Practical, concise, and comprehensive, Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies is an ideal guide to the vast international variety of horse and pony breeds. Background information on everything from coats and head markings to breaking and rearing provides an introduction to this encyclopedic reference of major breeds. Each entry for the more than 170 breeds covered includes details of the breed's history, its place of origin and current geographical distribution, functions, aptitudes, and notable physical and temperamental characteristics.Beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs and handy visual symbols, this stunning, authoritative book will prove invaluable to the amateur equestrian and the professional jockey or trainer alike.