Most Quarter Horse breeders and breed experts believe that in the production of great Quarter Horses one should never underestimate the importance of the dam. They are convinced that, in the long run,"the distaff side of the pedigree is the one to watch." They agree that one reason for the eminence of the Quarter Horse in racing, show, arena, and breed competition is the quality of the dams who helped found the breed and give it the unique conformation and blazing speed on the short track. This book, filled with treasured anecdotes and track legends, will join its companion volume on the sires as an indispensable source for Quarter Horse breeders, owners, and racetrack and rodeo enthusiats, as well as for historians of the horse and its role in the Americas.

Here for the first time is a digest of known information about the stallions whose descendants appear in the early volumes of the American Quarter Horse Association studbook. Robert M. Denhardt, a former officer in the American Quarter Horse Association, spent many years tracking down the bloodlines of the foundation sires, their pedigrees, and highlights of their careers. The result is a brief but comprehensive alphabetical listing of the stallions that made the Quarter Horse one of the most exciting and popular breeds of horses in the Americas today.

The fabled King Ranch of South Texas was renowned for its breed of horses, the King Ranch Quarter Horses. Here is the complete story of the ranch and its horses, how they were bred, and what they have achieved. We meet the Old Sorrel, the horse without a name who became the foundation stallion of the ranch Quarter Horses. The King Ranch produced winning show horses (Hired Hand, Anita Chica, Peppy) and race horses (Miss Princess, Nobody's Friend) and, above all, top-quality cow horses famed for their levelheadedness and ability to work in close partnership with their riders. Today they and their descendants are working cattle and winning competitions worldwide. For those who love Quarter Horses, and especially for those who own a Quarter Horse descended from the King Ranch and wish to know its history, this book will be a treasured volume.

A history of the Quarter Horse in England and America, describing the most famous animals and breeders, and the emergence of the American Quarter Horse Association

The world of Thoroughbred racing is glamorous, secretive, dangerous, and seductive—the sport of kings and the poor man's obsession. While the spectacle of racing stirs the imagination, it belies the ruthless business that lies beneath. This engaging original study demystifies this complex world by comparing centers of excellence in Britain and North America. Drawing from intensive field work in Suffolk's Newmarket and Kentucky's Lexington, Rebecca Cassidy gives us the inside track on all players in the industry—from the elite breeders and owners to the stable boys, racetrack workers, and veterinarians. She leads us through horse farms, breeding barns, and yearling sales; explains rigorous training regimens; and brings us trackside on race day. But the history of Thoroughbred racing culture is more than a collection of fascinating characters and exciting events. Cassidy's investigation reveals the factors—ethical, cultural, political, and economic—that have shaped the racing tradition.

The donkey, the onager, the koulan-the burro. All are names for one of the world’s most used and abused beasts of burden. If the horse was the animal of conquest, it was the lowly burro who made it possible for civilization to spread to the far reaches of the earth. Burros brought wood to the fires, raised water from the wells, toiled in the fields, carried the great and the poor, followed the conquistadors to the New World, and packed for the prospector and miner. Recommended by Cleveland Amory, renowned animal welfare advocate and founder of the Black Beauty Ranch, this book is an eloquent and appealing account of the burro’s past and present. It includes a chapter on the selection, feeding, and care of pet burros.

This is the only guidebook collecting the official North America breed associations’ standards and conformations, making it a much-needed, handy, and comprehensive reference. Like the American Kennel Club's The Complete Dog Book (now in its 20th printing), this is the book for horse breeds. For each of 118 North American breeds--from ponies and small horses to pleasure horses, draft horses, and thoroughbred racers--the massive 200,000-word guide provides an official history, detailed conformation ideals, descriptions of gait and distinctive traits, temperament, colors, and variations. Fine color photographs complete the detailed picture each entry presents. This guide is destined to become the bible of the horse world.

This 1988 book presents an analysis of the emergence of mass spectator sport during the years prior to World War I.