Sometimes owning a hamster will have to do in the pet department, but there is nothing wrong with dreaming. Perhaps your dream horse is the Morgan, "one of the best-liked horses in the country." It's lots of fun to learn about the Morgan because you just might own one of your own when you grow up. If you've watched a Morgan in action on YouTube, you might have noticed that they are high-stepping, look very proud, and "hold their heads and tails higher than most horses." In a two-page spread in this book you'll be able to take a close look at the photograph of one magnificent Morgan and will be able to learn about all its parts. Do you know what a pastern is? You will after you read this book!
The Morgan is approximately fourteen hands high and weighs in around 1,500 pounds. You'll learn a bit about "Horsey Math" and will be able to figure out how high a Morgan is in inches and centimeters. Unlike some horses such as the Lipizzan, who is white, the Morgan comes in many different colors and can have white markings. In 1791, Justin Morgan became the owner of a horse named Figure, a horse with some really good qualities. For example, "He could outwork and outrun most horses of the time." In this book you'll also learn why the Morgan became popular, why they were used in the Civil War, the needs of this breed, how to deal with tack, riding styles, and many other interesting facts about the marvelous Morgan.
This is an excellent overview of the Morgan horse the young reader will love. Of course the author does stress that most children will not be able to have a horse when they are young, but can always dream. Anyone actually purchasing a horse will need to buy a breed specific book, but this is a very nice introduction. For the horse crazy child there are several suggestions such as creating a scrapbook, reading books, or perhaps taking a few riding lessons. The book is generously illustrated with photographs, including one showing Morgans pulling a covered wagon heading west. There are numerous informative sidebars scattered throughout the book, including one discussing the miners and the western migration. In the back of the book is an index, glossary, and additional recommended books and website resources to explore.
Quill says: This is an excellent overview of the Morgan horse the young reader will love.
