Product Description

Keeping horses healthy and happy is all about establishing good routines and following the natural cycles of the animals and the land. Nobody knows this better than Cherry Hill, professional horsekeeper, lifelong horse lover, and author of more than 30 books on horses. If it involves horses, Hill knows what to do and when to do it. Her routines — daily, monthly, and seasonal — are the framework for Cherry Hill's Horsekeeping Almanac, a goldmine of horsekeeping knowledge for all horse enthusiasts.

Month by month, Hill touches on every issue likely to affect horses, horse farms, and the people who care for them both. Each month opens with a brief description of what's happening on the farm, followed by personal notes on specific, month-appropriate topics. May, for example, includes advice on grazing, snakes, composting, bathing and clipping, and fire strips. November features colic, fire ants, winter water, dry shampoo, and outdoor horse clothing.

Every month includes recurring reminders, to-do lists, reference charts, climate notes, equine wit and wisdom, a word of the month, and an "Ask Cherry" section featuring seasonally relevant excerpts from her newsletter — all the fascinating tidbits, lore, and handed-down insights that make almanacs so fascinating. Tying everything together is Cherry Hill's trusted voice and deep-seated knowledge of horses.

This is a book readers will keep on hand to welcome each new season on the farm. Horsekeepers will browse it frequently, use it as a reference in times of doubt, keep reminders in it, and come back to it year after year — a reminder of their own horsekeeping seasons. It will become, in Cherry Hill's words, a Horsekeeping Master Plan.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #70330 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 576 pages

Review

"Cherry Hill's Horsekeeping Almanac...puts a metaphoric arm around novices on the way to the barn....[A]n indispensable resource for any new or aspiring horse owner."

Bookpage

“A goldmine of horsekeeping knowledge.”

  Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald

“If it involves horses, Cherry Hill knows what to do and when to do it.”

Northwest Rider Magazine

“This book has everything you ever needed to know about horse keeping and then some.”

Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas)

"This sensible book by author Cherry Hill ("How to Think Like a Horse" and more than two dozen other titles) covers more ground than a Triple Crown winner."

“A comprehensive guide. Insightful pull quotes, stand-alone tips, scores of illustrations and a reader-friendly, eye-pleasing design make the volume an enjoyable read.”

From the Back Cover
The Best Horse Reference Ever!
Packed cover to cover with wisdom and advice, this comprehensive book from America's horsekeeping authority guides you through each month and season of the year with topics including:

WINTER
Weather logs - Vital signs - Good manners for the farrier - Cold weather feeding - Shelter design - Leather care - Tax review - Stall kicking - Hoof inspection - Spaying - Clipping

SPRING
Immunizations - Halter fitting - Foal expenses - Skin ailments - Mowers - Lightning precautions - Vehicle maintenance - Horse buyer's tips - Hay inventory - Pasture priorities

SUMMER
Extreme head - Laminitis - West Nile virus - Gnats and midges - Rotational grazing - Saddling review - Arena design - Vices and bad habits - Road-riding safely - Hay storage - Lost shoes

FALL
Hoof pads - Winter weight gain - Dry shampoo - Senior diets - Bedding - Branding - Pasture harrows - Winter blankets - Colic prevention - Stall fresheners - Horse insurance - Weaning

Special monthly features include Vet Clinic, The Feed Bag, Beauty Shop, Reproduction Roundup, Ranch Recipes, and much, much more.

About the Author
Cherry is an internationally renowned instructor, horse trainer, and author of more than 30 horse books and DVDs. She cares for five horses on a 70-acre horse facility in Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Best New Horse Reference on the Market
In my opinion, this is the best new horse reference on the market, and of special value to new owners, regardless of whether their horses are 16 hands or 30 inches. The author's unique approach to caring for our horses year-round is so logical, one wonders why it wasn't written earlier!

A wealth of information is offered in easy-on-the-eyes layout and color scheme, with charming illustrations throughout. The book is organized by season for temperate climate regions, with additional suggestions for adjusting the information for other climate conditions. An innovative "five-season" plan covers Late Winter (January-February), Spring (March-April-May), Summer (June-July-August), Fall (September-October), and Early Winter (November-December).

Everything and anything a horse owner needs to know or do is included. Upcoming January, for instance, gives information and details about the following: performing a late winter visual examination of your horse; horses and weather; setting up records for the coming year; checking feet and preparing for the farrier; cold weather feeding rules and suggestions; calculating your horse's weight; dealing with winter predators; parasite control; care of teeth; winter grooming; pasture & fence maintenance; sanitation and manure management; tractor maintenance; tack inspection and care; income tax overview; and, preparing for foaling season.

Who guessed so much needed to be done in January?

Scattered throughout these 576 information-packed pages are tidbits about wildlife, horse movies, ranch recipes, language trivia, and historical horsekeeping. The author includes sidebars with tips for living comfortably with horses. "Horse Sense and Safety" includes recommendations for moving around horses: "Either walk around a horse well out of kicking range or move around the horse by staying close, with your hand on his hindquarters to let him know you are there. Never walk under or step over the tie rope." The book has a full index, website resources for horse owners, and a list of recommended reading.

If I still owned horses, this book would be my constant companion!

Horsekeeping Almanac
This is a great armchair/tackroom reference full of tips and information on caring for horses. It is a real help in getting organized. A 'must' for the new horse owner or someone getting back into horsekeeping. It's also a fun, interesting, and easy read for those in-between times while waiting for the coffee to perk or just taking a break. The information is timeless.

A great monthly guide
Cherry Hill continues to create books with real 'hands on' value. Especially if you are new to caring for horses, this guide will help every step of the way.