think if it was referring to jute rugs it was an old copy, it gets updated every so often. I had one showing how to make a hay whisp, I am not sure it that is still included!
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I'm sorry but it's still relevant to know how to make a hay wisp; it's still a very useful piece of kit especially if you have a horse that can't tolerate normal brushes as I did, a TB mare positively hated brushes of any sort and she was kept clean by using hay wisps, the only thing she could tolerate, it also had the bonus of making her skin shine with health.
 
Maesfen said:
I'm sorry but it's still relevant to know how to make a hay wisp; it's still a very useful piece of kit especially if you have a horse that can't tolerate normal brushes as I did, a TB mare positively hated brushes of any sort and she was kept clean by using hay wisps, the only thing she could tolerate, it also had the bonus of making her skin shine with health.
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...and for those days when you get to the yard to prepare to ride and realise the brushes are in the other car!
 
Just checked and my blue Manual of Horsemanship is from 1964, my green Training the Young Horse or Pony is from 1966 and my Keeping a Pony at Grass and Insyructor's Handbook have both gone missing but we're from the same era. I've just been flicking through the Manual whilst in the bath and there is a lot of useful stuff.

The BHS Stages books are also useful.
 
Oh this thread brings back memories, I have just gone to check my oldest Manual, typical, the relevant page is missing, it has line drawings and gives illustrations of swinging bails, and talks about jute rugs, banging tails and assumes that most members will hunt their ponies at some stage or other :D

I have several newer versions, I have just recommended it to novice horse owners who live in Canada. Some of the terminology may fox them, but for sensible basics it has a place on every horse persons bookshelf.
 
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